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LaPerm Information

      Sueno - lilac caramel mink bicolour 

The LaPerm is one of the four main Rex breeds along with the Devon Rex, Cornish Rex and Selkirk Rex. They have in common a curly coat, but from unrelated, naturally occurring mutations in domestic cats.

          Devon                               Cornish                                  Selkirk Shorthair

            Honey                                         Linkin                                                 Beck
         a rescue cat                    DGCh Coslinkar Sir Phillip                         Mirkwood Bechamel

                                   LAPERM HISTORY

LaPerms first appeared in Oregon, USA amongst a colony of barn cats in 1982, when a kitten was born bald but later developed a curly coat. They were not developed as a breed for nearly ten years, and by this time there was a large population of curly cats there from this dominant gene, which also had a distinct look of its own.

The LaPerm was recognised by TICA for NBC status 1995.

1997-98 LaPerms were exported to New Zealand, South Africa,  Japan and Germany.

1999-2004 they spread to Russia, Netherlands, Sweden, France, UK and Australia.

CFA recognised the breed in Miscellaneous class in 2000.

The LaPerm gained Championship status in TICA in 2002 and with CFA finally in February 2008. In Australia, QFA and GCCFSA accepted the LaPerm in March 2008, ACF and CCCA in June of that year.

The only permitted outcross is the Domestic cat (either shorthair or longhair) as per the standard set by the country of origin (USA), and agreed to in Australia by ACF and CCCA.

                                                .....................................................

PLEASE NOTE

The UK formerly permitted outcrossing only to other pedigree breeds, but has changed this to allow Domestics as well.

We believe that using the Domestic cat as an outcross is the way to preserve the unique look and temperament of the LaPerm. Although there are other breeds back in our cats' ancestries due to outcrossing done before our time under different registry rules, we are breeding to the TICA standard adopted by ACF.

The LaPerm has no known breed specific health issues at this time and we would like to preserve this good reputation.

Responsible breeders will DNA test their cats to ensure the good health, not only of their own cattery, but of the breed as a whole.

                                    DESCRIPTION

The LaPerm comes in any colour, pattern or eye shade. The coat is light, airy and textured, never heavy or wiry, does not matt, and there is very little shedding. They do not need brushing or grooming and I only bathe mine for shows, to better fluff up the curl.

Archangel 7 mths - black silver tabby bicolour

This is a medium sized cat, with a modified wedge shaped head, long neck and slim foreign-type body.

Boys are usually markedly larger than the girls.

         
      * head shape *   Frizzante - seal silver tortie mink van               * profile *    Cumin - chocolate tabby mink

The largish ears follow the angles of the head, with the muzzle prominent, not pointed, and the long legs have rounded paws, with hindlegs longer than the forelegs.

Echo 7mths - red silver classic tabby and white

                             Winter - lilac caramel tabby and white     * longer hind legs *

                             summer coat 18mths   -   Lucy's ruff   -  winter coat 30 mths old      

The coat is shorter over the shoulders with the longest curls on the belly, and the neck ruff on longhaired LaPerms. The ruff may be more apparent in cold months and the mature cat.

                           * full neck ruff in winter * Arkie 3 yrs - red silver tabby bicolour

* tummy curls *  Sueno 20 mths - lilac caramel mink bicolour

The long tail forms a full plume in the longhair and a bottlebrush in the shorthair cat.

          Sierra - chocolate torbie mink bicolour    * plumed tail *    Chinotto - chocolate tabby bicolour

                          * shorthaired coat *  Melody - black silver tortie spotted tabby bicolour

                                * longhaired coat *  Storm - black silver tortie tabby and white

All have very long curly whiskers and eyebrows. This is unusual in Rex breeds as the Devon, Cornish and Selkirk Rex have brittle whiskers that break off short. The LaPerm's whiskers are flexible, very long and individual - they can be Dali-esque, crimped, or every-which-way. Occasionally an eyebrow will need to be trimmed to prevent it curling into the eye.

                               * curly whiskers and eyebrows *  Sumac - seal mink and white 

They can be born curly (BC), or born bald (BB) as was the first LaPerm, and this is noted on their pedigree to track the occurrence. The coat will go through changes before full development by three years old (see COAT CHANGES page). It may come and go with hormone fluctuations too, making it difficult for a breeding female to look her best, but desexing will stabilise this.

See also our pages on individual cats for illustration of how the coat evolves as the cat matures eg SUENO, ARKON, GAMBIT.

As you can see, the coat takes a while to reach its full maturity, so your LaPerm kitten does not look like a miniature LaPerm adult. The kitten's coat is much shorter and as it gets longer, it will get more curl and the tail will begin to plume out (longhair only).

    caramel mink bicolour - Sueno  *  long curly whiskers  *  Tangles - blue caramel silver tabby point and white

    Khamsin - blue tortie tabby and white

    Bullet (straighthaired LaPerm) and new best friend Thomas

                                       Jared with the brothers Cumin, Zedoary and Coriander

But the best thing about a LaPerm is its personality. It is not a couch potato but an alert, intelligent and active cat, who is also very cuddly and loving, and one who will want to bond closely with its owners.

They are an interactive cat and will follow you around to see what you're doing, are likely to come up on your lap for kisses or to pat your face affectionately, or to sit on your chest and look deeply into your eyes (soul-staring!) Some will play 'fetch' with their chosen toy. They are not generally vocal, they get on well with other breeds or animals, and are a gentle companion for children.

The LaPerm loves company, so if you are not home much they will need a companion such as another cat (preferably with the same energy levels) or a cat-friendly dog.

               Sam and Lucy                                                         Saskia and Zahtar

                     Sierra and Sumac                                                     Scarlett (Chermoula) and Maddie

                     Koda (Tamarind) and friend                          Kashmir with new mate Sherlock the spaniel

Archie (Archipelago) and Karma

Kashmir and Niamh

Miss Amaya (Amaya) with her new companion Ella