The Laperm Cat, a breed as unique as its naturally curled coat, stands out in the feline world. Originating from a spontaneous mutation in Oregon, USA, in the 1980s, the LaPerm has quickly captivated cat lovers globally with its distinctive appearance and endearing personality. This comprehensive guide delves into the fascinating world of the LaPerm cat, exploring its breed standards, physical characteristics, temperament, grooming needs, and everything that makes this curly-coated feline a truly special companion.
Breed Standards: Defining the LaPerm Cat
The LaPerm is recognized by major cat registries worldwide, each with its own nuanced interpretation of the breed standard. However, certain core characteristics remain consistent across these standards, emphasizing the LaPerm’s natural, moderate, and balanced traits.
General Appearance
The LaPerm cat is a medium-sized breed, known for its athletic and alert demeanor. Despite their seemingly delicate appearance, they possess a surprising weight for their size, indicating a sturdy and robust build. Harmony and balance are key features, with all body parts in proportion to create an overall elegant and well-put-together cat. Sexual dimorphism is apparent, with females generally exhibiting a more refined and smaller stature compared to their male counterparts. The breed is considered slow to mature, reaching full maturity around 2-3 years of age, with females typically maturing earlier than males.
Head
The head of the LaPerm cat is described as a modified wedge shape, featuring gentle contours and a slightly rounded skull. The whisker pads are notably full and rounded, contributing to a soft facial expression, and are adorned with long, flexible whiskers.
Muzzle and Chin
The muzzle is broad with rounded contours, displaying a moderate to strong whisker pinch. A firm and strong chin is a defining feature, forming a perpendicular line downwards from the tip of the nose. In mature males, allowances are made for the development of jowls, a common characteristic in many male cat breeds.
Profile
The profile is characterized by a subtle dip in the nose, situated just below the bottom of the eye. From this point, the nose continues in a straight line to the tip. This dip is a tactile feature, sometimes more easily felt than seen. The forehead should present a flat plane extending to the top of the head, transitioning into a smooth, gentle curve that flows over the head and into the neck.
Ears
The ears are set to continue the modified wedge shape of the head, positioned slightly flared and cupped. They are medium to large in size, adding to the alert expression of the LaPerm cat. Full furnishings within the ears and earmuffs (longer fur around the base of the ears) are preferred in the longhair variety, along with lynx tipping (darker tips on the ear fur), though these are not mandatory in shorthair LaPerms.
Eyes
The eyes of the LaPerm cat are medium-large, expressive, and almond-shaped when relaxed, becoming rounder when the cat is alert. They are moderately spaced and slightly slanted towards the base of the ears, contributing to the breed’s distinctive look. Interestingly, eye color is not correlated with coat color in LaPerms, allowing for a beautiful diversity of eye shades.
Body
The body of the LaPerm cat is moderate in size, supported by medium-fine to medium boning. A slight rise in the hips, being marginally higher than the shoulders, is a characteristic trait. While males can be larger than females, maintaining balance and proportion is paramount in judging the breed.
Neck
The neck is carried erect and is medium-long, maintaining proportion with the body. It contributes to the LaPerm’s graceful and poised stance.
Legs and Feet
The legs are medium-long, harmonizing with the body length. The forelegs may be slightly shorter than the hind legs. Bone structure is medium-fine, consistent with the body, and the feet are rounded.
Tail
The tail is in proportion to the body, tapering gracefully from a wider base to the tip.
Coat: The Defining Feature
The coat is undoubtedly the most distinguishing feature of the LaPerm cat. It is the result of a natural gene mutation and comes in both longhair and shorthair varieties, both exhibiting the signature curls or waves.
Longhair Coat
- Texture and Length: The longhair LaPerm boasts a semi-long coat. Mature males and females may develop a ruff around the neck, enhancing their elegant appearance. The coat is characterized by its lightness and springiness, feeling airy to the touch. It should be free of matting, indicating it is not overly dense or heavy. The tail is plumed with curls, adding to the overall curly aesthetic. The feel of the coat can vary slightly depending on the individual cat and its color.
- Curl or Waviness: The hallmark of the longhair LaPerm is its curly or wavy coat, with curls being the preferred trait. The coat is loose, bouncy, and stands away from the body, inviting you to run your fingers through it. It’s described as light and airy enough to part with a breath, giving it an almost deliberately tousled, “Gypsy Shag” look. The tightest curls are typically found in the ruff and at the base of the ears, while the longest curls are present in the ruff, ear base, and tail base. Seasonal and maturity-related variations in coat length and fullness are expected. Sometimes, the coat will naturally part down the middle of the back, adding to its unique charm.
Shorthair Coat
- Texture and Length: The shorthair LaPerm’s coat ranges from short to approximately medium-long. Unlike the longhair variety, the tail is not plumed, although it may exhibit waviness. The coat retains the springy, light, and airy texture characteristic of the breed. The texture might feel slightly coarser than the longhair coat and can vary across individual cats and colors. The shorthair coat also stands away from the body, displaying waves across most of the cat.
- Curl or Waviness: The shorthair LaPerm coat is also curly or wavy. A ruff, ringlets, or earmuffs are not required in this variety. The tail has a distinctive “bottlebrush” appearance due to the wavy fur. Similar to the longhair, the shorthair coat may occasionally part naturally down the middle of the back.
