LaPerm

The LaPerm is a medium-sized domestic cat recognised by its wavy or curly coat. The curls run from soft waves to tight ringlets, and the texture stays light and airy rather than dense. Both longhair and shorthair varieties exist, and the curly quality is present in each.

LaPerms are affectionate and firmly oriented towards people. They follow the household from room to room, settle onto a lap, and keep themselves in the middle of daily activity. Curiosity is a defining trait, so the breed inspects open drawers, new objects, and any change in its surroundings. Owners often describe LaPerms as gentle but persistent when they seek attention.

The coat is the breed's most distinctive feature, yet the temperament is what keeps owners attached. Singapore's Cat Welfare Society (CWS) estimates the island is home to around 100,000 community cats, and the country has one of the most developed cat-care cultures in the region. Among pedigree breeds, the LaPerm is registered through the Cat Fanciers' Association of Singapore (CFAS) or TICA and stands out for its distinctive curl and compact, flat-friendly size. Its indoor-first temperament suits HDB flats and condominiums well, provided it gets daily company and play.

Who it suits

The LaPerm suits households that want an interactive cat and can offer regular company. It works for families with children, multi-pet homes, and owners who enjoy a cat that stays close. Anyone who prefers an independent, aloof cat may find the breed too attentive. The curly coat sheds only modestly, which appeals to owners sensitive to loose hair, though no cat is ever completely non-shedding. Do note that cats are allowed in HDB flats, so a LaPerm fits well within local housing rules.

The LaPerm began in The Dalles, Oregon, in 1982. A barn cat produced a litter in which one kitten was born hairless. As that kitten grew, it developed a soft, curly coat. The owner, Linda Koehl, kept the cat and observed that the curly trait carried through to later generations of farm cats.

Over the years that followed, the curly cats multiplied across the working cat population on the property. Koehl noticed that the coat appeared in different colours and in both long and short lengths, and that the curls were consistent enough to suggest a single inherited characteristic.

The trait was traced to a dominant gene mutation. Breeders set out to establish the LaPerm as a distinct breed while keeping its natural diversity rather than narrowing it to a single look. The name pairs a French article with a reference to the permed appearance of the coat.

From the 1990s onwards, cat registries began to accept the LaPerm for recognition and competition. In Singapore the breed can be registered through the Cat Fanciers' Association of Singapore (CFAS) or TICA. The breed spread well beyond the United States, and breeding programmes elsewhere continued to develop it while keeping the original mutation as the foundation.

The LaPerm has a balanced, moderate body of medium size. It is neither stocky nor extremely slender, and the frame feels lighter than it looks because of the airy coat. The head is a modified wedge with a rounded contour, and the ears are set to continue the line of the wedge. The whiskers are often curly, which is a recognised feature of the breed.

The coat is the defining trait. Curls can be loose waves or tight ringlets, and they are usually most pronounced at the throat and on the underside. The longhair variety carries a curly ruff, while the shorthair variety shows a slightly more textured, springy coat.

Coat and colours

The LaPerm is accepted in the full range of colours and patterns, including solids, tabbies, tortoiseshells, and pointed varieties. The curl develops over the cat's first months and may change in density at different life stages. Some kittens are born with hair, some with a short coat, and some nearly bald before the curly coat grows in. Coat care needs stay modest because the texture resists matting compared with denser longhair breeds.

The LaPerm is an attentive companion. It seeks out human company and often stays in the same room as its household, climbing onto laps or perching close by. The breed is known for reaching out a paw to touch or gently pat a person when it wants attention.

With family, the LaPerm is warm and interactive. It tolerates children who handle it calmly and tends to settle into the rhythm of a busy home. Around strangers, most LaPerms are confident rather than shy, and many will approach visitors. With other pets, the breed is usually sociable and does well in homes with other cats or a calm dog.

Curiosity drives much of the breed's behaviour. LaPerms investigate cupboards, bags, and any new item. They are intelligent and stay engaged with toys, puzzles, and games well into adulthood. The breed is active but not hyperactive, balancing play with periods of close contact.

