American Curl

The American Curl is a domestic cat breed that began with a stray longhaired cat named Shulamith in California in 1981. Its signature trait is ear leather that curls backward in a smooth arc, caused by a dominant mutation. Kittens are born with straight ears, and the curl develops during the first weeks of life, with show-quality angle assessed later as the ear sets. American Curls may be longhaired or shorthaired, have a silky coat with little undercoat, and appear in almost any color or pattern.

The curled ears should never be bent or forced, because the cartilage is firm and can be injured. Routine care includes gentle ear checks, light grooming, nail trimming, and plenty of play, as these cats tend to stay curious and people-focused into adulthood. Breeding programs select for healthy ear structure, moderate curl, and genetic diversity; overly tight or misshapen ears are not desirable. Families considering one should look for breeders who handle kittens well and explain when the ear curl became stable enough to evaluate.

Colors: Bi-Color, Bicolor, Black, Black Shaded, Black Smoke, Blue, Blue-Cream, Blue Patched Tabby, Blue Point, Blue Shaded, Blue Smoke, Blue Tabby, Blue Torbie, Brown, Brown Patched Tabby, Brown Tabby, Brown Torbie, Calico, Chocolate, Chocolate Point, Cinnamon, Classic Tabby, Cream, Cream Point, Cream Smoke, Cream Tabby, Dilute Calico, Dilute Tortoiseshell, Fawn, Flame Point, Golden, Harlequin, Lilac, Lilac Point, Lynx Point, Mackerel Tabby, Mink, Pointed, Red, Red Shaded, Red Smoke, Red Tabby, Seal Point, Sepia, Shaded, Shell, Silver, Silver Tabby, Smoke, Spotted Tabby, Tabby, Ticked Tabby, Torbie, Tortie Shaded, Tortie Smoke, Tortoiseshell, Van, Van Pattern, White