The LaPerm has no recognized breed-specific disease, but it still has one genetic test worth asking about. The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) says no specific health problems have yet been noted in this genetically diverse breed. A 2012 genetic study of more than 14,000 cats, however, found the mutation for pyruvate kinase deficiency in enough breeds that it recommended testing LaPerms along with several others. Beyond that, a LaPerm's care is mostly the care of any medium-sized indoor cat, plus a coat that needs the right comb.
A coat that starts bald
The breed began with one kitten born on an Oregon farm in 1982. According to the CFA, the kitten, later called Curly, was completely bald at birth and had a full curly coat by four months of age. All five kittens in her first litter were bald at first and curly later. The farm's owner, Linda Koehl, noticed the curly cats multiplying, began controlling the breeding and named the breed.
LaPerm coats range from loose waves to tight ringlets and corkscrews, in longhair and shorthair versions and in any color. The tightest curls sit on the throat, the underside and the base of the ears. The CFA notes that the coat can vary in length and fullness with the season and as the cat matures, which takes two to three years in this breed. A thinner coat in a young LaPerm can simply reflect that. Bald patches that appear suddenly in an adult, or skin that is red, scaly or itchy, are a different matter and need a vet check.
Grooming the curls
Because the curls hold loose hair, the CFA describes shedding as minimal and says the coat usually does not mat. It recommends regular combing with a comb that has rolling (rotating) teeth, which removes hair that is ready to come out without pulling at the rest. Hard brushing can pull out healthy hair along with the loose.
- Comb once or twice a week, a little more in spring and autumn.
- Check behind the ears and under the front legs, where knots form most easily in longhaired cats.
- Bathe only when the coat turns oily. Some LaPerm coats do. Use a cat shampoo, never a human one, rinse well and blot dry with a towel in a warm room rather than rubbing.
- Mist lightly with water and scrunch with the fingers if a flattened coat needs its curl back.
Low shedding does not make a LaPerm hypoallergenic. The main cat allergens come from saliva and skin, not the hair itself, and we found no study measuring allergen levels in the breed. Anyone with a cat allergy should spend time with LaPerms before bringing one home.
A LaPerm kitten can be born bald and have a full curly coat by four months, and its food needs change as fast as it grows. A personal plan sets portions from your own cat's age, weight and body condition.
Get Personalized Guidance →Health checks
Pyruvate kinase deficiency
Pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency is an inherited anemia in which red blood cells die early. Signs include severe lethargy, weakness, weight loss, jaundice and a swollen belly, and they vary widely in when they start and how severe they become. It is recessive, so a cat needs two copies of the mutation to be affected and carriers are healthy. A DNA test identifies both. A kitten buyer can reasonably ask whether the parents were tested, and a LaPerm with unexplained tiredness or pale gums should have a blood count.
Routine checks for any LaPerm
| Check | When | What it looks for |
|---|---|---|
| PK deficiency DNA result | Before buying or breeding | Affected cats and carriers |
| Weight and body condition | Monthly at home | Gradual gain in an indoor cat |
| Mouth examination | At every annual visit | Gum disease, tartar, tooth resorption |
| Water intake and litter tray | Daily, in passing | Straining, blood, more or less urine than usual |
A cat that strains in the litter tray and passes little or no urine needs a vet the same day. In male cats this can be a urethral blockage, which is an emergency.
Teeth
Dental disease is the problem a LaPerm owner is most likely to meet, simply because it is common in all cats. In UK primary-care records of more than 18,000 cats, 15.2% were diagnosed with periodontal disease in a single year, making it the most common specific diagnosis. Age was the strongest predictor: affected cats had a median age of about 9.5 years, against about 5 years for unaffected cats. There is no evidence that LaPerms are at higher or lower risk than other cats.
Much of what matters in a cat's mouth cannot be seen while the cat is awake. The 2025 FelineVMA oral health and dental care guidelines state that assessment under anesthesia is needed for dental radiographs and treatment. That is how tooth resorption, a painful condition in which a tooth breaks down from within, is usually found. At home:
- Brushing with a cat toothpaste, daily if the cat accepts it, is the most effective home care. Start slowly with a finger brush and short sessions.
- Dental diets, treats and water additives vary a great deal. Products carrying the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal have been tested against plaque or tartar.
- Drooling, dropping food, chewing on one side, pawing at the mouth or bad breath are reasons to book an examination.
Temperament and daily life
The CFA describes LaPerms as extremely interactive and affectionate, with many craving human contact. They are active but content to be lap cats, and generally not vocal. In practice that means a cat that follows people from room to room and settles close by, and one that does best in a home where someone is around for part of the day.
Two short play sessions a day with a wand or chase toy, a cat tree and a window perch meet most LaPerms' needs. Puzzle feeders turn part of a meal into activity, which helps an indoor cat keep its weight. Indoor life suits the breed; outdoor access brings the usual risks of traffic and fights, and burrs and twigs catch in a curly coat.
Feeding a LaPerm
The LaPerm is a medium-sized cat, and the CFA notes it often weighs more than it looks. The Merck Veterinary Manual estimates resting energy requirement (RER) as 70 multiplied by body weight in kilograms raised to the power 0.75, and feeds a neutered adult cat about 1.2 times RER, an intact adult 1.4 times and an obesity-prone adult 1.0 times. Rounded to the nearest 5 kcal:
| Ideal body weight | Neutered adult | Intact adult | Adult prone to obesity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 kg | 190 kcal | 225 kcal | 160 kcal |
| 4 kg | 240 kcal | 275 kcal | 200 kcal |
| 5 kg | 280 kcal | 330 kcal | 235 kcal |
Merck adds that animals of the same weight can differ by as much as 30%, so the table is a starting point. Body condition decides the rest: ribs easy to feel under a thin layer of fat, a visible waist from above, no hanging belly. The curly coat hides shape, so check with the hands.
- Choose a complete and balanced food for the cat's life stage. It supplies the protein, fatty acids, biotin and other nutrients a normal coat needs; extra coat supplements have no evidence behind them for this breed.
- Include some wet food if the cat accepts it. It adds water to the diet, and a water fountain or several bowls around the house can encourage drinking.
- Weigh portions and feed two or more meals rather than leaving dry food out all day.
- Keep treats to about 10% of daily calories, including dental treats.
Sources
- LaPerm. The Cat Fanciers' Association.
- Erythrocyte pyruvate kinase deficiency mutation identified in multiple breeds of domestic cats. BMC Veterinary Research, 2012.
- Periodontal disease in cats under primary veterinary care in the UK: frequency and risk factors. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 2023.
- 2025 FelineVMA feline oral health and dental care guidelines. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 2025.
- Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual.
Get the Fudini app
It's free. Add your dog or cat with one photo, and the app suggests food, activity and care for that animal, with daily tips and a community of owners.
Download free on the App Store