Laperm - History of the breed, description, character, care and rules for keeping a long-haired cat

Origin story

Officially, the year of birth of the Laperm breed is considered to be 1982: when a hairless kitten was born on an ordinary farm in the American town of Dallas.
His mother was a simple mongrel cat, his father was a “visiting” cat-traveler, so the birth of a baby without hair, but with bluish spots on the skin, was treated rather indifferently: what to take from the little freak? Let him live. However, after a couple of months, the owners were pleasantly surprised: the kitten’s body was covered with unusually soft to the touch, and most importantly, curly fur of a beautiful shade. Naturally, they named the baby Curly.

Over time, the number of curly-haired cats increased and the owners began to wonder: what’s the matter? A couple of cats were taken to a local exhibition and shown to specialists, and they rendered a verdict: they had never seen such an amazing mutation, which means that a new, unprecedented breed had appeared. And it should be developed further.

Richard and Linda Coel, the owners, did not put the matter on hold. It turned out that the curly gene is the dominant gene, and it is transmitted both through the mother and through the father. This greatly simplified the breeding task. The first nursery was opened, several exhibitions were held, and work began to stabilize the breed. The crossbreeding involved Manx cats, Siamese cats, and domestic mongrel cats of similar build.

In 1997, a standard was drawn up, and gradually the breed was recognized one by one by major world felinological organizations: TICA in 2002, CFA in 2008, ACFA in 2011, ACFA in 2011. In 2021, the breed became closed, i.e. cats are no longer allowed to be crossed with other breeds.

The name of the breed consists of the English “perm” - perm and the French article “la”.

Origin of the breed history of Laperm cats

The main feature of laperm cats is their curly hair of medium or increased length, which comes in different colors.

The world community owes the appearance of the breed to an ordinary English cat lover, who left a hairless kitten from the next litter of her pet.

Over time, the kitten became covered with curly and curly fur, which became one of the characteristic features of this amazing breed.

Another distinctive feature of the breed remains the long, curly whiskers; today these cats are quite common in Africa and Europe, Australia and Asia, and have received recognition from the world community.

Standards

Laperm are quite large cats. Females are usually smaller than males and weigh 2-2.5 kg. Males can exceed the 5 kg bar. They are proportionally built, muscular, but at the same time elegant and graceful.

Special mention should be made about wool. Laperms are divided into short-haired and long-haired.

The coat of short-haired cats is airy, light and wavy, but in some individuals it can be harsh. It lies in large waves, there is often a “collar” in the neck area, and tassels on the ears, but their absence is not considered a defect. The tail looks like a bottle brush.

Long-haired individuals have disheveled fur, a soft “collar” is always present on the neck, and the tail resembles a plume. It can be either curly or wavy, it can change density depending on the season, but it should always be airy and light. This is easy to check: if you blow on it, it moves apart. Hangs along the spine.

Laperm kittens are born hairless, and curls begin to appear at about 2 months of age.

Significant deficiencies for which points will be deducted in competitions:

• Tiger pattern on the coat, spots;
• Different wool texture.

An animal is removed from the competition if it has:

• Strabismus;
• Paws that are too short or massive;
• The body is stocky and large;
• There are extra fingers;
• The coat is not curly or wavy, but straight and thick;
• Cryptorchidism;
• The tail is short or too long, with bumps or knots visible on it;
• Bald spots and bald patches are clearly visible on the fur of adult cats (over a year old).

Do you want to buy a curly-haired kitten? Contact the nursery. When buying a baby secondhand, you risk running into scammers. The cost of one kitten is at least 400 dollars. A healthy kitten, raised in love, has clean and clear eyes, ears and mouth, it does not run wild and does not shy away from human hands. Pedigree is required if you are planning breeding: the data is printed on the organizational form and secured by the signature of the manager. A veterinary passport is also required, which must contain information about vaccinations.

Description and features

The Cat Connoisseurs Association (FCI) latest edition of the standard dates back to 2014. He describes exactly what a laperm cat . Significant points of the document:

