LaPerm

The LaPerm is a medium-sized domestic cat recognized by its wavy or curly coat. The curls run from soft waves to tight ringlets, and the texture is light and airy rather than dense. The breed comes in both longhair and shorthair varieties, and the curly trait shows up in each one.

LaPerms are affectionate and geared toward people. They tend to follow household members from room to room, settle onto laps, and stay part of daily activity. Curiosity defines the breed: a LaPerm investigates open drawers, new objects, and any change to its surroundings. Owners often describe these cats as gentle but persistent when they want attention.

The coat is the breed's most distinctive feature, though the temperament is usually what keeps owners attached. A LaPerm is active without needing a lot of space, which makes it a fit for many kinds of homes.

Who it suits

The LaPerm fits households that want an interactive cat and can give it regular company. It works well 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 modestly, which can appeal to owners bothered by loose hair, though no cat is fully non-shedding.

The LaPerm story starts in The Dalles, Oregon, in 1982. A barn cat gave birth to a litter that included one hairless kitten. As that kitten grew, it developed a soft, curly coat. The owner, Linda Koehl, kept the cat and noticed that the curly trait carried over to later generations of farm cats.

Over the following years, the curly cats multiplied across the working cat population on the property. Koehl saw that the coat turned up in different colors and in both long and short lengths, and that the curls were consistent enough to point to a single inherited characteristic.

The trait traced back 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 one look. The name pairs a French article with a nod to the permed appearance of the coat.

Starting in the 1990s, cat registries began accepting the LaPerm for recognition and competition. The breed spread beyond the United States to other countries, where breeding programs continued developing it while keeping the original mutation as the foundation.

A LaPerm has a balanced, moderate body of medium size. It is neither stocky nor extremely slender, and its 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 carry the line of the wedge. Whiskers are often curly, a recognized feature of the breed.

The coat is the defining trait. Curls can be loose waves or tight ringlets, and they usually stand out most 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 colors

The LaPerm is accepted in the full range of colors and patterns, including solids, tabbies, tortoiseshells, and pointed varieties. The curl develops over the cat's first months and may shift 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 stays 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 into laps or perching nearby. The breed is known for reaching out a paw to touch or gently pat a person as a way of asking for 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 walk right up to visitors. With other animals, the breed is usually sociable and does well alongside other cats or a calm dog.

Curiosity drives much of the breed's behavior. LaPerms poke into 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 stretches of close contact.

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

Grooming

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

Exercise

• Provide daily interactive play with wand toys, balls, or puzzle feeders
• Rotate 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 adapts to apartments and houses alike, as long as it gets company and stimulation. It is an indoor or supervised-outdoor cat that values being near its household. A scratching post, a high perch, and a window view suit the breed's active, watchful nature.

As an obligate carnivore, the LaPerm needs a diet built around animal protein. A complete and balanced commercial cat food, wet or dry, covers its core requirements. Portion size depends on age, weight, and activity level. Because the breed is active, it usually holds condition well, but free feeding can still lead to weight gain in less active cats. 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. Talk to a veterinarian about any joint, skin, or coat supplement before adding it, since over-supplementation can cause its own problems.

The LaPerm is considered a hardy 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 has no long list of inherited disorders specific to it, but owners should still watch for the usual feline health concerns and keep up with preventive care.

Preventive care

• Annual veterinary exams, 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

A 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 sessions short and finish 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 food reward for coming when called
4. Teach simple cues such as sit or target touch with treats
5. Introduce harness and carrier gradually, pairing each with rewards

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

Gestation runs about 63 to 67 days. Litters usually number 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 coming in over the following weeks and months. Queens tend to be attentive mothers, and kittens stay with the litter until weaning and early socialization are complete, generally around 12 to 14 weeks before going to new homes.

Registering a LaPerm in the United States

A LaPerm that never leaves the apartment still deserves a paper trail. The free United Pet Club profile holds your cat's name, photo, and your phone number, so a torn screen or a moving-day dash does not turn into a missing-cat poster. Register your cat once, and it is covered for life.

If a chip is already under your LaPerm's skin, the number still has to be filed. Implanting and registering are separate steps, and the clinic only does the first. Register the microchip free on the United Pet Club lifetime plan: any brand a US vet uses qualifies, and the record answers the AAHA universal lookup that American shelters run on every scan. Create your free account and close the loop today.