LaPerm Cat
The cat born BALD that grows a curly, shaggy "perm" — nature's own makeover from an Oregon barn. Many LaPerm kittens arrive completely bald or with straight hair, then develop ringlets at 3-4 months. Complete guide: a single barn cat named Curly started it all in 1982, and the dominant gene means 50% of kittens inherit the curls.
📋 Breed Overview
📖 About the LaPerm
LaPerm began with a single barn cat named Curly on a cherry farm in Oregon in 1982. Born bald with tabby-striped skin, she grew soft ringlets. Her kittens also arrived bald and grew curls. Geneticists confirmed a new, dominant mutation — different from Devon, Cornish, and Selkirk Rex genes. CFA recognized in 2008. Kittens may be born completely bald, with straight hair, or wavy — curls develop at 3-4 months and may change through the first year. Adult coat ranges from loose waves to tight ringlets. Shorthair and longhair varieties. Low-shedding, hypoallergenic. Minimal grooming — weekly brushing. Large, diverse gene pool — very healthy. No breed-specific genetic diseases.