• General information. The Laperm breed is the result of a natural mutation. The cats are not large, with curly hair. They can be long-haired or short-haired. All coat and eye colors are acceptable, and their combination is not limited. The structure of the body and the relationship of its parts are harmonious. Moves on high legs. Females are slightly smaller than males. The Laperm cat full readiness for reproduction by 2-3 years. Cats mature earlier.
• Head. When viewed from above, it is wedge-shaped with rounded corners.
• Muzzle. Wide, rounded. Convex, rounded whisker pads stand out. The mustache itself is long and flexible. The chin is strong and firm. A clearly visible vertical stripe runs down from the tip of the nose.
• Profile. A small bridge of the nose, just below the eye line. Next comes a straight shelf up to the nose, after which the profile line goes down. The forehead is flat to the top. The occipital part smoothly passes into the neck.
• Ears. Deflected from the vertical, the lateral lines of the head continue, forming the main wedge. The ears are cup-shaped, widened towards the base. Can be medium or large. In long-haired cats, tassels like those of a lynx are desirable. For shorthaired dogs this accessory is optional.
• Eyes. Expressive, medium size. In a calm state, almond-shaped, with squinting eyes. When alert, the eyes open wide and take on a round shape. Moderately wide apart. The axes of the eyes are inclined relative to the line connecting the bases of the ears. Color is not related to the pattern or color of the coat.

• Torso. Moderate size with not rough, medium bone. The back line is straight, inclined forward. Hips slightly higher than shoulders.
• Neck. Straight, medium length, consistent with body length.
• Limbs. Medium length, commensurate with body length. The hind limbs are slightly longer or equal to the forelimbs.
• Tail. Long, but not excessively, tapering from root to tip.
• Long-haired cover. Hair length is medium. Strands are wavy or with curls. A “collar” appears on the neck in adulthood and older age. Wool with a slight shine, light, elastic, airy. Should not give the impression of being too thick or heavy. Tail with curls.
• Short-haired cover. Hair length from short to medium. The texture is coarser than that of long-haired animals. Overall - light and elastic. The fur is bristling all over the body and does not adhere to the body. The tail is covered with sparse, tousled hair.
• Wool color. Any genetically possible or arbitrary combination of any shades is allowed. LaPerm often appears in photos with the most unusual coat color.
• Eye color. Can be copper, gold, yellow, green, any shade of blue. No correlation between eye and coat color is required.

Among all possible colors, the classic tabby is the most common. This is an ordinary color that can be called the calling card of the cat world. The first laperm wore a fur coat with a tabby pattern. Therefore, it (the tabby pattern) is the most significant. The standard describes it in detail.

The stripes are wide, fairly contrasting, and not blurred. The legs are covered with transverse “bracelets” that rise towards the stripes of the body. The tail is lined with wide crossbars. Continuous wide rings, “necklaces”, cover the neck and upper chest.

On the forehead, transverse stripes form the letter “M” with complex contours. They resemble folds of frown. A continuous line runs from the outer corner of the eye to the junction of the head and neck. There are swirls on the cheeks. There are vertical lines along the back of the head to the shoulders.

On the back, the stripes form a “butterfly” that lowers its wings onto the sides of the animal. There are distinct dots located within the outline of the wings. Three lines run from the middle of the back to the base of the tail. One is central - exactly along the spine. The belly and lower chest are decorated with faint transverse stripes.

Laperm black is very popular. According to the standard, the color of the coat should be charcoal from root to tip. The nose and bare skin on the paws (pads) are also black. Due to their natural disheveled appearance, black cats resemble anxious chimney sweeps.

Colors

Experts allow any colors: both pure and in combination. The most common are the following:

• Black (nose and paw pads are also jet black);
• White (pink paws and nose);
• Red (pink nose and paws, ticking not desirable);
• Ivory (paw pads and nose are colored cream);
• Brown (both light and dark chocolate shade).

In the photo there are cats of the LaPerm breed of popular colors: red, black, white.
The total number of colors in the standard is 30. Hereditary: tabby and tortoiseshell.

Health and susceptibility to disease

Under good conditions, LaPerms can live for more than 10 years.
In terms of health, LaPerm cats can boast over other felines. This is due to their spontaneous occurrence, and not during artificial crossing. But they also tend to get sick periodically.

They are susceptible to:

• parasitic lesions;
• allergies;
• viral, bacterial pathologies.

With proper care and a balanced diet, Lapremas can safely live up to 15 years. This is also explained by excellent health and the absence of inherited diseases.

Infectious and viral lesions associated with serious injuries can shorten the lifespan of Laperms. Poor care, poor quality and infrequent nutrition also adversely affect the health of pets.

Curly-haired cats are naturally cheerful and active. However, in the absence of early socialization, these positive qualities quickly become dull. The animal becomes passive and downtrodden.

Character and behavior

This wonderful curly ball is incredibly kind and affectionate. He experiences the kindest emotions towards a person, does not hesitate to demonstrate his affection: he strives to climb onto his owner’s shoulder and lick his nose and ears, touch his face with his paws, look into his eyes. The cat’s favorite place is the shoulders and chest of a person, and in the hands the cat feels absolutely protected.

