LaPerm Cat
Updated July 19, 2026
The LaPerm is a medium, curly-coated Oregon farm breed whose light springy ringlets, expressive face, strong hunting instinct, and gentle people-seeking personality arose from a natural mutation first seen in 1982.
People-oriented, Gentle, Intelligent, Strong hunter, Adaptable lap cat
6-12 pounds
12-15 years
At a Glance
Maintenance Level
Affection Level
Energy Level
Good with Kids
Vocalization Level
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About LaPerm Cat
The LaPerm is a medium, curly-coated Oregon farm breed whose light springy ringlets, expressive face, strong hunting instinct, and gentle people-seeking personality arose from a natural mutation first seen in 1982.
Coat Length
Medium Hair
Breed Group
Rex
Weight
6-12 pounds
Great For
What Makes LaPerm Cats Special
Coat texture ranges from loose waves to tight corkscrews, with the strongest curls often beneath the neck, behind the ears, and at the tail base.
The breed remains moderate in structure and attitude: an alert capable hunter that often reaches toward a familiar face before curling into a lap.
LaPerm Cat History & Origin
In 1982, a bald female kitten named Curly was born to an ordinary farm cat on Linda and Richard Koehl's cherry farm near The Dalles, Oregon. Curly grew a soft wavy coat and produced similarly unusual descendants, leading Linda Koehl to organize the free-breeding farm population into the LaPerm breed.
The foundation cat Curly was born bald and developed her namesake coat by about four months.
TICA granted New Breed and Color status in 1995 and championship status in 2003.
CFA accepted registration in 2000 and advanced both coat lengths to championship in 2008.
LaPerm Cat Characteristics
Individual Variation
Cats are individuals and not all cats, even those of the same breed, will exhibit all the same qualities.
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
Grooming Needs
Shedding Level
LaPerm Cat Appearance
The LaPerm is medium, moderately long, fine-to-medium boned, muscular, and surprisingly weighty, with hips slightly higher than shoulders.
Longhairs carry a soft shaggy ruff and plumed tail; shorthairs have crisper waves and a bottlebrush tail, and both coats should feel springy and open.
Physical Features
Ears
Medium to large, cupped, slightly flared, and continuing the wedge; longhairs may have earmuffs and lynx tips.
Eyes
Medium-large, expressive, almond-shaped at rest and rounder when alert, set well apart and slightly slanted.
Nose
Medium-long with a slight palpable dip below the eye line, then straight to the tip.
Coat & Build
Tail
Proportionate and tapering; plumed with curls in longhairs and wavy bottlebrush-like in shorthairs.
LaPerm Cat Temperament
Coat texture ranges from loose waves to tight corkscrews, with the strongest curls often beneath the neck, behind the ears, and at the tail base.
The breed remains moderate in structure and attitude: an alert capable hunter that often reaches toward a familiar face before curling into a lap.
Temperament Traits
Good With
Health
No well-established disease syndrome is unique to the LaPerm, and its farm-cat foundation provided useful diversity. However, it remains a minority breed with limited health-surveillance data, and the precise causal curl variant has not been conclusively established in published genetic research.
Common Health Issues
Preventive Care
Choose breeders who document multigenerational health and diversity, use broad screening informed by their lines, and do not equate curl with proof of breed or health. Protect bare skin from ultraviolet exposure, maintain dental care and lean weight, and provide routine cardiac, renal, thyroid, blood-pressure, and senior monitoring.
Caring for Your LaPerm Cat
Grooming Requirements
The airy curly coat usually holds shed hairs and resists matting, but excessive brushing, heat, or heavy product can flatten or damage its natural ringlets.
Brushing
Comb once weekly with a wide-tooth or rolling-pin comb, lifting rather than stretching the curl. Check the armpits, belly, ruff, and longhair tail more often during coat changes.
Bathing
Bathe only when oily or dirty with a gentle cat-safe shampoo. Blot, scrunch, and air-dry or use cool low airflow; high heat and forceful brushing can straighten curls.
