LaPerm: the curly-coated cat that was born by accident on an Oregon cherry farm

In 1982, in a cherry orchard in The Dalles, Oregon, a plain barn cat named Speedy had a litter. One of the kittens, a female, was born completely bald and stayed that way for weeks. Then something strange happened: a coat grew in, and it grew in curly, soft ringlets unlike any curly cat anyone had seen. The owner, Linda Koehl, named her Curly and started watching what her descendants looked like. When the curls kept showing up litter after litter, Koehl realized she had a new breed on her hands. She called it the LaPerm, after the permanent wave the coat resembles.

It is one of those breeds that nobody planned. No breeding program, no imported foundation stock, no decades of selection. Just a spontaneous mutation on a working farm, spotted by an owner curious enough to follow it.

Where the LaPerm comes from

The whole breed traces back to Curly and the colony of farm cats around her. Koehl let the cats roam and breed naturally for several years before she understood that the curl was heritable, and from there she began documenting pedigrees and working toward recognition. TICA accepted the LaPerm in 2002 and CFA in 2008. It is one of the curly, or "rex," cat breeds, but it carries its own distinct genetic mutation, separate from the Cornish Rex, the Devon Rex, and the Selkirk Rex. Each of those breeds got its curls from a different gene, and each curl looks different.

The LaPerm's mutation is dominant, which matters more than it sounds. A kitten only needs to inherit one copy of the gene to grow the curly coat, so the trait passes down readily and predictably. That is part of why a single Oregon farm cat could seed an entire international breed in a couple of decades.

What the coat actually looks like

The defining feature is the curl, and it is a specific kind of curl. The ringlets spring from the very base of the hair, not just at the tips, which gives the coat a tousled, springy texture all the way down. The look ranges from soft waves to tight corkscrew curls, often loosest on the back and tightest at the throat and belly.

A few things set the LaPerm apart from the other rex breeds:

• Semi-long coat as the signature type, though a shorthair variety exists and is fully recognized.
• Curls from the root, not just a wavy outer layer.
• Tufted, furnished ears and often a plumed, curly tail.
• A coat that can molt almost completely and regrow, sometimes leaving a LaPerm temporarily near-bald before the curls return, an echo of how Curly herself started out.

All colors and patterns are accepted.

What its temperament is actually like

If the coat is the headline, the personality is why people keep them. The LaPerm is outgoing to the point of being a busybody. It greets visitors instead of hiding from them, reaches out a paw for contact, and shadows its owner from room to room. Breeders consistently describe a cat that wants to be in the middle of whatever you are doing.

Three things to understand before bringing one home:

• It is genuinely affectionate, not aloof. Many LaPerms are lap-seekers and shoulder-riders. This is not the independent cat that tolerates you from across the room.
• It is active and playful. Curiosity plus medium-high energy means it climbs, investigates, and gets into things. Without toys and interaction it will invent its own entertainment.
• It is chatty but not piercing. Vocalization is moderate, more conversational than a Siamese, but it will tell you when it wants attention.

Because it is so people-focused, the LaPerm does best in a home where someone is around and engaged. A household that is empty ten hours a day is a poor match for a cat this social.

What hereditary health issues it has

Here is the good news, and it is worth stating plainly. The LaPerm has a relatively clean clinical profile. There is no breed-specific hereditary disease documented at significant prevalence the way hypertrophic cardiomyopathy haunts the Maine Coon or polycystic kidney disease shadows the Persian.

That does not mean the breed is invincible. LaPerms are subject to the standard feline conditions common to all cats: dental disease, the usual viral and parasitic risks, and the kidney and thyroid issues that show up in older cats of any breed. Responsible breeders still screen their lines and keep the gene pool diverse, because the breed is young and descends from a small founding population.

Practically, that means a LaPerm benefits from the same baseline care as any cat: annual veterinary exams, a wellness check that includes blood pressure and kidney values as it ages, and good dental hygiene. Average life expectancy is 13-15 years, and healthy individuals often comfortably exceed that.

Does the LaPerm need a lot of grooming?

Less than the curly coat might suggest. The texture does not mat the way a straight semi-long coat can, so the LaPerm is lower maintenance than its looks imply. A reasonable protocol:

• Gentle brushing 2-3 times a week with a wide-tooth comb or a soft brush, just enough to lift loose hair.
• Do not brush aggressively or over-groom. The single most important rule for this breed: rough brushing pulls the curls straight and ruins the texture. Light strokes only.
• Occasional baths are tolerated well. LaPerms accept water better than most cats, and a bath followed by air-drying (not blow-drying straight) actually helps the curls bounce back tighter.
• Check the tufted ears during routine monthly cleaning.

