American Curl Cats for Adoption in Chicago, IL

American Curl cats commonly live about 12 to 18 years, and many reach their mid to late teens. As a relatively young breed, there is little formal lifespan research. Keeping a Curl indoors or safely enclosed, at a healthy weight and up to date on veterinary and dental care supports a long life.

An American Curl is a cat breed known for ears that curl backward toward the back of the head. The trait came from a spontaneous mutation in a California stray in 1981. Curls are medium-sized, come in longhaired and shorthaired coats and all colors, and are typically friendly, playful and people-oriented.

Yes, adopting an American Curl is generally considered ethical. Unlike the Scottish Fold's folded-ear gene, the curl gene has not been linked to cartilage or bone disease, and studies of cats carrying two copies found no skeletal problems. Adopting a Curl or curl-eared mix that already needs a home also gives a waiting cat a family.

No, American Curls are not typically chunky. They have a medium, moderately muscular build, neither stocky nor slender, with females usually around 5 to 8 pounds and males around 7 to 10. A Curl that looks heavy may be overweight, which is common in indoor cats, so ask a veterinarian to assess body condition.

Yes, American Curls shed, but usually lightly to moderately. Both longhaired and shorthaired Curls have a silky coat with little undercoat, so they tend to shed less than dense-coated breeds. Weekly brushing or combing removes loose hair. Longhaired Curls may shed more seasonally and benefit from a little extra grooming.

No, an American Curl's curled ears do not hurt. The curl is simply the shape of the ear cartilage and does not cause pain. However, the cartilage is firm and can be damaged if the ear is bent, forced flat or unrolled. Signs like head shaking, scratching or odor point to an infection, not the curl itself.

American Curls are not known to have harmful ear cartilage problems. Their cartilage is firmer than in most cats, especially at the base, but research has not linked the curl gene to cartilage disease like the Scottish Fold's. The main precaution is handling ears gently, since forcing or bending them can cause injury.

American Curls are medium-sized cats. Females typically weigh about 5 to 8 pounds and males about 7 to 10 pounds. They reach full size slowly, often maturing around two to three years old. Their silky coat and moderate build can make them look a little larger or smaller depending on coat length.

American Curl cats have been around since 1981, when the stray cat Shulamith appeared in Lakewood, California, and gave birth to curl-eared kittens. The breed took shape from 1983, the first Curls were shown in 1986, and the major registries granted championship status during the 1990s, making it a relatively young breed.

No reliable count exists of how many American Curl cats there are. The breed is recognized by major registries but remains uncommon, with relatively small numbers registered each year. Many curl-eared cats are also unregistered or mixed, so the true number of cats with the curl trait is unknown.

To clean an American Curl's ears, check them weekly and gently wipe only the visible inner ear with a cotton ball or pad moistened with a veterinarian-approved cleaner. Support the ear without unrolling or bending it, and never push anything into the ear canal. Redness, odor or dark discharge calls for a veterinary visit.

Yes, the American Curl is a recognized purebred breed with standards from registries such as the CFA and TICA. Outcrossing to ordinary domestic cats was allowed for years to keep the gene pool broad. Without papers, a shelter cat with curled ears may be a Curl or a mixed cat carrying the curl gene.

Yes, the American Curl ear trait is dominant. A cat needs only one copy of the curl gene to have curled ears, so crossing a Curl with a straight-eared cat typically produces some curled and some straight-eared kittens. Cats with two copies have curled ears too and, unlike Scottish Folds, show no skeletal problems.

American Curl cats came from Lakewood, California. In 1981 a black longhaired stray named Shulamith appeared at the home of Joe and Grace Ruga, and her kittens inherited her curled ears. Her offspring, crossed with other domestic cats, became the foundation of the breed now recognized by major cat registries.

American Curl cats have curled ears because of a naturally occurring dominant gene mutation that first appeared in a stray cat in 1981. Kittens are born with straight ears that begin curling within a few days and set permanently by about four months. The curl changes the ear's cartilage shape without affecting hearing.