Name the cat who always wanted to live together

BasilioLeopold

She is inquisitive, but at any moment she is able to drop what she’s doing and rush to the call. Playful, but only if someone keeps her company. If a person refuses to chase a ball and prefers to sit with a book or in front of the TV, he will purr and sit next to him, and will be quite happy with this pastime. It may seem intrusive because it follows its leader literally on his heels, trying not to lose sight of him for a second.

Applies equally well to both adults and children. He plays with the kids with great joy, patiently endures being poked and pulled by the tail, and when it becomes completely unbearable, he tries to slowly sneak away to his house. Other animals living in the same territory as the laperm arouse great interest in her and a desire to make friends. And it doesn’t matter whether they are cats or dogs. But other, smaller creatures awaken hunting instincts, because cats of this breed are surprisingly dexterous hunters! With all this (surprisingly) they are absolutely not jealous.

Expert opinion

Dusheba Vera Ivanovna

In 2010, she graduated from the Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine named after K.I. Scriabin with honors, specializing in veterinary medicine. I regularly attend veterinary conferences, congresses, and webinars.

Kittens can be taken from their mother at the age of 5-6 months. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, in the first 2 months, kittens develop immunity (and the mother helps with this). Secondly, funny curls appear by 4 months. Thirdly, these kittens are very attached to their mother and early separation causes serious harm to their psyche. Wait a little: the mother cat will be better able to teach the kitten the necessary skills than you - to use the litter box and eat, communicate with her own kind and people.

They get along well both in city apartments and in private houses, but in both places they require regular walks. Train your pet to use a leash from an early age.

He is not afraid of strangers and happily runs to meet them. Willingly allows himself to be stroked and even picked up.

A significant drawback is the following: Laperm does not take punishment seriously. If he breaks a vase and the owner scolds him, the cat will decide that the reason is a bad mood, and not the vase. You will have to be very patient and control yourself because this can be difficult to deal with at times.

An overly friendly character can lead to problems on walks. Seeing a dog, a laperm can rush to it to “say hello”, and this poses a serious danger to its health and even life. Don't let your pet run around without a leash and in general: don't take your eyes off him.

Character

These are perky and sweet creatures. A
distinctive feature of Laperm's character is cheerfulness, playfulness, and good-naturedness. Cats are overly sociable and especially love to spend time with their owner and his family members. At the same time, they are not intrusive, but they do not refuse affection. When people don’t pay attention to them because they are busy, they try to sit on their laps or shoulders.

Their friendliness manifests itself not only towards their immediate environment, but also towards guests. Laperms get along well with other pets without conflict. But small animals (rodents, birds) are associated with prey, since the animal has an innate hunting instinct. So there is no need to take risks with such a neighborhood. This is an ideal pet for families with children, with whom he is always willing to frolic.

Laperms are usually silent, but they express pleasure with a purr and protest with a quiet meow. They also have a developed intelligence, which manifests itself in everyday life and games. They are easy to train, quickly remember their nickname, and respond to it like dogs. They get used to the tray without any problems and know the location of the food bowls. It is enough to outline the rules in the house once, they will strictly follow them.

Lapermas do not tolerate long-term separation from their owner. Therefore, busy people who often leave home for a long time should not have such a pet.

Care instructions

It is believed that this breed is less allergenic than others. Reason: lack of undercoat. However, this can only be verified experimentally.

Wool

Caring for a Laperm cat is not difficult, but it requires care. Her curly fur does not tolerate hot air, so you cannot use a hairdryer after bathing, and don’t let her lie near radiators breathing heat - the “curl” will be ruined.

Expert opinion

Dusheba Vera Ivanovna

In 2010, she graduated from the Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine named after K.I. Scriabin with honors, specializing in veterinary medicine. I regularly attend veterinary conferences, congresses, and webinars.

Cats should not be bathed often: firstly, they themselves are good at “making a mess”, and secondly, water and detergents (even the best) wash away the protective layer from the skin, which can cause various types of irritation. Take your pet to the bathroom if he is so dirty (for example, in soot, oil, or something disgusting-smelling) that he definitely cannot clean himself properly. And also: before the exhibition and childbirth. The first bath is not earlier than 4-5 months (when baby teeth fall out).

It is enough to comb once a week, during shedding - 2-3 times. You need a comb with rubber teeth, a brush with natural bristles. You can also collect excess hair from the body with your hands: wet them and pull the skin a little.