Expect the coat to change with the seasons and with hormonal cycles. Some LaPerms shed heavily and even go patchy or near-bald for a stretch, then regrow a full curly coat. It is alarming the first time and entirely normal for the breed.

Does it adapt well to apartment life?

Yes, with enrichment. The LaPerm does not need acreage, but it does need stimulation, because a bored, social, curious cat is a destructive one. What it wants:

• Vertical space: cat trees, shelves, and tall scratching posts to climb and survey from.
• Interactive toys and play sessions, ideally daily, to channel that curiosity into hunting games rather than into your houseplants.
• Company. More than square footage, the LaPerm needs people or animal companions around. It is one of the breeds that does well with another cat or a calm dog for company, especially if introductions happen before the kitten is six months old.

Its high sociability makes it a strong fit for families with children, provided the kids learn to respect the cat's space.

How much does a LaPerm cost in the United States?

The LaPerm is still an uncommon breed, so kittens are not always easy to find. A kitten from a CFA- or TICA-registered breeder with health-screened parents and early socialization typically costs between $800 and $1,500 in 2026, sometimes more when stock has to be sourced from out of state or imported. Show-quality lines can run higher.

Because the breed is rare, it occasionally surfaces in shelters and breed-specific rescue when a curly-coated cat is surrendered or misidentified. Adopting an adult LaPerm or a LaPerm mix through rescue is a real and far cheaper option, often a few hundred dollars in adoption fees, if availability and temperament suit you.

LaPerm data sheet

Identification

• Size: medium
• Weight: 7-11 lb (3-5 kg) males; 5.5-9 lb (2.5-4 kg) females
• Life expectancy: 13-15 years
• Origin: The Dalles, Oregon, United States (1982)

Physical

• Coat: semi-long or short, curly from the base
• Colors: all colors and patterns accepted
• Body: muscular, medium build
• Ears: tufted and furnished
• Tail: often plumed and curly

Temperament

• Sociability: very high with humans, children, and other animals
• Independence: low; actively seeks contact and company
• Vocalization: moderate, chatty without being shrill
• Trainability: high; smart and food-motivated for basic cues

Care

• Brushing: gentle, 2-3 times a week; never aggressive
• Bathing: tolerated well; supports curl texture
• Exercise: vertical space and daily interactive play

Is this breed for you?

Yes, if you want an affectionate, hands-on cat that will follow you around, greet your guests, and turn a unique curly coat into a conversation piece. Yes, too, if you appreciate a breed with a notably light health load and grooming needs that are gentler than the coat looks.

No, if you are after a calm, independent, low-contact cat, if your home sits empty most of the day, or if you cannot accept the occasional dramatic molt where the coat thins out before regrowing.

Frequently asked questions

Is the LaPerm the same as a Selkirk Rex or Cornish Rex? No. There are several distinct mutations that produce curly cats, and the LaPerm carries its own. LaPerm curls spring from the base of the hair; the Cornish Rex has waves only in the undercoat; the Devon Rex is flatter and more rippled; the Selkirk Rex is plush and woolly. Four different genes, four different curls.

Is it hypoallergenic? No. There is no evidence the LaPerm is hypoallergenic. Like all cats, it produces the Fel d 1 allergen, regardless of coat texture.

Is it good with children and other pets? Yes. Its very high sociability makes it one of the easier breeds for families with kids and for multi-pet homes, with the usual supervision and gradual introductions.

Why did my LaPerm lose its coat? Seasonal and hormonal molting can be dramatic in this breed, sometimes leaving a cat temporarily near-bald before the curls regrow. It is normal. If hair loss comes with itching, sores, or other symptoms, see a veterinarian.

How long does it live? Typically 13-15 years, often longer with good preventive care.

Bibliography

• The International Cat Association (TICA), Official Breed Standard: LaPerm. https://tica.org
• The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA), LaPerm breed standard and registry. https://cfa.org
• Gandolfi, B. et al. (2013), genetics of rex and hairless coat mutations in domestic cats. Animal Genetics.
• American Veterinary Medical Association, clinical resources on feline coat and skin care.
• Royal Veterinary College, VetCompass studies on hereditary disease prevalence in cat breeds.