American Ringtail Cat Breed Description

Active: The American Ringtail cat is moderately active. They are playful but not overly demanding of your time. They enjoy lounging as much as the next cat but will not spend the whole day sleeping. They tend to enjoy wading in tubs of water as well.

Size: You can expect the American Ringtail to be around 10 inches tall and weigh somewhere close to 7 to 15 lb with a large muscular body.

Characteristics: The dominate characteristic is, of course, their curled tail. They have medium ears and large, rounded and bright eyes that are incredibly endearing. They open expression will make you fall in love instantly.

Temperament: American Ringtails can be a bit more vocal than average and are wonderful companions. They are playful but not overly so and tend to enjoy playing in water. They enjoy cuddling, but will not expect you to stay snuggled up all day long. They may not be lap cats, per se, but they are very loving and affectionate. They enjoy playing and are wonderful cats for families with children.

Care: American Ringtail cats are very easy to care for, making them all the more lovable. They should be brushed a few times each week to keep their coats looking lovely. Brush their teeth to prevent periodontal disease and also trim their nails and clean their ears regularly to keep them in top form.

Coat: Their coat length is typically short to medium but long is a possibility as well. Though the American Ringtail doesn't shed very much you'll still want to brush them weekly. The longer the hair the more you should brush to keep their fur healthy and soft.

Origin: In 1998, a cat was found in California with a genetic mutation which caused his tail to curl up like a ring. He likely wasn't the first of his kind but he was one of the first to be very much admired by breeders. Susan Manley found this cat at a very young age and named him Solomon. Later Susan began breeding him in order to reproduce the same ringtail trait. Within a few years breeders learned about this experimental American Ringtail breed. Ragdolls and American Shorthairs were bred in order to create this experimental American Ringtail cat breed.