Ears

Ears are examined and cleaned once a week. Excess wax is wiped off with a cotton swab dipped in boiled water or ear lotion. Under no circumstances should you pour liquid into your ear!

Teeth

Teeth are brushed once a month. To do this, buy cat paste with the taste of meat or valerian and a soft brush with short bristles at the veterinary store. If the cat is patient and does not show aggression, you can wrap a piece of gauze around your finger and brush its teeth with it.

Claws

Keeping nails trimmed or trimming depends on how often your cat uses the scratching post. If you don't notice much enthusiasm and she is clearly lazy, you will have to help her.

The claws are cut like this: the cat is fixed in one position (you can wrap it in a towel or ask someone in your household for help) and the tips of the claws are bitten off with a nail clipper. All this is done extremely carefully so as not to touch large vessels and not injure the paw.

Catering

Lapermas are not capricious when it comes to food, but you need to immediately decide how you will feed your pet: should you cook the food yourself or buy ready-made dry and wet food? Both the first and second options have many advantages, but they also have their disadvantages.

Natural products

Natural nutrition, balanced and properly selected, allows you to fully satisfy all the body's needs for nutrients, minerals and vitamins. When choosing products, you can check their quality yourself, choose a more suitable price, and, ultimately, diversify your diet with one dish or another. And the cat definitely won’t get tired of it.

The grocery basket cannot include the following products:

• Fatty meat, lard, tripe (hard on the stomach, high risk of infection with parasites);
• River fish (the same parasites and the risk of developing urolithiasis);
• Marinades, sugar, salt, seasonings, spices (disrupt metabolism);
• Chocolate, mushrooms, eggplants (poisonous);
• Legumes, potatoes (provoke increased gas formation);
• Drinks with caffeine (put stress on the heart);
• Onions, garlic, tomatoes, avocados (cause gastrointestinal upset);
• Nuts, dried fruits (load on the kidneys).

It is also better to exclude salty, smoked, sour foods, citrus fruits, raisins, whole cow's milk, baked goods and flour - they are not beneficial. The same applies to juices, compotes, dog food, canned human food and vitamins.

Here's what you can and should give:

• Porridges cooked in water: rice, oatmeal, millet, buckwheat, pearl barley, semolina;
• Stewed vegetables: zucchini, pumpkin, carrots, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, green salad, parsley, dill;
• Boiled chicken yolk, quail and turkey eggs;
• Raw or cooked lean meat: beef, veal, chicken, lamb and rabbit;
• Sea fish: flounder, trout, hake, salmon (once a week you can treat your cat with boiled peeled shrimp and squid);
• Fermented milk products: organic yogurt, cottage cheese, unsalted hard cheese, yogurt, sour cream, cream;
• Apples, cucumbers, melon, corn.

Give your pet only clean water: settled or passed through a special filter. You can also buy bottled water at the store. Change it 2 times a day and wash the bowl more often.

Recommended food

Ready-made food is convenient if you don’t have time to cook. Choose food from the holistic group: they have the best composition and a good vitamin and mineral supplement. These are Acana, Farmina N&D, Savarra. However, super-premium food is also suitable. But accustom the animal to the food gradually and monitor its reaction: if the cat develops diarrhea, constipation, or skin rashes, replace it with another one.

Below are recommended super-premium foods. Links with the names of the food are clickable, on them you can, within our website, read the descriptions of the food and read reviews from owners of LaPerm cats.

Diseases

This breed has no genetic pathologies, however, hereditary diseases are also not noted. But representatives of this breed are not immune from ordinary cat diseases. Therefore, be sure to give your animal all important vaccinations and anti-worm medications.

Rabies, calcivirosis, rhinotracheitis, panleukopenia, chlamydia, peritonitis (infectious), microsporia and trichophytosis are the main and most common diseases that cause animals a lot of suffering and often lead to death. Vaccinations against them are done once a year, and deworming is carried out beforehand. High-quality vaccines: “Nobivak”, “Quadricat”, “Leukorifelin”, “Fel-o-vax”, “Multifel”.

Laperms have one peculiarity: fleas, once on their skin, often provoke the development of allergies. Therefore, regularly examine your pet and if you notice insects, immediately begin treating it with special preparations. Otherwise, the situation will only get worse.

How to choose the right laperm kitten

The original appearance of kittens and adults leads to the fact that the price of a laperm cat can reach high cost categories.

These pets are quite difficult to acquire, and before purchasing, it is necessary to check the presence of all the necessary documents confirming the pedigree of the animal.