The curly coat of the LaPerm is lower maintenance than its appearance suggests. It resists matting and does not need the daily attention that denser longhair breeds demand.

Grooming

• Comb the longhair variety once or twice a week to remove loose hair and keep the curls defined
• Comb the shorthair variety occasionally; many need little more than a weekly check
• Avoid heavy brushing, which can pull out the curl and leave the coat frizzy
• Trim the nails every two to three weeks and check the ears for wax build-up
• Brush the teeth regularly to support dental health

Exercise

• Provide daily interactive play with wand toys, balls, or puzzle feeders
• Rotate the toys to keep a curious cat engaged
• Offer climbing space and perches for vertical movement
• Aim for two or more short play sessions each day

Environment

The LaPerm is well suited to HDB flats and condominiums, where it qualifies as an approved pet under current AVS (Animal and Veterinary Service) guidelines. Keep it as an indoor cat in Singapore's year-round heat and humidity, always with a cool, ventilated space and fresh water. Air-conditioning is standard in Singapore households, and the LaPerm settles into that routine easily. Mesh balcony grilles and window screens before letting the cat near any ledge. A scratching post, a high perch, and something outside the window to watch suit the breed's observant nature.

As an obligate carnivore, the LaPerm needs a diet built around animal protein. A complete and balanced commercial cat food, wet or dry, meets its core requirements. Portion size depends on age, weight, and activity level. Because the breed is active, it usually keeps condition well, but free feeding can still lead to weight gain in less active individuals. Fresh water should always be available.

Treats and supplements

Treats should stay under about 10 percent of daily calories. A healthy LaPerm on a complete diet rarely needs supplements. Discuss any joint, skin, or coat supplement with a veterinarian before adding it, since over-supplementation can cause its own problems.

The LaPerm is regarded as a robust breed, partly because it descends from a working farm cat population with broad genetic diversity. Most individuals live 12 to 15 years with good care. The breed carries no long list of inherited disorders specific to it, but owners should still watch for the common feline health concerns and keep up with preventive care.

Preventive care

• Annual veterinary examinations, moving to twice yearly for seniors
• Core vaccinations kept current
• Parasite prevention for fleas and worms
• Regular dental care at home and professional cleaning as advised
• Weight monitoring at each visit

The LaPerm's intelligence and interest in people make it more trainable than many cats. It can learn to come when called, use a scratching post, walk on a harness, and perform simple tricks. Because the breed enjoys interaction, training sessions double as bonding time. Keep the sessions short and end on a success to hold the cat's attention.

Basics

1. Establish litter training early and keep the box clean and accessible
2. Redirect scratching to a post and reward its use
3. Introduce a name and a food reward for coming when called
4. Teach simple cues such as sit or target touch with treats
5. Introduce the harness and carrier gradually, pairing each with rewards

Female LaPerms generally reach sexual maturity between 6 and 10 months, though responsible breeders wait until the cat is physically mature before a first litter. The curly coat results from a dominant gene, so a curly parent can pass the trait to a portion of its kittens even when paired with a straight-coated cat. This genetics has allowed breeders to outcross and keep a wide gene pool while retaining the curl.

Gestation lasts about 63 to 67 days. Litters are typically four to six kittens. Newborns vary widely in coat: some arrive with hair, some with short fuzz, and some nearly bald, with the curly coat developing over the following weeks and months. Queens are usually attentive mothers, and kittens stay with the litter until weaning and early socialisation are complete, generally around 12 to 14 weeks before going to new homes.

LaPerm registration and microchipping in Singapore

A flat-dwelling LaPerm still bolts through an open door now and then, and that is exactly the moment a record matters. Hers is free: name, photo, chip number, your mobile, held by United Pet Club for her whole life. Register your cat before the door swings open.

Once the clinic has done the implant, the number needs a registry to live in. Register the microchip on the free lifetime plan: chips of any brand qualify, updating after a move between estates costs nothing, and the record stays searchable round the clock, in Singapore and out of it. Create your free account and finish both halves now.