LaPerms are curly coated athletes who love hunting games and playtime. While they won’t warm your lap all day, they make for loving, loyal and intelligent housemates.
Personality and temperament
Bursting with activity, LaPerms are affectionate and love attention from their humans. You’ll find their soft, curly fur is like a magnet – you won’t want to stop patting them. Luckily these sociable felines won’t mind one bit. LaPerms are a curious and intelligent breed and given their farmyard history, it’s no surprise their hunting skills run deep. To save the local wildlife, it’s best to keep your LaPerm indoors or in a cat-safe backyard.
Size and appearance
The signature look of the LaPerm all comes down to their amazingly curly coat that ranges from waves to ringlet curls to corkscrew curls. Much like poodle hair, these curls are light and soft and look their best with light, regular grooming. This is a medium-sized cat that can appear bigger than it is because of its curls (that’s its excuse anyway). Males can be about 6kg, with females slightly less. Their slender, athletic body is packed full of muscles, with a wedge-shaped head, quite large ears and beautiful almond-shaped eyes.
History
The LaPerm story only dates back as far as the 1980s when a farm cat called Speedy gave birth to a bald kitten on a farm in Oregan (US). As that little kitten grew, an unusual mop of curls appeared, covering her whole body. In later litters, more curly-haired kittens appeared, encouraging the farm owners to concentrate on breeding for this unusual (but adorable) look. By 1992, the breed was firmly established and the name – a playful take on the permed-look of 80s curls – was set. LaPerms were introduced to New Zealand just four years later with Australia shortly afterwards.
Health conditions that can affect this breed
Overall, these hardy cats tend to be very healthy, however like all breeds, they can still experience some common health conditions, including:
- Dental disease
- Obesity
- Ear infections (especially in long-haired LaPerms)
- Skin irritation (if over-brushed or bathed too often)
Regular vet check-ups and care can help manage these conditions and keep your LaPerm healthy.
Food and exercise
To keep their gorgeous coat healthy and shiny, LaPerms will benefit from a quality, balanced diet that is high in lean protein. Because of their smarts, puzzle feeders and interactive toys are a great way to serve up dry food or treats.
LaPerms are generally full of energy but can be short-term lap-lovers. They’ll love a challenging climbing tree, tough scratch pole and toys like feather wands and balls with bells. A couple of 10-minute play sessions a day will help them keep boredom at bay, as will children and other pets (even friendly dogs).
Grooming and maintenance
Despite their gorgeous curls, LaPerms are surprisingly low-maintenance. Over-brushing can affect the curl pattern, so light grooming is best. Although LaPerms aren’t fully hypoallergenic, they can be more tolerable for some people than other long-hair breeds.
How to groom your LaPerm
- Coat type: Curly or wavy coat (short or long-haired varieties)
- Fur: Brush gently once or twice a week with a wide-tooth comb to protect the natural curl and prevent tangles.
- Nails: trim every 3-4 weeks
- Ears: check and clean weekly
- Eyes: wipe gently with a soft cloth if needed
Training and space requirements
LaPerms are intelligent and learn quickly. They tend to enjoy training sessions with their human (which double as exercises sessions) and they’ll respond best to positive reinforcement – and treats!
This quirky breed can be just as happy in a small apartment as a large home, as long as they have lots of vertical space to explore, windows to watch from and frequent interactions with their human family.
Best suited for…
Easy to care for and charmingly sweet, LaPerms seek affection and attention, but they aren’t as demanding as some other breeds. They suit first-time cat owners, young families and even multi-pet homes who are looking for a cute and friendly housemate who’ll never say no to a play session.