Coat Color and Patterns: A Spectrum of Possibilities
One of the joys of the LaPerm cat breed is the vast array of colors and patterns they can exhibit. Breed standards recognize all genetically possible colors and combinations, offering incredible variety within the breed.
Color Palette
The LaPerm color palette includes a full spectrum of solid colors such as:
- White: A pure, glistening white.
- Black: A dense, coal black from root to tip.
- Blue: A preferred light shade of even tone.
- Red: A deep, clear red without markings or ticking.
- Cream: An even shade of buff cream.
- Chocolate: A rich, warm chocolate brown.
- Cinnamon: A light reddish-brown, warmer and redder than chocolate.
- Fawn: A light lavender with pale cocoa undertones.
- Lavender: A frosty, grey-pink of even shade.
Beyond solid colors, LaPerms can also display a range of patterns, including:
- Shaded Pattern: Featuring a white undercoat with colored tipping that darkens from the ridge to the sides, face, and tail, fading to white on the chin, stomach, and under the tail. Variations include Shaded Silver, Blue Shaded, and many more, each with specific nose leather and paw pad colors.
- Chinchilla Pattern: A sparkling appearance due to black or colored tipping on a pure white undercoat. Golden Chinchilla is a notable variation with a warm cream undercoat.
- Smoke Pattern: A dramatic pattern where a white undercoat is deeply tipped with color, making the cat appear to be of the marking color at rest, revealing the white undercoat in motion. Black Smoke, Blue Smoke, and Tortoiseshell Smoke are among the variations.
- Tabby Patterns: Including Classic Tabby, Mackerel Tabby, Spotted Tabby, and Ticked Tabby, each with distinct markings and color combinations like Silver Tabby, Brown Tabby, Blue Tabby, and more. Patched Tabby (Tortie Tabby) adds patches of red and/or cream to the tabby patterns.
- Pointed Patterns: Similar to Siamese patterns, with color concentrated on the points (face, ears, paws, tail). Seal Point, Chocolate Point, Blue Point, and Lynx Points (tabby markings on the points) are examples.
- Mink and Sepia Patterns: Unique patterns with rich, warm colors and specific shading. Natural Mink, Champagne Mink, Sable Sepia, and Champagne Sepia are examples.
- Karpati Pattern: A unique pattern characterized by white hairs interspersed throughout the coat, lighter points, and shading, occurring across all colors and patterns.
Eye Color
Adding to the breed’s diversity, LaPerm cats can have a wide range of eye colors, including copper, gold, yellow, green, blue, aqua (in mink variations), or even odd eyes (two different colored eyes). There is no required correlation between eye color and coat color, making each LaPerm truly unique.
Temperament and Personality: More Than Just a Pretty Curl
Beyond their striking appearance, LaPerm cats are celebrated for their affectionate, intelligent, and playful personalities. They are known to be very people-oriented, often described as “Velcro cats” due to their desire to be close to their human companions.
- Affectionate and Social: LaPerms thrive on interaction and are known for forming strong bonds with their families. They are generally good with children and other pets, making them excellent family companions.
- Intelligent and Curious: Their intelligence makes them easily trainable, and they often enjoy puzzle toys and interactive games. Their curious nature means they love to explore their surroundings and are always interested in what their humans are doing.
- Playful and Active: While not overly demanding in terms of energy, LaPerms are playful cats who enjoy regular playtime. They retain their kitten-like playfulness well into adulthood.
- Gentle and Vocal: They are typically gentle cats with a soft voice, often using chirps and trills to communicate. They are not usually excessively vocal but will “talk” to their owners.
Grooming and Care: Maintaining the Curls
Despite their curly coats, LaPerm cats are surprisingly low-maintenance in terms of grooming.
- Coat Care: Their loose, springy coat is less prone to matting than some longhaired breeds. Weekly brushing is usually sufficient to remove loose hair and keep their curls looking their best. Shorthair LaPerms require even less grooming.
- Bathing: Bathing is generally not necessary unless the cat gets particularly dirty.
- Other Care: Regular nail trimming, ear cleaning, and dental care are essential for all cats, including LaPerms.
Health Considerations
LaPerms are generally considered a healthy breed, likely due to their natural origins and diverse gene pool. However, like all breeds, they can be prone to certain health issues. Responsible breeders screen their cats for genetic conditions. It’s always important to obtain a LaPerm from a reputable breeder who prioritizes health and temperament.
Is a LaPerm Cat Right for You?
The LaPerm cat is an ideal companion for individuals and families who are looking for an affectionate, intelligent, and moderately active cat with a unique and beautiful appearance. Their relatively low-grooming needs and adaptable nature make them suitable for various lifestyles. If you appreciate a cat that is both stunning to look at and deeply engaging to live with, the LaPerm may be the perfect breed for you.
In Conclusion
The LaPerm cat, with its enchanting curls and captivating personality, is a breed that truly stands out. From its humble beginnings as a barn cat mutation to its current status as a recognized and beloved breed worldwide, the LaPerm continues to charm cat enthusiasts with its unique blend of beauty, intelligence, and affection. Whether you are drawn to their distinctive curly coat or their endearing temperament, the LaPerm cat offers a truly rewarding feline companionship experience.
