Ear-resistable curl (Christchurch) and oldest longhair (Poverty Bay) at Royal Easter Cat Show, Auckland

A cat with curled ears and the oldest of the longhaired domestic cats are two of the unusual breeds on show at this year’s Royal Easter Cat Show.

New to New Zealand, the American Curl has ears that curl back from the face. A genetic mutation first discovered on a stray cat in California in 1981, the American Curl is now recognised as one of the United States’ native American cat breeds.

Born with straight ears, a Curl kitten’s ears begin to curl two to ten days after birth, and will curl and uncurl to varying degrees until setting permanently at around four months of age.

Breeder Sheryll Davis from Christchurch, whose American Curl Hoolyhop will be on show, says the Curl’s temperament is one of curiosity and companionship. “They’re very people oriented and love to ‘bump heads’ and assist in all household projects.”

Another exciting new breed on show is the Turkish Angora. The oldest of the longhaired breeds, the Angora originated in Turkey as far back as the 1100s and was the first longhaired cat to reach Europe in the 17th century.

However after being used to develop breeds like the Persian, the original type was lost and it was not until the 1950s that Turkey allowed the Turkish Angora to be exported to America, Sweden and Great Britain.

Breeder Aleksandra Turjak from Poverty Bay, who imported the first Turkish Angoras into New Zealand in 2008, describes them as affectionate and playful, graceful and elegant.

“They are long and fine-boned yet muscular with long legs ending in small dainty paws and are true poetry in motion. Their coat is silky and sleek with no undercoat making grooming an easy task.”

Alek has several varieties of Angora at the show including red silver, white, and black silver.

Organised by CATZ Inc, the popular feline show and competition is part of the Royal Easter Show on from Thursday 1 - Monday 5 April at the ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane, Auckland. The Royal Easter Cat Show runs for four days from the Friday 1 to the Monday 5 April.

Other unusual and popular breeds are expected at the show include short-legged breeds the Lambkin, Munchkin, Skookum and Napoleon; the largest domestic cat breed in the world the Maine Coon and the second largest the Norwegian Forest Cat; the hairless Sphynx, Bengal, Devon Rex, Cornish Rex and Scottish Fold; and old favourites the Persian, Siamese, Balinese, Burmese and Birman.

The household moggie also gets its own section for ‘companion’ cats, judged on qualities such as health, personality and presentation and competing for the title of Supreme Grand Companion.

For more information visit www.royaleastershow.co.nz. To contact American Curl breeder Sheryll Davis (Southern Curl) please phone 03 347 8828, or to contact Turkish Angora breeder Aleksandra Turjak (Vonimp Cattery) please phone 06 862 6708.