 In today's video, we are going to talk about a famous cat breed that is commonly known for having an unusual ear formation. The American Curl. The American Curl is one of the youngest cat breeds. It was born of a natural genetic mutation that first appeared in Shulamith, a stray black kitten with long, silky hair and, strangely, ears that curled backward. She found her way to the welcoming door of Joe and Grace Ruga in Lakewood, California. The Rubas named her Shulamith, after the black and comely princess, in the Old Testament book, The Song of Solomon. Shulamith had a litter of four kittens by an unknown father, and two of them shared her curly ears. A consultation with a geneticist, showed that the trait was caused by a dominant gene. Cat fanciers began selectively breeding the cats in 1983, and the new breed, named the American Curl, began to be registered by the Cat Fanciers Association in 1986. They were recognized by the International Cat Association in 1987, and achieved full recognition from CFA in 1993. The breed also stands out, for being the first single breed with two coat lengths recognized by CFA. All American Curls are descended from Shulamith. The cats can be bred to other Curls, or outcross to non-pedigreed domestic cats with straight ears, that otherwise meet the Curl breed standard. This helps to ensure a large gene pool and genetic diversity. The American Curl is a medium-sized cat, weighing 5 to 10 pounds. The Curl stands out for his distinctively shaped ears, but even without them he is a striking cat with a sweet expression, and a silky coat that can be long or short in any color, including such exotic shades as like chocolate tortoise shell smoke, silver patched tabby, and lilac links point. The long-haired variety has a pretty plume tail. The ears, however, are the most intriguing characteristic. Straight when a kitten is born, they begin to Curl back at 2 to 10 days after birth. They Curl, uncurl and Curl some more until reaching their permanent shape when a kitten is about 4 months old. Hello. This video is sponsored by Beemix Pets. Are you looking for high quality cat collars at an affordable cost? Check out, BeemixPets.com. A kitten destined for the show ring will have a crescent shaped ear, with a minimum 90-degree arc of Curl but no more than 180 degrees. The tips of the moderately large ears, are rounded and flexible, often adorned with tufts of fur. When Curls are alert, their ears swivel forward, but the tips point to the center of the base of the skull. The American Curl is sweet towards children, making them a good choice for families who is limited time supervising their children. Although it is ideal to monitor toddlers, who are not aware on how to pet the cat nicely, making sure that they don't pull the cat's ears or tail. The American Curl is happy to live with cat-friendly dogs, thanks to his amiable disposition. Introducing pets slowly and in controlled circumstances, is the best way to ensure that they learn to get along peacefully. Both pedigreed cats and mixed breed cats have varying incidences of health problems that may be genetic in nature. American Curls are generally healthy, but some lines have problems with narrower canals, which can lead to ear infections from wax buildup. So it's a good idea, to always consult your local veterinarian about your cat's ear health. If you enjoyed this video, kindly press the like button as it greatly helps out the channel. Also don't forget to subscribe with notifications on for more videos like this. Thank you for watching.