The Name
The tribe who lived in the area called Le Dalles were the Chinook. It is Native Indian territory. Traditionally they used French words incorporating the definite article (“La” in this case) when creating a new word. This custom probably came from the French and Belgium fur traders who gave the name of Le Dalles to the area. Apparently, LaPerm Cat breeders sometimes give Native Indian names to their cats. Linda Koehl, who started this breed of cat (and who lives in Le Dalles) says that the original cats reminded her of a bad permanent (in the UK we call them “perms” – short for permanent wave, maybe you do the same thing in the States).
Linda originally wanted to call the cat breed “The Dalles La Perm”, but this ended up as just “LaPerm”. Interestingly the name is linked to the appearance of the Le Dalles, as well as to appearance of the cat. Linda Koehl says that at the place where the river passes through Le Dalles, below the Celilo Falls, there are “rapids, ripples and curls”. This area is now covered with water because the river is dammed. The ripples reflected the shorthaired LPs and the rapids the longhaired LP.
Update 22nd Sept. 2010: See more on this: Additional information on the history of the LaPerm Cat (includes Linda Keohl’s own words on the naming of this breed).
To the best of my knowledge, there are no known specific health issues linked to this cat breed. Jerrie Wolfe says, “There has never been a case of HCM, luxating petallas. hip dysplasia or Type B blood found in LaPerms.”
A speaker: Kathryn M. Meurs, DVM, Ph.D, DACVIM (Cardiology) The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine Ohio State University at a Tufts convention (Oct 2-4, 2003) says that Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is suspected to be inherited in the Ragdoll, Rex, American and British shorthair. I don’t know the position. I am simply reporting what I see and read.
The LaPerm Cat is very sociable and they bond well with human companions (i.e. people orientated). The Wikipedia author calls this a cat of “moderation”. That seems to me like a nice description and a nice cat. The kind of cat you need as a reliable companion. Combining that with the interesting coat makes this a desirable but little known breed. This is an intelligent cat reflecting the fact that the breed originated as a barn cat. Intelligent cats require more stimulation. This means this breed can be more mischievous. The breed is being developed by the introduction of new coat colors and patterns through selective out crossing to a wide gene pool and for breed health. Out crossings are with non-pedigreed cats to replicate the origins of this cat breed.
Above: LaPerm Kittens – photograph courtesy and copyright Anthony Nichols
I’ve changed that and cleaned up one of the links to your site too. Take care.
Thanks Anthony, I’ll change this now.
Please note that the website of the LaPerm Cat Club has changed to http://www.lapermcatclub.com
Yes, but please remember to spell the name like this: LaPerm. That is the way breeders of this cat like to spell it and other people in the cat fancy.
La perm cats have curly fur. La perm cats are cute.