LaPerm

The LaPerm originated in **Oregon, USA in 1982** on a cherry farm near The Dalles, owned by **Linda and Richard Koehl**. A short-haired tabby barn cat named **Speedy** gave birth to a litter that included a completely **hairless** female kitten they named **Curly**. At 8 weeks she developed corkscrew curls and became the **single founder** of the entire LaPerm breed.

Curly free-mated with several barn tomcats (mixed pedigrees), and many first-generation offspring showed the same 'hairless at birth, curly at 8 weeks' pattern — **proving that the LaPerm curl is a dominant trait (Lpm)**.

Linda Koehl did not realize she had a new breed until the early 1990s, when experts at cat shows encouraged formal recognition. Because the coat **looks like a permed hairstyle**, she named it **LaPerm** (French for 'the perm').

To broaden the gene pool early breeders outcrossed to **Siamese, Burmese, Russian Blue and Manx** — so modern LaPerms have a moderate Oriental body (slim but not extreme).

**TICA** recognized the LaPerm in 2002, **CFA** in 2008 and **FIFe** in 2019. Both **Shorthair and Longhair** varieties are recognized. Molecular research has not yet identified the exact LaPerm curl locus (different from KRT71 in Devon/Selkirk or LPAR6 in Cornish); it is presumed to be an **independent fourth curly mutation** in a keratin- or hair-structure-related gene.

The LaPerm's **corkscrew ringlets** are an independent phenotype completely different from the waves of the Cornish, Devon or Selkirk. The CFA standard reads *corkscrew ringlets, plumed tail, tousled uncombed look*.

- **Head**: **medium-long wedge** (Oriental influence) — longer than a Selkirk, shorter than a Siamese - **Ears**: medium-large with slightly rounded tips, medium-set - **Eyes**: **almond-shaped and slightly oblique**, in vivid colors - **Body**: **moderate Oriental type** — slim but not as extreme as a Siamese/Oriental; tightly muscled but not heavy - **Coat**: **corkscrew curls, varying in length** — tightest on the neck and tail (a 'mane' and 'plumed tail'), looser on back and belly - **Texture**: like **a wool yarn ball** — rougher than Cornish, looser than Selkirk - **Whiskers and eyebrows**: **curly and noticeably long**, matching the coat

**Newborn kittens**: the LaPerm's most unique trait — **newborn kittens are typically bald or very sparsely coated**, growing curls at 2-4 weeks and completing coat development at 4-6 months. Some individuals go through a 'bald phase' plus 'straight-coat transition' before returning to full curls — the most dramatic coat progression of any Rex.

**Two divisions**: - **Shorthair**: tight corkscrews, bottle-brush tail - **Longhair**: fluffy corkscrews with a distinct mane and long plumed tail

All colors and patterns are accepted. Adults weigh 3-5.5 kg.

The LaPerm blends **'wild-farm-cat (Speedy line)' and 'Oriental-cat (Siamese/Burmese outcross)'** lineages, giving it a mix of **'farm-cat independence and cleverness plus Oriental clinginess and vocal chatter'** — noticeably different from the other Rex breeds.

**Key behavioral traits**: 1. **Affectionate and interactive**: follows the owner, jumps into laps, head-butts — more active than the Selkirk, calmer than the Devon or Cornish 2. **Highly intelligent**: learns to open doors, drawers and press switches; **one of the easiest breeds to clicker-train** 3. **Curiosity fiend**: obsessed with inspecting new objects, drawers, boxes — keep cupboards and refrigerators secured 4. **Vocal but soft**: fine, trill-rich voice that loves 'conversation' 5. **Shoulder- and head-topper**: like the Devon Rex, loves to climb its human — but calmer, less frantic 6. **Strong hunting instinct**: the farm heritage preserves keen mousing behavior — pests will be actively caught 7. **Great with children, dogs and other cats**

**Watch out for**: - >6 hours alone daily causes visible anxiety - Extreme curiosity means **home safety is essential** (prevent ingestion and door-opening escapes) - Thrives with training-focused owners; unstimulated LaPerms become destructive

The LaPerm is a flagship **'intelligence-companion cat'** — perfect for families who enjoy training and playtime.

