The Curls originated as a domestic cat with an unusual mutation. The first Curl-to-Curl breeding occurred in January 1984 with the resulting kittens born in March. A black and white male kitten from this litter, became the first known homozygous American Curl, which meant that all of his offspring would have curled ears, regardless of his pairings with curled or straight ear females. Needless to say, homozygous American Curls are very desirable in breeding programs for their predictable progeny. Since that time, countless Curl-to-Curl breeding, including pairings with homozygous American Curls, have been conducted with no genetic abnormalities reported. Ear furnishings fanning outward from the ear accentuate and further enhance the curled ear. When breeding Curl to Curl, the resulting kittens will usually all have curled ears. However, a Curl bred to a straight ear domestic cat or a straight ear American Curl will produce at least 50% curled ear kittens and usually more due to the dominant nature of the curl gene. Straight ear American Curls from such litters are very valuable in a planned breeding program and also make outstanding pets. As in other breeds, regional variances in type exist in today's American Curls. For example, some recent publications have been reported to state that American Curls may be bred to any pedigreed or purebred cat, which is in exact contradiction to the American Curl's sole allowable outcross - non-pedigreed domestic cats. Recently, a new Curl owner learned first hand of the American Curl's creative, playful and social nature.