LaPerm vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison | MyCatBreeds

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.

As the traditional Siamese cats from Siam, now known as Thailand, this ancient breed of cat goes back to 1350AD. It is believed that these Traditional Siamese cats were first exported to the west in the 19th century.

The Applehead is a Siamese cat that looks the way Siamese looked when they were first brought out to the United States in the 19th century. Breeding with other cat breeds is what developed the Applehead Siamese.

The Applehead seal point was also imported to Britain. Breeders have developed other point colors and head shapes by cross-breeding long- and short hairs, but all Siamese are essentially bred from the Applehead seal point.

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.

There is no denying that the very recognizable Siamese cats are one of the most popular cat breeds there are, known also for being very vocal.

The female Applehead weighs between 3 and 5kg and the male might weight a bit more, as much as 6,8kg.

Siamese cats are all born white but as they mature they develop their deeper color points. There are actually 3 types of Siamese cats, with the Traditional Siamese being known as the Apple Head - the original breed of Siamese.

This particular Siamese is a bit bigger and larger-boned than the modern Siamese, with the body being more muscular and heavier. The head of the cat is fairly round- or apple-shaped with the eyes also being somewhat rounder than other types of cats.

The legs are long and the tail long too and the cat has a fairly short, silky coat.

Temperament:

These cats look intelligent and they are, so much so, that it will be important to present them with lots of toys that make them think and require some skills.

They also love receiving attention from their human owners and although they are also vocal, they don’t talk as much as the modern Siamese cats.

They're curious and playful and don’t like being left alone for too long. They also get on well with children and other pets in the home but are inclined to become more attached to one particular person, wanting to follow their favorite human around.

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.

Applehead Siamese cats are very friendly and loving pets. They are intelligent and very beautiful too, with their amazing blue eyes.

You will enjoy their friendship as they are prepared to become totally devoted to you, and of course, your playful cat will provide you with lots of laughs and entertainment too. The Applehead Siamese is known to make a splendid pet for you and once you've owned one, you'll think twice before getting another cat breed.

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.

These are a healthy breed of cat and they have always been known to live longer than the modern Siamese cats.

With good care they can live to be up to 20 to 25 years of age. Good nutrition and a loving environment can help to eliminate diseases that the Siamese might have to endure. Some of these can be a blockage in the stomach, skin cancer, feline diabetes, hip dysplasia, and disrupted visual pathway which causes a squint.

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.

Diet:

These cats have special nutritional needs and you want to be aware that obesity is a growing problem with modern-day cats. Make sure your Applehead has a healthy diet to maintain a healthy weight so that he keeps his lithe, lean looks.

You might want to try a little bit of homemade food to enhance your Siamese cat's commercial food which is a mix of top quality meat-based wet- and dry food. You can speak to your vet about feeding your Applehead Siamese because you want to know which food is best for such a cat.

These days the best cat food manufacturers make sure that their cat foods are made up of tasty ingredients such as real chicken and whole brown rice formulated with the right balance of vitamins and minerals to meet the dietary needs of every cat breed and the season of life they are in.

Grooming:

Because of the Siamese cat’s short hair with no undercoat, the cat requires less brushing than other cats.