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LaPerm Information

      Sueno - lilac caramel mink bicolour 

The LaPerm is one of the four main Rex breeds along with the Devon Rex, Cornish Rex and Selkirk Rex, having in common curly coats from unrelated, natually occurring mutations in domestic cats.

          Devon                               Cornish                                  Selkirk Shorthair

            Honey                                         Linkin                                                 Beck
         a rescue cat                    DGCh Coslinkar Sir Phillip                         Mirkwood Bechamel

                                   LAPERM HISTORY

LaPerms first appeared in Oregon, USA amongst a colony of farm cats in 1982 but were not developed as a breed for nearly ten years. By then there was a large population of curly cats from this dominant gene, which had developed a recognisable type all of it's own. The LaPerm was recognised by TICA for NBC status 1995.

1997-98 LaPerms were exported to New Zealand, South Africa,  Japan and Germany.

1999-2004 they spread to Russia, Netherlands, Sweden, France, UK and Australia.

CFA recognised the breed in Miscellaneous class in 2000.

The LaPerm gained Championship status in TICA in 2002 and with CFA finally in February 2008. In Australia, QFA and GCCFSA accepted the LaPerm in March 2008, ACF and CCCA in June of that year.

The only permitted outcross is the Domestic cat (either shorthair or longhair) as per the standard set by the country of origin (USA), and agreed to by ACF and CCCA.

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PLEASE NOTE

At present the UK permits outcrossing to other pedigree breeds, no Domestics, but has recently applied to change this.

We believe that using only the Domestic cat as an outcross is the way to preserve the unique look and temperament of the LaPerm. Although there are other breeds in our cats' ancestries due to outcrossing done before our time under different registry rules, we are breeding to the TICA standard adopted in it's entirety by ACF.

Responsible breeders will DNA test their cats to ensure the good health, not only of their own cattery, but of the breed as a whole.

                                    DESCRIPTION

The LaPerm comes in any colour, pattern or eye shade. The coat is light, airy and textured, never heavy or wiry, does not matt, and there is very little shedding. They do not need brushing or grooming and I only bathe mine for shows, to better fluff up the curl.

Archangel 7 mths - black silver shaded tabby bicolour

This is a small to medium sized cat, with a modified wedge shaped head, long neck and slim foreign-type body.

         
      * head shape *   Frizzante - seal silver tortie mink van               * profile *    Cumin - chocolate tabby mink

The largish ears follow the angles of the head, with the muzzle prominent, not pointed, and the long legs have rounded paws, with hindlegs slightly longer than the forelegs.

Echo 7mths - red silver shaded tabby and white

                             summer coat 18mths   -   Lucy's ruff   -  winter coat 30 mths old      

The coat is shorter over the shoulders with the longest curls on the belly, and the neck ruff on longhaired LaPerms. The ruff may be more apparent in cold months and the mature cat.

                           * full neck ruff in winter * Arkie 3 1/2yrs - red silver tabby bicolour

* tummy curls *  Sueno 20mths - lilac caramel mink bicolour

The long tail forms a full plume in the longhair and a bottlebrush in the shorthair cat.

          Sierra - chocolate torbie mink bicolour    * plumed tail *    Chinotto - chocolate tabby bicolour

                          * shorthaired coat *  Melody - black silver spotted torbie bicolour

                                * longhaired coat *  Storm - black silver torbie and white

All have very long curly whiskers and eyebrows. This is unusual in Rex breeds as the Devon, Cornish and Selkirk Rex have brittle whiskers that break off short. The LaPerm's whiskers are flexible, very long and individual - they can be Dali-esque, crimped, or every-which-way. Occasionally an eyebrow will need to be trimmed to prevent it curling into the eye.

                               * curly whiskers and eyebrows *  Sumac - seal mink and white 

They can be born curly (BC), or born bald (BB) as was the first LaPerm, and this is noted on their pedigree to track the occurrence. The coat will go through changes before full development by three years old (see COAT CHANGES page). It may come and go with hormone fluctuations too, making it difficult for a breeding female to look her best, but desexing will stabilise this.

See also our pages on individual cats for illustration of how the coat evolves as the cat matures eg SUENO, CUMIN, ARKON etc.

    caramel mink bicolour - Sueno  *  long curly whiskers  *  Tangles - blue silver tabby point and white

    Zulu - black and white

    Bullet (straighthaired LaPerm) and new best friend Thomas

                                       Jared with the brothers Cumin, Zedoary and Coriander

But the best thing about a LaPerm is it's personality. It is an alert, intelligent and active cat, who is also very cuddly and loving, and who will want to bond closely with it's owners. They are not vocal but will follow you around to see what you're doing, and are likely to come up on your lap for kisses or to pat your face affectionately. They get on well with other breeds or animals, and are a gentle companion for children.

               Sam and Lucy                                                         Saskia and Zahtar

                     Sierra and Sumac                                                     Scarlett (Chermoula) and Maddie

                     Koda (Tamarind) and friend                          Kashmir with new mate Sherlock the spaniel

Archie (Archipelago) and Karma

Kashmir and Niamh