LaPerm

The LaPerm began with a barn kitten born bald in 1982 on a cherry farm in The Dalles, Oregon. The kitten, a brown tabby later named Curly, grew a soft, curly coat within weeks. Her owner, Linda Koehl, noticed that her kittens inherited the curls and began a breeding program that built the breed.

The curl is a dominant gene and it is unique to the LaPerm. The coat is soft, loose and springy, forming ringlets and waves, with the longest curls at the neck and the tail, and the effect is like a permanent wave, which gave the breed its name. Even the whiskers curl.

LaPerms come in short and long versions and in every color and pattern. The longhaired cat has a bushy, ringleted tail and a soft ruff, and the shorthair has a looser curl, often with a plush feel. Some kittens are born bald or in a fuzzy curl, and some are born straight and curl later.

The body is medium and lithe, with a modified wedge-shaped head, large ears and expressive almond eyes. The look is of a cat in a soft, wavy halo. The coat is light and airy, never heavy, and it tends to frizz in damp weather and soften in dry.

The personality is affectionate and curious. LaPerms are known as warm, people-loving cats that like to be held, and they often nuzzle your neck and chin. They are active but not frantic, and they like games, laps and conversations, and they get on well with children and other pets.

The coat needs gentle care. Combing too hard will straighten the curls, so use your fingers or a wide-toothed comb only as needed. The breed is generally healthy and long-lived. Ask breeders about the usual heart and kidney screening, and give the cat a warm lap and a sunny window.