Eye Care
Wipe minor discharge with a separate soft damp cloth for each eye; persistent redness, pain, cloudiness, or colored discharge needs veterinary care.
Nail Care
Every 2-3 weeks.
Essential Grooming Tools
Exercise & Play
LaPerms combine active farm-cat hunting ability with a strong lap-cat switch. They need daily chasing, climbing, and learning but often settle readily when their people relax.
Daily Requirements
Provide about 35-50 minutes of interactive play over several sessions, plus stable climbing, scratching, independent toys, and puzzles.
Mental Stimulation
Rotate prey-like toys and puzzles, teach tricks or retrieval, create safe scent trails, and offer window observation. Redirect hunting away from hands and vulnerable small pets.
Recommended Activities
Nutrition & Feeding
Feed a complete-and-balanced life-stage diet and maintain the breed's lean, surprisingly weighty muscle without allowing soft fat to accumulate beneath the textured coat.
Daily Amount
Start with the manufacturer's feeding guide, measure the entire daily ration, divide it among two or more meals and training rewards, and adjust with a veterinarian based on body condition and activity.
Special Considerations
There is no evidence that curls require a special food or supplement. Wet food and multiple water stations support hydration; investigate sudden coat loss, itch, or poor growth medically rather than trying unbalanced dietary remedies.
Living Environment
Space Requirements
Adapts well to apartments or houses with climbing furniture, scratching options, hunting-style games, quiet lap space, and regular family interaction.
Climate Preferences
Coat coverage can change with age, hormones, and season. Keep indoors, provide warmth during sparse phases, cooling in heat, and protection from strong sun on exposed skin.
Ideal Lifestyle Match
Flexible enough for active families or quieter adults when given daily play and affection. Most integrate well with respectful children and friendly pets after gradual introductions.
Colors & Patterns
Every genetically possible color, pattern, and eye color is accepted. Curl quality and balanced structure matter more than pigment, and CFA also shows the rare reverse-pointed Karpati pattern in LaPerms.
Solid Colors
Patterns
Eye Colors
All colors, including copper, gold, yellow, green, blue, aqua, and odd eyes, independent of coat except genetic pattern relationships
Fun Facts About LaPerm Cat
The LaPerm began with a kitten named Curly born on an Oregon cherry farm in 1982.
Curly was bald at birth and grew a curly coat by about four months.
LaPerm kittens may be born bald, curly, or straight-coated.
A kitten's coat may molt and regrow before mature texture becomes clear.
The longhair has a plumed tail while the shorthair typically has a wavy bottlebrush tail.
Published research has not yet conclusively identified the causal LaPerm curl variant.
TICA granted championship status in 2003 and CFA in 2008.
LaPerm is the only CFA breed currently shown in the Karpati reverse-point pattern.
Training Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Are LaPerm kittens always born curly?
No. Some are born bald, some with straight hair, and some with waves or curls. Coats can shed and regrow during kittenhood, so final texture and fullness take time to assess.
Is the LaPerm hypoallergenic?
No. The curl may hold loose hair, but LaPerms still produce feline allergens in saliva and skin secretions, and individual reactions vary.
Do LaPerm curls need professional grooming?
Usually not. Gentle weekly combing and occasional bathing are sufficient for most pets; heavy brushing and hot blow-drying can damage the light natural curl.
Specialized Care Guides
Kitten Care
Expect normal coat changes, protect sparse skin from sun and cold, establish gentle combing without pulling curls, and begin dental care, carrier training, measured feeding, and positive socialization early.
Senior Care
Arrange veterinary checks every 6-12 months as advised, monitoring teeth, kidneys, thyroid, blood pressure, heart, skin, coat, weight, and mobility; maintain easy puzzles and warm accessible lap spaces.
First-Time Owner Tips
An approachable choice for an attentive first-time owner who wants affectionate energy, understands that curl and fullness can change, and can provide weekly gentle grooming and daily hunting-style play.
Looking for a LaPerm Cat?
Connect with responsible breeders, rescue organizations, and pet adoption services in your area.