LA-PERM - royal cat!

LaPerm Rex - A new hair-do in Cats!

A brief overview of LaPerm History

The LaPerm is a breed of Rex cat that differs from the Devon and Cornish in being a dominant gene and bred mainly in long hair. This is characterized by plush curly body hair, which is the texture of lamb's wool and a wonderful ‘plume' tail!	Chocolate silver point bi-colour	Examples differ however, and some have a harsher coat, which is quite ‘wiry' along the spine. In spring they have a seasonal molt which is over in a few days and results in a shorter summer outfit which can be quite sparse around the neck and legs.

brown tabby bi-colour

History The year was 1986 and farmer, Linda Koehl, heard a kitten crying outside. Venturing out in the dark and the rain, she found a tiny, bald kitten abandoned near her barn, where barn cats came and went as they pleased. Fearing it would not survive, she brought it into her house and within a few weeks, the kitten not only survived but also had grown a lovely curly coat! Linda knew very little about breeding cats but noticed that more curly-coated kittens appeared in each generation. These curly cats were recognized by TICA as a new breed of Rex cat in 1995, and by CFA in 2000.

The breed standard The LaPerm is a naturally occurring mutation producing both long and shorthaired cats. It is medium sized and curly coated with semi-foreign type. All colours are acceptable. All parts of the body are in harmony with the size of the cat. There is evidence of surprising weight for size. The cat is alert and seems to be walking tall on its feet. Coat texture will be distinctly different than that of any other Rex mutation and will vary within the breed.

The head is carried on a medium long neck, is a modified wedge with rounded contours. There is a gentle convex curve rising from the bridge of the nose to the brow. The muzzle is slightly broad in proportion to the wedge. The ears are placed to continue the modified wedge of the head, slightly flared and cupped, medium to large with full furnishings and earmuffs. Lynx tipping preferred. The eyes are medium large and expressive, almond shape at rest and rounder when

Seal shaded silver tabbypoint

alert – slightly slanted towards the base of the ear. The body is medium in size, semi foreign, medium fine boning with back lightly higher in the rear.The perfect cat will have a moderately soft, springy coat texture standing away from the body in ringlet curls or waves over most of the cat. The thicker and heavier the coat the better. Shorthaired LaPerms do not have the ruff or plumed tail. Ear furnishings and whiskers can also be curly.

The coat can vary in length and fullness according to the season and maturity of the cat. Gradually the breed has begun to emerge internationally with an individual look. They have become longer in the body and tail and taller on the legs with and overall more graceful appearance. Temperament The LaPerm has a sociable and outgoing nature and thrives on human companionship. They are very playful and happy cats and will adapt to all environments.

They like to know what is going on around them and kittens have been known to quit nursing and seek out the source of a human voice even before their eyes are open! The LaPerm is active and intelligent and can be trained to a harness. They demand affection, like to follow their owners around, enjoy a shoulder ride (if allowed); they are face huggers and kissers and love being talked to. A truly wonderful companion for people on their own or for a family.

Allergy All Rex breeds have the reputation of being hypoallergenic. It can only be by ‘reputation' as there are no guarantees, probably because there are many different types of cat allergy and reactions differ in sufferers. To some it can be the cat's saliva, which it deposits on its coat when grooming, to others it can be the fur itself. The Rex cat has a genetically modified coat texture which causes it to curl or wave and this seems to make a difference between a severe reaction to a very mild reaction or none at all.

Photo

La-perm

Cornish rex

Devon Rex

Shorthair la-perm

Longhair la-perm

la-perm kitten 1 weeks age

First laperm cats in Russia (Russicurl cattery) - imporf from South Africa

First USA import in Russia (Russicurl cattery)

What does BC, BB, & BS stand for??

The La Perm breed can be born in three different ways.

They can be born bald (BB), born curly (BC) or born straight (BS).

We simply add these to the regstration names so that we can identify if they were born curly, straight or bald.

CFA Breed Standard: LaPerm

Updated: April 6 2004

A black line denotes an updated section.

The LaPerm is eligible to be shown in the Miscellaneous Class .

POINT SCORE

GENERAL: the LaPerm is a naturally occurring mutation producing both long and shorthaired cats. It is medium sized, curly coated with semi-foreign type. All colors are acceptable. All parts of the body are in harmony with the size of the cat. There is evidence of surprising weight for size. The cat is alert and seems to be walking tall on his feet. Coat texture will be distinctly different than that of any other Rex mutation and will vary within the breed. Males may have a curlier coat but not always. Females are generally smaller than males.

HEAD: the skull is a modified wedge with rounded contours. There is a gentle convex curve rising from the bridge of the nose to the brow. the skull is a modified wedge, slightly rounded with gentle contours. Whisker pads should appear full and rounded, with long whiskers.

MUZZLE: broad with rounded contours and moderate to strong whisker pinch. Chin strong and firm presenting a perpendicular line down from the tip of the nose. Allowances should be made for jowls on mature males.

PROFILE: slight dip to nose just below bottom of eye, then continuing straight to tip of nose. Dip must be felt for, as it can appear straight. Forehead should be a flat plane to the top of the head, then smooth gentle curve back over top of head flowing into neck.

EARS: placed to continue the modified wedge of the head, slightly flared and cupped, medium to large. Full furnishings and earmuffs with lynx tipping is preferred on longhair variety but not required on the shorthair variety.

EYES: medium large and expressive, almond in shape at rest and rounder when alert. Set moderately far apart and slightly slanted toward base of ear. Eye color has no relation to coat color.

BODY: medium in size, semi-foreign, medium boning with hips slightly higher than shoulders.

NECK: carried erect, medium long in length in proportion to body

LEGS and FEET: medium long to match body length. Forelegs may be slightly shorter than hind legs. As with body, medium fine boning with rounded feet.

TAIL: in proportion to body, tapering from base to tip.

COAT-LONGHAIR: Texture and length: medium-long to long, both males and females may have ruff on neck at maturity. The coat should be free of matting, so it should not be too thick and heavy. The tail is plumed with some curling. The feel of this coat is unique among Rex breeds. It is springy, light and airy. The feel may vary among individual cats and/or color. Curl or waviness: curly or wavy, curl is preferred. The coat should be loose and bouncy and should stand away from the body, a coat you can run your fingers through to the skin. The coat is light and airy enough to part with a breath. The coat will have an almost unkempt appearance (the "Gypsy Shag" look). Tightest curls are in the ruff and the base of the ears; longest curls are in the ruff, base of the ears, and at the base of the tail. The coat may vary in length and fullness according to the season and maturity of the cat. At times this coat will part naturally down the middle of the back. COAT-SHORTHAIR: Texture and length: short to approximately medium-long. The tail is not plumed but hair may be wavy. The feel of this coat is unique among Rex breeds. It is springy, light and airy. The texture may be harder then longhair and will vary among individual cats and/or colors. The coat will stand away from the body with waves over most of the cat. Curl or waviness: curly or wavy. Is not required to have a ruff, ringlets or earmuffs. The tail will be like a bottlebrush. At times this coat will part naturally down the middle of the back.

PENALIZE: lack of ear furnishings on the longhair LaPerm, crossed eyes or non-visible tail faults.

DISQUALIFY: cobby body, short legs, incorrect number of toes, visible tail faults, straight hair.

LAPERM COLORS:

The following information is for reference purposes only and not an official part of the CFA Show Standard. LaPerm Color Class Number All Colors (Longhair & Shorthair) 6000 6001 (Shorthair Specialty Ring)

LaPerm allowable outcross breeds: Domestic longhair and domestic shorthair. Kittens born on or after January 2010 may have only LaPerm parents.