Group Classification: New Breed (pending as of 1/2010)
Country of Origin: U.S.
Date of Origin: 1980s
Weight (M): 11-14 lbs.
Weight (F): 7-10 lbs.
Life Expectancy: Unknown (breed is too new)
History
Elf Cats have been researched and developed by U.S. breeder Karen Nelson. A strong foundation has been built utilizing many bloodlines from numerous Elf breeders located in Arizona, California and Idaho. Contributing foundation breeds include the Sphynx, a unique hairless breed, and the American Curl, known for its signature curled ears. Permissible out-crosses today include Domestic Short Hair, which is any cat belonging to Felis Domesticus that is not registered as a recognized breed.
Elf cats are currently being registered as an experimental breed with The International Cat Association (TICA).
General Description
Medium to large sized, the Elf is sturdy with good muscle delineation. Despite that, the ideal is for the cat to show a rounded belly. The curled ears come from their American Curl ancestors. Whiskers and eyebrows may or may not be present; if they are present they are likely to be thin and sparse. While all Elf cats are hairless at first glance, some are covered with a fine, almost clear down.
Colors
Any
Coat
Hairless or hairless with fine down
Notable Features
Hairlessness and curled ears make this a very unique cat.
Health and Care
These cats are extremely intelligent and quite sturdy. They are the feline equivalent of a lap dog: loving and cuddly and happiest in someone's lap. Sociable and highly inquisitive, they love to be the center of attention.
As with their American Curl forefathers, the ears of these cats must be treated with care so as not to damage the cartilage. With or without the downy covering, Elf cats may still need protection from UV rays much as we humans do. In addition, without fur, they react to heat and cold much as we do. If you need a sweater, so does your Elf! Long term health problems leading from successive breeding of mutations are unknown at this time.
Resources
The Elf Foundry Breeders Group at