Laperm

History of the Laperm breed

Laperms are the product of a random genetic mutation that aroused the interest of felinologists in the 80s of the last century. The first owner of the curly cat was an American farmer Linda Koehl, after an unusual hairless baby appeared in one of the litters of her cat Speedy. The woman decided to leave the kitten out of pure curiosity and was very surprised when a few weeks later the animal was covered with curly fur.

The grown-up kotofey was christened Curly and sent to a regional exhibition, where he was examined by specialists. As a result, it turned out that Curly curls are the result of an unknown mutation that has not been found in any other cat. In order not to miss the new prospects, the farmer decided to independently develop a new breed. As a result, from 1992 to 1994, four curly-haired cats were noted at the exhibition in Portland, whose appearance became a kind of impetus for the registration of the official kennel of laperms called "Kloshe Cattery".

Curious fact: the word "laperm" is formed from the English term perm, which means chemical perm. The French article la was added to the name spontaneously – Linda Koehl thought that such a prefix would help animals to attract attention.

After the breed was announced and its standard was written in 1997, laperms were constantly crossed with someone. It is known, for example, that today's individuals carry genes siam , and manx and domestic shorthair cats. Since 2020, interbreeding of curly cats is officially prohibited, and the breed has been declared closed. As for the recognition of felinological federations, today laperms are registered by TICA, ACFA, CFA, WCF and FIFe. In addition, they are standardized by the national felinological federations of France, Australia, South Africa and the United Kingdom.

Video: Laperm

Laperm breed standard

Laperma is difficult to confuse with representatives of other curly breeds, although some experts note their similarity to Ural rexes . The main distinguishing feature of kotofey is that they can radically change their image. So, for example, after each molt, the structure of the woolen curl of the laperm becomes more or less pronounced, which is why the animal looks as if it has completely been reborn. Similar transformations occur with the mustache, which then stick out in different directions, then curl into "springs". Strangely enough, sterilization can affect the quality of the wool of laperms. Castrated cats practically do not shed, and their curls become noticeably softer. At the same time, individuals who lead an overly intense sexual life have a balding lower abdomen and the outer surface of the thighs.

Head

A characteristic anatomical feature of the breed is a wedge–shaped skull with soft rounded outlines. The wide muzzle has a medium or strong pinch, as well as flexible long vibrissae on plump pads. An imaginary perpendicular line can be drawn from the nose to the strong chin. The upper part of the forehead is flat, the transition line between the nape and neck is very smooth. There is a light stop on the nose, which should be perfectly palpable.

Ears

The base of the cup-shaped ear gently continues the line of the skull. The size of the ear cloth is from medium to large. The entire ear surface is well pubescent, in long-haired laperms, the hair forms neat tassels at the tips of the ears, like a lynx.

Eyes

A relaxed purr has almond-shaped eyes, but if the laperm is alarmed, the incision of the eyelids is noticeably rounded. The eyes are located slightly obliquely and at a considerable distance from each other. The color of the iris does not depend on the color of the animal and can be blue, golden, copper, green, yellow, as well as the color of the sea wave. Heterochromia is considered an acceptable breed feature.

Housing

Laperms have average body dimensions with a relatively elegant backbone. Thoroughness of addition is acceptable for males, if it is not accompanied by rudeness and disproportion of the skeleton. A distinctive anatomical feature of the breed: the hips are always located above the shoulders.

Paws

Laperms have not short, but also not excessively long limbs with an average massiveness of the backbone. The front legs are often shorter than the hind legs, the paws are neat, rounded.

Tail

The tail has harmonious proportions, smoothly tapers from the base to the end.

Wool

Long-haired variety of laperms - these are animals with light semi-long hair, changing its density according to the seasons and according to age. In mature individuals, a curly "collar" usually grows on the neck, the tail is necessarily with a "plume". The structure of the hair can vary from animal to animal. All long-haired cats have both simply wavy "fur coats" and with curls, but the second option is preferable.

The ideal type of wool is as loose as possible, lagging behind the body so much that the skin is perfectly palpable through it. The steepest curls and curls are located in the "gate" area, at the base of the ears and tail. It is permissible for wavy "strands" to hang from the spine on the sides and stomach. In general, the principle applies to long-haired laperms: the more slovenly the appearance of the pet, the better.

Shorthair laperm - a cat with a short or medium-length hair falling behind the body. The wool is airy, weightless, but at the same time it has a rather rigid texture. There is no fluffy "plume", and the tail resembles a brush in its appearance. The six itself can be simply with waves like corrugation or classic curly. Tassels on the ears and a voluminous "collar" for a short-haired laperm are not considered mandatory.

