LaPerm vs Domestic Mediumhair - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

It is unclear as to whether the Domestic Mediumhair comes from Egypt, Europe or the USA.

It is a mixed breed cat that no one can be sure how it's going to look. It is why they are often referred to as mutts and you’ll likely find them in animal shelters.

It was thought they arrived in America with the Pilgrims, who brought them aboard the ships to take care of the rodent population. Mixed breeding between many generations of cats brought about the Domestic Medium Hair.

The LaPerm cat hails from the United States of America but you’ll find him in many other countries around the world.

The cat has a dominant gene which results in the unusual curly coat of the cat. This means he is part of the rex breed. This is a term given for the naturally occurring genetic mutation that gives the cat its wavy coat.

It’s not an old cat breed this and it seems to have come about in the early 1980s for the purposes of controlling rodents. The breed founders were Linda and Richard Koehl from Oregon. They started a formal breeding program and the breed was named after their curly coat.

After the cats got the name LaPerm, it was in 2002 that they got recognition from the Cat Fanciers Association.

This is a medium-sized cat that weighs in the region of 3 – 6kg. They stand at about 30cm in height but there is no set standard with these cats and their looks and temperaments can vary.

It's a medium built cat, not too thick-set or not too slight. The medium-length coat is thick and double-coated and can be in every color and pattern, including tabby and tortoiseshell.

The eyes can be different shades and the ears large or small too while the tail can also vary in length and bushiness.

Temperament

Because the Domestic Medium Hair is of mixed ancestry, their temperaments can vary. Some are quiet and docile while other can be very energetic and have a lot to say. Most of them are loving, loyal cats that get on well with childre and other pes in the house. Some are also more independent than others, but a lot can deped on the way you bring your cat up.

The LaPerm is a medium-sized cat that can weigh anything between 3 and 7kg. They’ve got an athletic build. The legs and the neck are fairly long.

It is thought that they are more hypoallergenic than many other cats but no cat is truly hypoallergenic. The coat is the cat's most exceptional feature, with loose curls. The coat can be long or short. All colors and patterns are acceptable, with red, tabby, and tortoiseshell being more common.

There is no undercoat. The eyes of the cat are medium-sized and almond-shaped.

Temperament:

These are affectionate cats with an outgoing personality. He has a sense of humor so becomes an entertaining cat.

He gets on well with children in the home. People who have owned the cat describe him as clownish. He is playful and that means providing him with some interesting toys.

It’s an intelligent cat and learns to use his paws to open doors and tap you to take notice. He is also fairly active and will willingly retrieve small balls. He is gentle, loving, quiet, and affectionate towards his human family.

Domestic Medium Hairs come in so many different shapes, sizes and personalities. You’ll also find lots of colors, patterns and personalities with this cat as much depends on the cat’s ancestry.

Even when you choose a kitten, you can’t really know what you’re going to get – large or small, lively or quiet, independent or needy – its what makes owning a Domestic Mediumhair so fascinating.

One thing every one of them has in common is that they love their human family and they deserve to all receive unconditional care and companionship.

The LaPerm cat is known for its loyal, loving personality. It’s a cat that thrives on being involved with its human family and can easily turn into a lap-cat.

They’re active and also intelligent, and will love you to play some games with him. He will become quite vocal when he demands your attention.

Provide him with a climbing tree as he is active and loves to climb where he can survey the room and decide which human being’s lap he has in mind.

With the Domestic medium hair cat having a mixed ancestry, they are cats that don’t easily succumb to illness.

You’ll find that the health issues that are common to this cat are typically common to all cat breeds. Some of these typical illnesses are diabetes, kidney disease, obesity, dental problems and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a heart disease.

All these illnesses can shorten your cat's life. Gut health is of critical importance so be sure to provide your cat with a top-quality diet.

La Perms are generally healthy cats. However, any cat owner needs to recognize the signs of some of the common cat illnesses there are.

Cancer, feline immunodeficiency virus, diabetes, and heartworm are all diseases that your healthy cat can at some time succumb too.

Keep an eye on your furry friend, and if he is lethargic and no longer his happy self, get him to the vet immediately for a check-up.

Grooming:

The Domestic Medium Hair has a thick, double coat, and to avoid hairballs and matting, he will need to be brushed at least once a week. Set aside this brushing time to examine your cat’s eyes, the inside of his ears, inside his mouth for bad teeth, to check the length of his claws and to feel for unusual new lumps.

Diet:

Your cat's diet is as important as life itself. Your cat is a carnivore and should be fed meat. He won’t do well on carbs. Speak to your vet if you’re unsure about how to feed your cat.

Meanwhile, there are some excellent commercially manufactured cat foods on the market and if you choose the best ones with meat at the top of the ingredients list, you can be doing the right thing.

Make sure your kitty kat has constant access to fresh, cool drinking water.

Kittens start with 4 meals a day while the older cat will do well on 2 meals a day. It is most important to feed your kitten the very best food – the correct diet – because their bones, brain, coat and energy all depend on this for the rest of their lives.

Remember too that there are cat foods that cater to the different seasons of your cats life. A kitten, young adult, energetic breed, pregnant cat, a cat with disease, and a senior cat will all have a choice of foods made by the top brand cat food manufacturers. Each food caters specifically for the cat’s unique needs.

Keep your cat's vaccines and de-worming up to date. Parasites left unchecked can make your cat sick.

You can provide your cat with all the best food, toys, comfy bedding and medical care you like, but if you don’t provide him with love and attention, it will all be in vain.

The LaPerm’s unusual coat is easy to care for as it isn’t a big shedder. You’d think that the curls would tangle but they don’t. You can gently comb or brush the curls once or twice a week. Just like with a human perm, you can mist the cat’s curls and comb and fluff them out with your fingers.

Cats are particularly prone to periodontal disease, so look into your cat’s mouth occasionally to see that the teeth are as they should be. Brushing the teeth can stress a cat out and make it miserable and the dry cat foods help to keep the teeth clean.

Pet groomers and the vet can check out the teeth for you and make sure they are in tip-top condition.

Make sure your cat’s eyes are clear and bright and free of discharge. Trim the nails as required – something the vet or the pet groomers can also do for you.

Provide your LaPerm with a litterbox and keep it spotlessly clean, ridding it regularly of the cat’s droppings.

Even though there are excellent commercial cat foods on the market, some cats develop finicky eating habits. Don’t start feeding your cat human foods and snacks to coax him to eat. It can cause a host of digestive problems.

Cats are carnivores and require foods high in protein to remain healthy. A veterinarian will need to examine your cat if he is refusing to eat and is losing weight.