LaPerm Cat

Something extraordinary happened in 1982 on a farm in Oregon: A tabby named Speedy gave birth to a litter of kittens, and one of them was hairless! As if that wasn’t strange enough, the kitten eventually grew soft, curly hair that Linda Koehl had never seen before. Curly, the patient and affectionate cat with frizzy fur, was the first of the LaPerm breed.

Curly’s kittens all grew up to have soft curly hair just like her, and they sired even more curly-haired kittens. Linda knew these cats were unique, but she didn’t realize what a stir they would cause when she brought some of them to a cat show to ask if anyone recognized the breed. She had something unique.

The LaPerm’s soft, bouncy fur doesn’t require much maintenance, since it doesn’t mat easily. They will only need to be brushed occasionally. Like a poodle, LaPerms shed very little. You won’t have to de-fuzz yourself after your LaPerm finishes snuggling in your lap.

LaPerm kittens are not always attractive. Sometimes they are born bald, while others lose all their downy fur once or twice before growing it back again. The first few months of life can be most unpredictable!

Because they come from hardy farm stock, LaPerms don’t have nearly the health and genetic problems that other breeds often suffer from. They are also patient, inquisitive, and affectionate. They love to be held and petted.

Athough the gene responsible for their unique fur is dominant, sometimes a straight-haired kitten will be born to a LaPerm. However, they still possess the charming LaPerm personality that makes them very desirable pets.