American Curl Shorthair

The shorthair American Curl shares the breed's defining trait, ears that curve back in a smooth arc, which arose as a spontaneous mutation in a California stray in the early 1980s. Its coat is short, silky and close-lying, with little undercoat, so it needs only occasional brushing and sheds modestly. The body is moderately built and graceful, and adults typically weigh around 2.5 to 5 kilograms. The ears should be handled gently, since the cartilage must not be bent. The temperament is friendly, adaptable and sociable. Thanks to its easy coat, this variety suits owners who find a long coat too much work. Life expectancy is typically around 13 to 17 years.

American Curl Shorthair: how old in human years?

2.5–5 kgWeight
13–17 yrsLife expectancy

LaPerm Longhair

FIFe category: Category II — Semi-longhair
Recognition: Recognised
FIFe: ACS
Country of origin: United States

Energy level

4/5
Playfulness

5/5
Family friendly

5/5
Grooming need

2/5

At a glance

Weight

Males 3.2–5 kg

Females 2.5–4 kg

Life expectancy

13–17 yrs

Coat

silky (short)

Temperament & Family Life

American Curl Shorthair: average score for sociability and trainability is high.

Family friendly 5/5
Good with children 5/5
Good with dogs 4/5
Friendly with strangers 4/5
Intelligence 4/5
Trainability 4/5

Activity & Living Space

American Curl Shorthair: average score for activity and living space is high.

Energy level 4/5
Playfulness 5/5
Hunting instinct 2/5
Apartment friendly 4/5

Personality & Communication

American Curl Shorthair: average score for personality and communication is moderate.

Affection 5/5
Independence 2/5
Vocality 2/5

Grooming & Shedding

American Curl Shorthair: grooming and shedding demands are low.

Shedding 2/5
Grooming need 2/5

The 1–5 trait scores are editorial estimates, not measurements. Every cat is an individual, so treat them as a general guide.

Living with the American Curl Shorthair

In the morning an American Curl Shorthair meets you at the bed, by day it inspects every shopping bag you bring in, and in the evening it settles next to you on the sofa. It has energy to spare and keeps its taste for play well into adulthood: crumpled paper, a leaping chase after the wand, a new game it picks up quickly. It needs a scratching post and at least one high spot with a view of the whole room.

This is a cat that loves company. Children, a calm dog or another cat are playmates rather than rivals, and it greets visitors with curiosity. Long days alone do not suit it; without people it gets bored, so toys, a window with a view and, if you can, a second cat help a great deal.

It talks little and purrs more, and the urge to hunt barely troubles it, so flat life suits it well.

Grooming and coat

The American Curl Shorthair has a short, soft, silky coat that lies flat and sheds little. A weekly pass with a soft brush or a rubber mitt lifts the loose hair and keeps the shine; make it twice a week while it sheds.

The ears ask for more attention than the coat: look inside them once a week, handle the cartilage gently and never straighten it. At the same time check the eyes and the skin under the coat, and let a vet look at the teeth and gums every year.

How to do it:

By age:

Health and possible conditions

A short, silky coat hides nothing: you see an American Curl Shorthair's outline, its backswept ears and its mood at a glance, and that makes changes in its health easier to notice. The conditions linked to the breed are everyday ones (ears, teeth and weight), and it lives thirteen to seventeen years. A yearly vet check and an attentive eye at home do the rest.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own cat's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.

Ear infections

When the ear canal becomes inflamed, discharge builds up and the cat scratches and tilts its head. Because a Curl's ear is turned back, you can look inside it while stroking: brown discharge, redness or a smell mean it is time to show the cat to a vet. Touch the cartilage gently and never bend it.
Dental disease

Dental disease starts with plaque that hardens into tartar and irritates the gums. A Curl is happy to be handled, so get it used to a quick look in its mouth from kittenhood; bad breath, drooling or careful chewing are reasons to see a vet.
Obesity (excess weight)

Extra fat that weighs on the joints and the whole body. Under a short coat it shows early: the waist behind the ribs fills out and the sides grow round. If your Curl no longer wants to play the way it did, weigh it and ask the vet what weight is right for it.

Cheapest cat food per kg

This list is the same on every cat breed page. Shops do not label cat food by breed, so it simply shows the cheapest cat food we track per kilogram. Check the label for your cat's age and health needs. Prices are updated daily.

≈ 58 g of dry food a day, from €3,34 a month For a neutered, normally active 3,7 kg cat. Calculate for your cat