For unusual cat breeds that are rapidly gaining popularity, consider the American Curl. An extremely new breed, these cats are reputed to be sweet, intelligent, affectionate, and energetic with excellent dispositions, making them terrific companion animals even for people who think they don't like cats.
American Curls all descend genetically from a single initial ancestor: Shulamith, the mother of the American Curl breed. Shulamith was rescued and adopted as a stray kitten who simply showed up in the front yard of Joe and Grace Ruga at their California home, back in 1981.
Shulamith's unusual and distinctive back-curled ears proved to be a natural genetic mutation. The distinctive feature showed up in her first litter of kittens, as well, inspiring her owners to contact the CFA (Cat Fanciers Association) and eventually, on October 23, 1983, The Rugas attended a CFA show in Palm Springs to present the American Curl for consideration as a new breed. By 1986 The American Curl was recognized as a new breed by two of the largest cat registries; by 1991, had been granted provisional status by the CFA and is a recognized breed by all the major cat associations, today.
The breed typically is slow to mature, taking from two to three years to reach their full size. An adult female American Curl will typically weigh between five and eight pounds, and an adult male will be a bit larger and heavier—up to about ten pounds.
The breed is characterized by luxuriously plumed tails and ears that have a distinct backward curl. American Curl kittens are born with straight ears, however, and won't be immediately identifiable by that particular feature until they've grown a bit. They tend towards fine and silky coats, don't shed much, and require little grooming—another characteristic that makes this a good pet for people with an inherent resistance to pet hair or who suffer from cat allergies.
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