LaPerm

LaPerms are usually described as clever, inquisitive, extrovert and easy-going, with a humorous, mischievous streak. They are typically gentle and affectionate, and many like to sit on a lap, ride on a shoulder or reach out a paw to pat a face for attention.

They tend to want to be involved in whatever their people are doing and will often follow them around the house. They are not generally a vocal breed. They love companionship and should not often be left alone without company, such as another cat with a similar activity level or a cat-friendly dog.

The LaPerm is a medium-sized cat with a moderate foreign body type, medium boning and long legs, and it usually feels surprisingly heavy for its size. The GCCF gives a weight range of about 2.3 to 3.6 kg. Males are larger than females, which tend to be smaller and finer boned.

The head is a modified wedge with gently rounded contours, the ears are medium to large and cupped, and the eyes are large, expressive and almond shaped. The whiskers are very long and curly, and the eyebrows and ear furnishings may curl too.

There are two coat lengths. The longhair has a medium-long coat, often with a ruff at maturity and a plumed, curling tail. The shorthair has a short to medium coat with waves over most of the body and a tail like a bottle-brush. In both, the coat stands away from the body with little undercoat, and it may vary with the season. The coat is usually at its best at around three years of age. All colours and patterns are accepted, and eye colour is not linked to coat colour.

LaPerms are typically alert, intelligent and active cats with plenty of curiosity, and they usually stay playful throughout their lives. Many can learn tricks and how to retrieve, and they enjoy working out how to reach a toy placed just out of reach.

A climbing frame or tall cat tree lets them climb and watch from up high, and an assortment of toys, such as toy mice and ping pong balls, helps to prevent boredom.

The LaPerm is an easy breed to care for. The coat sheds only lightly and rarely mats because there is little undercoat, but it benefits from regular grooming with a brush or wide-toothed comb. The longhair variety needs more frequent grooming than the shorthair.

If small mats do form, they can be gently teased out with a slicker brush. The coat is meant to look a little untidy, so it may have an almost unkempt appearance as long as it is free of mats.

LaPerms are usually easy-going, gentle and affectionate, and both the GCCF and TICA describe them as good family companions that get on well with children. Their strong bond with their people can also make them good company for those who live alone.

Whatever the breed, young children should be supervised around cats and shown how to stroke them gently and let them walk away.

LaPerms usually get on well with other family pets. The GCCF describes them as a good choice for homes with friendly dogs, and TICA suggests a companion such as a cat with a similar activity level or a cat-friendly dog if they would otherwise often be left alone.

The GCCF registration policy for the LaPerm allows outcrossing to a number of other breeds, including the Somali, Abyssinian, Ocicat, Asian Shorthair, Burmese, Tonkinese and domestic shorthairs and longhairs. The GCCF says this genetic diversity helps to ensure there are no known breed-specific health problems, and TICA also reports no breed-specific diseases.

Both organisations recommend that any cat used for outcrossing is healthy and is DNA tested for any relevant genetic diseases before it is bred into the LaPerm.