LaPerm care is **'medium to easy'** among the Rex family — the corkscrew curls are neither as dense as a Selkirk nor as fragile as a Cornish.

1. **Brushing**: - **1-2 times a week** with a **wide-tooth comb** from root to tip - Longhair **2-3 times a week**, focused on the tail and neck mane - Moulting season (spring/autumn): step up to 3-4 times a week

2. **Bathing**: - **Every 6-8 weeks** with a low-allergen pet shampoo - **Do not blow-dry straight**: cool air plus finger-scrunching preserves the corkscrews - LaPerm curls are more stable than Cornish/Devon and rebound naturally when wet

3. **Diet**: - Standard high-quality cat food, protein >36% - 2-3 meals a day; avoid overfeeding in adulthood - Farm-line metabolism is moderate — more stable than Devon/Cornish

4. **Eyes and ears**: wipe or clean weekly

5. **Exercise**: - 20+ minutes of daily interaction (feather wand, laser, ball throwing) - A 1.5-2 m cat tree plus intelligence toys (food mazes, puzzle boxes) - **Tip**: 5 minutes of daily clicker training — LaPerm is an excellent training subject

6. **Teeth and claws**: standard care

7. **Shedding**: - Less than Selkirk (three layers but short and curly) - Slightly more than Devon/Cornish - Noticeable during moulting but not severe

The LaPerm is **the healthiest member of the Rex family** — Curly's single-founder start plus early farm-mix genes plus later Siamese/Burmese/Russian Blue/Manx outcrosses gives it a **broader gene pool** without the single-founder narrow-lineage problems of the Devon or Cornish.

1. **Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)**: - Moderate incidence (lower than Devon/Cornish) - **Recommend an echocardiogram every 2 years from age 4-5**

2. **Urinary crystals and stones**: - Some individuals (mostly males) develop feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) - Ensure water intake and >30% wet food ratio

3. **Patellar luxation**: - Lower incidence than Devon/Cornish — near the domestic-cat average

4. **Hairball blockage**: - Longhair variety may occasionally suffer trichobezoar-related intestinal obstruction - Use regular hairball paste

5. **Gingivitis**: - Some Oriental-influenced individuals are prone - Weekly brushing plus annual dental cleaning

6. **Anesthesia risk**: - **Normal** (better than Devon/Cornish) — no short-muzzle structure, no extremely low body fat

7. **Genetic testing to request**: - **PK-Def (pyruvate kinase deficiency)** — rare risk inherited from the Siamese/Burmese line, testable at UC Davis VGL - **GM2 gangliosidosis** — rare Burmese-line risk

8. **Average lifespan**: **12-16 years**, slightly longer than Devon/Cornish, comparable to Selkirk.

**Before you buy**: request an **HCM echo, PK-Def test and three-generation pedigree**. LaPerm is rare and few registered catteries exist — beware of backyard breeders.

The LaPerm is a combination of **'athleticism + interaction + unique looks'**, suited to moderately-to-highly active households.

**A good match for**: - Owners who enjoy **training cats and teaching tricks** (clicker training, fetch) - **Multi-member families** with children, dogs or other cats - Owners who are home **>6 hours a day** (remote workers, retirees) - Fans of a **low-allergen, curly-coated, medium-length coat with strong curiosity** breed - Homes with room for a cat tree and puzzle toys - Anyone who has kept a Devon or Cornish Rex but wants to try **something calmer**

**Not a match for**: - Owners who live alone and are away >8 hours daily - Households seeking a quiet, independent pet (see Persian, Chartreux, Russian Blue) - Very busy owners with no time for brushing - Households with severe cat allergies (**the LaPerm is relatively but not absolutely low-allergen** — always do a skin contact test before buying) - Owners who cannot tolerate a cat that opens cupboards and drawers

**Special notes**: - **Strict indoor housing**: farm heritage plus strong curiosity = escape-prone - **Home safety**: lock all cupboards, drawers, refrigerators and medicine cabinets — a LaPerm will open them - **Rare in China**: beware of 'permed street cat' fakes; a legitimate breed requires a three-generation pedigree - **Consider certified overseas catteries**: reputable LaPerm breeders exist in North America, Australia and Europe — imports cost more but ensure clean genetics