LaPerm

The LaPerm is an elegant cat of medium size, built on lean, athletic lines without being extreme in body type. The head is wedge shaped and slightly rounded, with medium-large expressive eyes and medium-large ears. The coat is the main feature of this breed, being curled and soft, and lacking undercoat whether the cat is a short-coated or long-coated. Long-coat varieties will have a ruff at the neck and a plumed tail. Short-coats lack the ruff, have a bottle brush tail and the coat texture is a little harder.

Lifespan

10 - 15 years

Weight

2.2 - 3.6kg

Colours

All colours, colour combinations and patterns are possible.

The need-to-know

Great for first-time cat owners
Enjoys playing games and is active at home
Highly active and inquisitive cat
Sociable and dependent cat

Slightly talkative cat
Average build cat breed
Requires grooming every day
Needs extensive outdoor space

Great family cat
Can be regularly left for a few hours
Great for a relaxed home

Generally healthy breed

The La Perm breed can be prone to:
- Pyruvate kinase deficiency which is a disease that causes anaemia (death of red blood cells).

Testing available:
- DNA testing for pyruvate kinase deficiency which tests whether or not a cat has the potential to be affected by this condition.

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Personality

Affectionate, outgoing and athletic, the LaPerm is both elegant and friendly. Unlike many of the more lean, athletic types, the LaPerm will be content to sit on laps and be fussed, and this makes them a very ‘easy to live with’ cat. They will enjoy play and can be clicker trained, and love to climb and jump, but are not ‘chaos loving’ cats!

Family-friendly:	4/5
Playfulness:	5/5
Intelligence:	4/5
Tendency to Vocalise:	5/5
Likes Other Pets:	4/5
Grooming needs:	4/5
Shedding:	2/5

The LaPerm originates from cats found on a farm in Oregon. The farm owner noted some kittens born completely hairless, which within 8 weeks would grow a soft, curly coat without undercoat. Several generations of these cats were produced before the owner realised there was anything special about them, at that point she began selectively breeding and eventually took some to a cat show, giving them the name ‘LaPerm’ which means ‘wavy’ or ‘rippled’. The breed generated much excitement and other breeders got involved. The LaPerm Society of America was formed in 1997 and helped in gaining recognition for the breed from the CFA.

The LaPerm’s curly coat is considered a ‘rex’ type coat, however it is a completely different gene to those involved any of the other ‘rex’ type cats.

The LaPerm wants space to run and play, but their coat is not particularly suited to cold, wet or windy weather, so consider a secure and well sheltered cat-run with lots of ledges, shelves, branches and ramps. This will give them outdoor access in an appropriate format, keeping them safe but allowing for behaviours such as claw-sharpening and dust-bathing. With their outgoing nature and curiosity, this is a cat that will land itself in trouble if allowed to roam, and their stunning and unusual coat makes them a high risk for pet theft.

Provide cat trees and gyms, food dispensing toys that recreate hunting opportunities and the tried and tested ‘things on strings’, and the LaPerm will delight and play until they are satisfied, and then curl up on your lap for a snooze.

Every cat is unique and each has their own particular likes, dislikes, and needs when it comes to food. However, cats are carnivores and every cat must obtain 41 different and specific nutrients from their food. The proportion of these nutrients will vary depending on age, lifestyle and overall health, so it's not surprising that a growing, energetic kitten needs a different balance of nutrients in her diet than a less active senior cat. Other considerations to bear in mind are feeding the right quantity of food to maintain 'ideal body condition' in accordance with feeding guidelines and catering to individual preference regarding wet or dry food recipes.

The LaPerm needs a daily light groom to keep the coat in top condition so view this as part of your daily bonding and interaction with your cat. A greasy coat is a sign your cat is not self-grooming at all and this may indicate poor health.

As with all cats, regular vaccination and parasite control is recommended.

The LaPerm will enjoy relaxed, fairly peaceful family life with older children who can treat a cat respectfully and help with play and grooming. High levels of noise and long periods alone will likely cause stress related behaviour issues.