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About

Breed information

 

Length range  : 41-53 cm

Height range  : 23-30cm

Weight range : 2.3-4.5kg

Coat : Longhair or shorthair , silky , smooth , straight , flat-lying coat with minimal undercoat.

Life expectancy years : 12-16 (depends on health situation)

Colors: white, blue, black, red, cream, chocolate, lilac, silver, golden, tortoiseshell, buttercream, brown, all colors, all patterns.

Activitity Level : Moderate

Origin: United States

Similar Breeds : Turkish Angora, Havana

 

History

The breed began in Southern California in 1981 when Joe and Grace Ruga found a stray black female kitten named Shulamith with curled ears. Her kittens showed the trait and helped establish that the curled ear is an autosomal dominant gene. Breeders used domestic shorthair and longhair outcrosses to develop the breed and selective breeding started in 1983.

 

 

characteristics

Temperament

Gentle

Personality

affectionate, people-oriented, gentle, easy-going, adaptable, intelligent, playful, curious, friendly, loving, sociable, calm, energetic, quiet

Needs

Needs daily exercise , cat trees , climbing space , interactive play , regular ear care , nail trimming , dental care , indoor attention and companionship.

Social Needs

This breed is highly people-oriented and does not enjoy being left out of household activity. It usually settles well with children , other cats , and cat-friendly dogs and likes being near people even if not always a lap cat.

Grooming 

Because the breed has minimal undercoat , grooming is relatively easy. Combing or brushing two or three times a month may help keep shedding down. Ears need careful cleaning with gentle handling because the cartilage is delicate. Nails should be trimmed and teeth brushed regularly.

Nutrition

Feed a good-quality balanced diet and provide fresh clean water daily. The breed may maintain weight well with enough exercise space , but calorie intake should still be managed to avoid obesity. Canned food may be used as a supplement and treats may be offered in moderation.

 

Breed Standard

The American Curl standard describes an elegant , well-balanced , moderately muscled cat with a semi-foreign rectangular body , modified wedge head , walnut-shaped eyes , and distinctive ears curling back 90 to 180 degrees with firm cartilage and flexible rounded tips. Females are lighter than males. Both longhair and shorthair divisions are accepted in all colors and patterns.

HEALTHCARE

Most Common / iconic illnesses 

Ear canal issues , Dental disease , Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy , Obesity , Progressive retinal atrophy

 

Symtoms

Ear canal issues -> 1. Head shaking , scratching , pawing at ears 2. Dark waxy debris , foul odor , redness 3. Head tilt or sensitivity to touch

Dental disease -> 1. Halitosis 2. Red , swollen , bleeding gums 3. Tartar , drooling , dropping food , chewing on one side , mouth sensitivity

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy -> 1. Often no early signs 2. Heart murmur or arrhythmia may be detected 3. Lethargy , rapid breathing , open-mouth breathing , decreased appetite , sudden hind limb paralysis from thrombus

Obesity -> 1. Loss of waistline and barrel shape 2. Ribs hard to feel 3. Reduced play , jumping difficulty , poor grooming

Progressive retinal atrophy -> 1. Night blindness 2. Hesitant movement in low light , bumping into objects 3. Dilated pupils , more reflective eyes , progressive day vision loss

Onset of symptoms

 

Ear canal issues

Ear canal issues -> 1. May begin in kittenhood 2. Infection signs can appear at any age

Probability Of Onset:

High for wax buildup 

Moderate for secondary otitis externa if routine cleaning is not performed

Dental disease

Dental disease -> 1. Mild gingivitis may begin around 1 year 2. Some form of disease is common by age 3 without prevention

Probability Of Onset:

 Very high 

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy -> 1. Can be diagnosed at 1 to 2 years 2. Signs often appear at 5 to 10+ years

Probability Of Onset:

 Low, risk is similar to the general cat population

Obesity

Obesity -> 1. Often begins after spay or neuter around 1 year 2. May become significant at 4 to 8 years

Probability Of Onset:

 High, a common preventable indoor cat condition

Progressive retinal atrophy

Progressive retinal atrophy -> 1. Often begins in young adulthood to middle age around 3 to 5 years 2. Progresses over later years

Probability Of Onset:

Progressive retinal atrophy -> 1. Low 2. DNA testing may keep risk very low in responsibly bred lines

Reasons

Ear canal issues       

Ear canal issues -> 1. The text indicates this is an anatomical air-circulation problem rather than a chemical deficiency

 

Ear canal issues

narrow ear canals and excessive wax buildup. Curled-back ears can restrict natural airflow and trap debris, they are highly susceptible to recurrent bacterial infections and yeast overgrowth.

Dental disease:

Dental disease -> 1. Mechanical abrasion may be lacking with soft-food-only routines 2. Some diets may lack tartar-control ingredients or nutrients that support gum health

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy 

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy -> 1. It indicates this is primarily genetic 2. Taurine deficiency is linked to a different cardiomyopathy rather than HCM

Obesity

Obesity -> 1. This is caused by excess calories and insufficient activity rather than deficiency 2. Caloric control and activity may be lacking

Progressive retinal atrophy

Progressive retinal atrophy -> 1. The content indicates this is purely genetic and not due to dietary deficiency

Normally Treament Methods

Ear canal issues:

  1. Ear canal issues -> 1. Regular gentle ear cleaning with vet-approved solution may help prevent buildup 2. Cotton swabs into the ear canal is not recommended 3. If infection develops a veterinarian may perform a deep clean and prescribe medicated ear drops

 

Dental disease deficiency :

  1. Dental disease -> 1. Daily tooth brushing may help prevent plaque buildup 2. Professional dental cleaning under anesthesia may be needed 3. Extractions may be needed in severe periodontitis

 

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

  1. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy -> 1. Echocardiography may be used for diagnosis 2. Medication may be used to relax the heart muscle , manage fluid , and reduce clot risk

 

Obesity:

  1. Obesity -> 1. Dietary calorie control and scheduled meals may be used 2. Interactive play and higher activity may help weight control

 

Progressive retinal atrophy:

  1. Progressive retinal atrophy -> 1. There is no cure 2. Management may focus on indoor safety and stable home layout 3. DNA-test-based breeding prevention may reduce affected kittens. Ask professional vets for detailed information.

 

Supplements

Ear canal issues :

  • Ear canal issues -> 1. Omega-3 fatty acids EPA,DHA can,might be helpful for reducing inflammation in irritated skin and ear lining
recommend product

Dental disease

  • Dental disease -> 1. Seaweed extract Ascophyllum nodosum can,might be helpful for plaque and tartar support. 2. VOHC-accepted water additives can,might be helpful for plaque control. 3. VOHC-accepted dental treats can,might be helpful for plaque or tartar control
recommend product

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

  • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy -> 1. Taurine and L-carnitine can,might be helpful for heart muscle metabolism if a veterinarian recommends them. 2. Coenzyme Q10 can,might be helpful for cellular energy support. 3. Omega-3 fatty acids EPA,DHA can,might be helpful for inflammation support
recommend product

Obesity

  • Obesity -> 1. L-carnitine can,might be helpful for fat metabolism and lean muscle support. 2. Omega-3 fatty acids can,might be helpful for joints stressed by excess weight
recommend product

Progressive retinal atrophy

  • Progressive retinal atrophy -> 1. Antioxidants including vitamin C , vitamin E , lutein , and zeaxanthin can,might be helpful for supporting remaining retinal cells though not as a cure
recommend product