Color

Any shades of wool and their combinations are allowed by the standard. In particular, laperms can have solid colors: black, white, red, cream, fawn, blue, cinnamon and lavender. There are also individuals with a shaded type of coat, when the undercoat remains white and the hair is tipped. Such laperms have a nose, eyes and lips with a colored outline in the tone of tipping, and the color has several gradations throughout the body: from a dark tone on the back to almost white on the stomach and chin. Registered shaded colors: silver, chinchilla chocolate, tortoiseshell, cream, cinnamon, fawn, lavender-cream, tortoiseshell chocolate, golden, cream fawn, tortoiseshell cinnamon, creamy blue, golden chinchilla.

A separate category of laperms has a smoky coat. Distinctive features of such cats: a white undercoat, clearly visible when the animal moves, deeply tipped hairs, a colored mask on the muzzle and points. The colors of the haze correspond to the traditional solid colors, complemented by such options as lavender-cream, chocolate-tortoiseshell, fawn-cream, tortoiseshell cinnamon.

Disqualifying vices

Cats with the following exterior defects are not allowed in the exhibition ring:

• stocky build (cobby);
• excessively short limbs;
• any tail defects;
• straight wool;
• strabismus;
• fingers are more or less than the number stipulated by the standard.

Character of laperma

Laperms are fluffy psychotherapists and professional chiropractors in one person or, more correctly, in one muzzle. Cats are extremely sociable and will sell their soul for trampling on the owner's lap as often as possible, sitting on his shoulders or dozing by his side. Many breeders claim that cats manage to diagnose impending host diseases, especially when it comes to colds. Usually the purr tends to lie down on the place that, in his opinion, needs a session of "cat therapy". So, if the laperma pulls to take a nap on a person's chest, it is possible that in this way the pet is trying to arrange for the owner to warm up the lungs and cure a cough.

Representatives of the breed are moderately good-natured and sociable. Laperms easily establish contacts with children, do not fight for territory with other representatives of the feline fraternity and steadfastly tolerate the neighborhood with dogs, unless they terrorize them with constant nagging. The dream of every representative of this curly–haired family is to have as many living beings as possible in the house at the same time, able to cover his need for communication and hugs. On the street, such a pet willingly goes "on the handles" to strangers and does not run away from dogs, which can end tragically for the animal, therefore, in the case of la farms, there can be no question of any free-range.

The breed is not indifferent to "mountaineering", so its representatives always strive to climb higher. Everything can become a peak worthy of conquest: from the closet to the master's shoulders. Manifestations of the innate sociability of laperms can be observed every day. Kotofey will try to accompany the owner in all his household affairs, not forgetting to remind him of his own presence in moments of rest. Before you go to the breeder for a curly kitty, think carefully: will such a pet tire you and will your work schedule allow you to pay enough attention to the cat. Keep in mind that loneliness for Laperms is the worst of evils.

Education and training

With all the softness of the character, lapermas do not like to learn anything at all. Moreover, these curls do not perceive punishment, and they do not draw any conclusions from the master's reprimands. This disadvantage is compensated by the fact that the breed does not have a special predilection for pranks, so that the vast majority of laperms are sociable goodies who are not characterized by destructive tricks.

Almost all that the owner can achieve from a representative of the breed is the ability to use the tray and the habit of responding to his own nickname. You don't have to waste time studying other teams with laperms – even with titanic efforts, the result will be far from brilliant. Otherwise, adhere to the rules of upbringing common to all cats: establish a system of prohibitions, be lenient with puddles on the floor during the kitten's socialization, do not encourage scratching of furniture.

Punishing laperm for excessive jumping is useless. The breed cannot imagine its existence without "flying" through furniture modules and refrigerators. If you want to protect certain surfaces from the encroachments of cat paws, apply citrus essential oils on them, the smell of which purrs do not tolerate. It is also unlikely that it will be possible to teach laperm to doze on his couch. That is, koteyka will visit his mattress periodically, of course, but he will prefer to spend most of his time at the side of the owner. Accordingly, if you like to relax at night without a curly "hot water bottle" at your side, it is better to close the bedroom door and not react to the pleading meowing coming from behind it.

Maintenance and care

Since the street is full of unpleasant surprises for an overly trusting laperm, the apartment should remain his main place of residence. Of course, it is possible to take the cat out for walking, but for this you will have to get a harness that will limit the range of movement of the pet and help out in an extreme situation. A high gaming complex will help to minimize the cat's jumps on furniture – usually laperms like such sports equipment, and they willingly switch their attention to them.

