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#americancurl101 #americancurlcat #cat101

In today's video, we are going to talk about a famous cat breed, that is commonly known for having an unusual ear formation.

The American Curl.

The American Curl is one of the youngest cat breeds. It was born of a natural genetic mutation, that first appeared in Shulamith, a stray black kitten with long, silky hair and, strangely, ears that curled backward. She found her way to the welcoming door of Joe and Grace Ruga in Lakewood, California. The Rugas named her Shulamith after the “black and comely” princess in the Old Testament book the Song of Solomon.

Shulamith had a litter of four kittens by an unknown father, and two of them shared her curly ears. A consultation with a geneticist, showed that the trait was caused by a dominant gene. Cat fanciers began selectively breeding the cats in 1983, and the new breed, named the American Curl, began to be registered by the Cat Fanciers Association in 1986. They were recognized by The International Cat Association in 1987, and achieved full recognition from CFA in 1993. The breed also stands out. for being the first single breed with two coat lengths recognized by CFA.

All American Curls are descended from Shulamith. The cats can be bred to other Curls or outcrossed to nonpedigreed domestic cats with straight ears, that otherwise meet the Curl breed standard. This helps to ensure a large gene pool, and genetic diversity.

The American Curl is a mediumsize cat, weighing 5 to 10 pounds.

The Curl stands out for his distinctively shaped ears, but even without them he is a striking cat with a sweet expression, and a silky coat that can be long or short and any color, including such exotic shades as chocolate tortoiseshell smoke, silver patched tabby and lilac lynx point. The longhaired variety has a pretty plumed tail.

The ears, however, are the most intriguing characteristic. Straight when a kitten is born, they begin to curl back at two to 10 days after birth. They curl, uncurl and curl some more until reaching their permanent shape when a kitten is about 4 months old. A kitten destined for the show ring will have a crescentshaped ear, with a minimum 90 degree arc of curl but no more than 180 degrees. The tips of the moderately large ears, are rounded and flexible, often adorned with tufts of fur. When Curls are alert, their ears swivel forward, but the tips point to the center of the base of the skull.

The American Curl is sweet towards children, making them a good choice for families who has limited time supervising their children. Although it is ideal to monitor toddlers, who are not aware on how to pet the cat nicely, making sure that they don't pull the cat's ears or tail. The American Curl is happy to live with catfriendly dogs, too, thanks to his amiable disposition. Introducing pets slowly and in controlled circumstances, is the best way to ensure that they learn to get along peacefully.

Both pedigreed cats and mixedbreed cats have varying incidences of health problems that may be genetic in nature. American Curls are generally healthy, but some lines have problems with narrow ear canals, which can lead to ear infections from wax buildup.

So it's a good idea, to always consult your local veterinarian about your cat's ear health.