Shulamith was the first known cat with naturally curled ears and founded the American Curl breed.
Shulamith was a black, long-haired stray female found in Lakewood, California, in 1981. Her ears curled backward rather than folding forward, and she passed the unusual trait to some kittens. Breeders began a controlled program to establish the American Curl while preserving a healthy domestic-cat body type.
The ear shape results from a dominant genetic mutation affecting the cartilage. American Curl kittens are born with straight ears; the ears begin curling within the first days after birth and reach their adult shape at roughly four months. The final curve can vary from slight to pronounced.
The breed is not the same as the Scottish Fold. Scottish Fold ears bend forward because of a different mutation, whereas American Curl ears curve backward. The American Curl was accepted by The International Cat Association in 1987 and by the Cat Fanciers’ Association in 1993.