What is the history of the American Curl?

The history of the American Curl cat breed starts in the early 1980s in Lakewood, California. In June 1981, a stray longhaired black female kitten with distinctive curled-back ears showed up on the doorstep of Joe and Grace Ruga. They took in the kitten and named her Shulamith.

Shulamith later gave birth to a litter of kittens, some of whom inherited her unique curled ears, indicating that this was a genetic mutation. Intrigued by this unusual trait, the Rugas began to research and reach out to cat fanciers and geneticists to understand more about the mutation. In the early 1980s, the Rugas and other enthusiasts started breeding programs to establish and preserve the curled ear trait, which was found to be a dominant gene (meaning that only one parent needed to have the curled ears for the trait to appear in the offspring).

The breed began to gain attention and popularity among cat enthusiasts, and in 1986, the International Cat Association (TICA) accepted the American Curl for registration, and in 1991, the breed achieved championship status. The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) also recognized the American Curl in 1993.