Hygiene and grooming

The owner of the laperm will not need furminators. Deprived of a downy layer of hair does not get tangled and does not form tangles. Usually cats of this type are recommended to be combed "for show" and for the sake of massage, in order to improve blood flow in the upper layers of the skin. You will have to pick up a brush no more than once a week, and the laperms themselves are patient with this procedure.

About once a year, the hair of the breed is renewed, which is very easy to notice – the shedding laperm begins to scratch and tear out tufts of its own wool with its paws. In such cases, it is better to help the animal and pluck the dead hairs. Often, after home stripping, the cat becomes completely or partially bald, and this is normal. In a month or two, the curls on the pet's body will appear again. Unseasonal molting is also observed in cats giving birth, which should also be taken calmly.

The bodies of laperms are vulnerable to various blood-sucking parasites, so curly cats bring fleas home many times more often than other breeds. For this reason, always keep a stock of ectoparasite remedies. Otherwise, it is not necessary to resort to any specific procedures. Wash the laperms with shampoo for curly breeds and only if necessary. Dry the bathed animal with a hairdryer. Among the mandatory actions are wiping the eyes with a clean cloth soaked in a special lotion or chilled tea, trimming the claws, cleaning the ears with hygienic drops.

Feeding

A special diet for laperms was not developed, since these descendants of farm mousers do not have digestive problems. The type of food for the pet is chosen by the owner – it can be both industrial "drying" of a class not lower than super-premium, and natural food, the basis of which is animal protein. By the way, they do not complain about the appetite of the laperma and they never refuse supplements, but it is undesirable to be led to their pleading views if you do not want to treat your pet from obesity and related ailments later.

The standard diet of an adult laperm: lean meat and offal of all kinds, fish fillets (strictly marine fish), vegetables (carrots, beets, pumpkin), low-fat dairy products, greens, egg yolk of chicken or quail eggs, unrefined vegetable oil as a dietary supplement. It is mandatory to periodically introduce cat supplements and vitamin complexes into the menu, but this rule applies mainly to animals that eat natural food. Laperms that absorb dry food receive all the necessary trace elements.

Curly-haired purrs are fed with the same frequency as all cats, already in six months transferring teenage laperms to a three-day diet. At 8-12 months, the animal needs to be fed twice a day, unless it is a pregnant or sick cat. For the last two categories of pets, nutrition is usually "enhanced" and additional "snacks" are introduced to give support to the body.

Health and diseases of laperms

This is one of the most trouble-free breeds in terms of health. Laperms are not susceptible to genetic diseases in principle. The only thing they should be protected from is common feline infections. The breed's addiction to overeating can also cause additional difficulties, so do not neglect the control weighing. If you notice that the laperm forms become too corpulent, the curly-haired glutton should be put on a diet.

How to choose a kitten

• A stable coat is formed in laperms by 6 months. Accordingly, it is possible to take a kitten of the previously indicated age only from a proven breeder, otherwise there is a risk of getting a half-breed who will never become truly curly.
• Some kittens under the age of one year may suddenly go bald. If you come across a completely hairless animal, do not panic – the purebred laperm will recover its coat over time.
• Always specify the age of the mother cat and the number of her births. The optimal age for the first binding of laperms is a year and a half. It is undesirable to take a baby from an individual who gives birth several times a year – in most cases, such kittens have weakened immunity, and sometimes they are not viable at all.
• When purchasing a grown-up animal, pay attention to the quality of the coat: the laperm should not have a pronounced undercoat, only a thin covering hair.
• Pay attention to the documents that the seller shows. Be sure to study the litter inspection report by the breeding commission. If the breeder does not have such a document, most likely the kittens have problems with the purity of the pedigree and exterior.
• Sometimes straight-haired kittens are born in the litters of laperms, which should not be bought in the hope that over time their "fur coats" will begin to curl. The chances that this will happen are about 1:10.

The price of laperm

In Russia, the breed continues to be exclusive, so ads for the sale of its representatives appear extremely rarely on the Runet. There are also few domestic nurseries where it would be possible to purchase a purebred laperm. Moreover, most of them do not have their own websites and notify about the availability of kittens available for reservation only through pages in social networks. As for the cost, in the USA, buying a curly pet-class kitten will cost at least 300 USD, and an animal with the makings of a future exhibition champion will cost 600 USD. In Russia, the prices are about the same: babies without the right of breeding are offered from $300, more promising offspring – from $500.