American Curl Cat Breed: Facts, Information & Health

American Curl’s are well-known for their uniquely shaped ears and sweet appearance. Not only do they look lovely, but they are friendly and loving cats that will make great new additions to a family.

The most noticeable feature of the American Curl is their curled ears, which look like they are inside out and actually are. Their ears can curl from 180 degrees, or some may even be born with straight ears and then later curl. Another curly feature of this breed is their curly tails. 

Their coats can be both long and short and come in a wide range of color combinations, including a mix of orange and white, blue with fawn and silver, ebony and cream, and many other color combinations. American Curls have walnut-shaped eyes that come in exciting colors including, amber, yellow, and blue. A male American curl weighs between 7 and 10 pounds, and a female weighs between 5 and 10 pounds. 

The type of coat your American Curl has will influence how much grooming your cat will need. Long-haired American Curls will need to be brushed a few times a week whereas short-haired American Curls will only need to be brushed at least once a week. Brushing your cat will ensure that their fur will not get tangled and remove the dead hair. It is important to do regular checks on your American Curl ears and occasionally clean their ears with a solution when necessary.

These playful animals are great for families with kids and enjoy the company of people. They enjoy playing games like fetch, and once they have got enough exercise, your American Curl will sit in your lap. 

These friendly cats do not need a lot of space, so the size of your house will not matter. However, your cat must have enough space to play and get enough exercise.

American Curls are quite a new cat breed, first only making an appearance in 1981.  

The American Curl is usually found in America, Japan, France, and Spain.

American Curls are well-known for their friendly and pleasant temperaments. They are not a very vocal cat breed, but they will communicate when they see or if they are hungry by chirping or cooing. While they do enjoy the company of people, these cats will also manage by being by themselves for a while. 

The lifespan of American Curls is approximately 12 to 16 years. The health issues that this breed is prone to include specific genetic problems like ear infections due to narrow ear canals.

Advantages:

• Friendly and social temperaments
• Intelligent 

Disadvantages:

• Long-haired coats may need a low grooming
• Prone to ear infections  

Origin

United States

Health

Dr. Adedapo Adisa:

Gotten from a natural genetic mutation of a stray black kitten called Shulamith; The American curl, known for its distinctive ear that tends to curl back towards the center of the head (giving a C-shaped appearance), is an intelligent and people-friendly cat breed with a life expectancy that falls between the range of  10-16 years.

The American curl breed has numerous genetic diversity due to being crossed with various non-pedigree cats with also curled ears to meet the breed standards of having a perfectly curled ear appearance. 

As a result of the numerous crosses as well as the generic diversity, the American cat breed happens to be a good cat health-wise. However, due to the circumstances surrounding the ear anatomy and the curly nature of the ear, they are quite prone to varying ear issues and ear infections.

As a result of their curly ears, which tilts backward, The American curl cat breed tends to have a narrow ear canal, which causes a build-up of ear wax. The effects from the wax build-up could predispose the ear to accumulate microorganisms, such as yeast or bacteria overgrowth, leading to ear infections.

Some signs to watch out for in the American curls that are suggestive of ear issues in the American curls include;

• The cat may show signs of ear tilting.
• Redness or swelling in the affected ear.
• There might be discharges from the affected ear, with or without foul odor
• The cat may have hearing loss.
• Increase in ear wax production.

It’s best to maintain good ear hygiene in the American curls by regularly cleaning the ears using soft clothing or vinegar mixed with water in equal proportions.

It is dangerous to use cotton swabs to clean the American curl ears, as it puts excess pressure on the ear cartilage and might damage the cat’s ears.

Another common ear issue faced by the American curls is the damage to the ear cartilage as a result of improper handling of the ears either during cleaning or damage during play.

It is best to schedule regular visits with your veterinarian to catch ear issues in the American curls.

Asides from having ear issues, just like other breeds of cats, the American curl’s feeding should be monitored to avoid obesity.  This might be due to a lack of exercise or excessively feeding the cats. 

Regularly exercising your cat and discussing healthy feeding with your veterinarian or the types of diet suitable for the American curls could help control obesity in the cat breed. 

In conclusion, although the American curls have genetic diversity, thus making them have a good health status, paying good attention to their health is quite important, and regular visits to your Vet for health checks should remain a priority.