The Jungle Curl is a hybrid breed, a combination of a domestic cat — typically the American Curl and the African Jungle Cat. These curled-eared hybrids are rapidly growing in popularity due to their wild appearance combined with an affectionate and friendly nature. Jungle Curls are a relatively rare breed due to the difficulty in breeding them, and they are only considered fully domestic after the fourth or fifth generation.
These cats can have fairly widely varying appearances, depending on the combination of parent breeds, but most will have the curled ears typical of the American Curl breed. They can be spotted, tabby, solid-colored, bi-colored, longhaired, or shorthaired, although shorthaired, spotty, or tabby versions are most favored.
Jungle Curls are a large responsibility due to their wild heritage, and even though they have domestic genes, they can still have wild and somewhat unpredictable behavioral traits. If you are up for the task of owning one of these exotic hybrids, read on for more information on this beautiful and wild-looking breed.
Jungle Curl Kittens — Before You Welcome One Into Your Family…
Jungle Curls are a rare breed and take a great deal of experience and expertise to breed. Before buying a Jungle Curl kitten, we highly recommend visiting the parents at the breeder’s home and making sure they are happy, healthy, and well looked after. Be sure that they have all the relevant paperwork on the lineage of the kittens and that they can inform you of what generation the kitten is. Early socialization is vital for this breed, so the breeder should begin the process before the kittens are released to new homes.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Jungle Curl
1. Jungle Curls are a mixture of several breeds
Jungle Curls are usually a mixture of an American curl and an African Jungle cat, but there are often other breeds involved, depending on the breeder. Some breeders may want to introduce different markings or traits and will mix in other breeds like the Highland Lynx, Hemingway Curl, Chausie, or Jungle Bob to achieve this.
2. They are difficult to breed
The first generation, or “F1,” is the initial mix of the Jungle cat and domestic cat and results in cats that are still 50% wild. These kittens are then bred with another domestic breed, resulting in the second generation and 25% wild cat kittens. These are again bred with domestic cats until the fourth or fifth generation, where they are considered almost fully domesticated and ready for sale. Males are usually sterile until the fourth or fifth generation, so only female cats can be bred up until this point, making Jungle Curls a difficult animal to breed.
3. Their curled ears are the result of a spontaneous genetic mutation
The American Curl is well-known for its characteristic curled-back ears, and the genetic mutation responsible for this curling was analyzed by geneticists and found to be a dominant gene. This means that any cat with just one copy of the gene will have curled ears, so a cross with another breed is 50% likely to have curled ears. If an African Jungle cat is crossed with an American Curl down to the fourth or fifth generations, they are highly likely to have this trait.
The Parent Breeds of Jungle Curl: Image Credit: (L) Nitiphonphat, Shutterstock | (R) thsulemani, Shutterstock
Temperament & Intelligence of the Jungle Curl
The Jungle Curl is an affectionate and loving cat despite its wild heritage. They retain the intellect and appearance of their wildcat ancestors but have the affection and loyalty of a domestic cat. They are more agile, playful, and athletic than a typical domestic cat, however, and need a ton of attention and exercise to stay happy and healthy. Cat trees are an ideal accessory for them to climb and play on.
These cats are described as “dog-like” by many owners, and they will happily play fetch when given the chance. They love to be close to their owners, and any type of interactive play is an activity that they’ll relish. Due to their wild heritage, Jungle Curls are often described by owners as more playful and exploratory than domestic cats, and they are exceedingly curious about their surroundings. These cats have a great deal of personality and character and are a joy to have around the home.
Are These Cats Good for Families? 👪
Jungle Curls can be family cats, although they do not have as much patience with small children as purely domestic breeds do. They are not usually aggressive but do not enjoy too much handling, and it’s best to teach small kids to let the cat come to them for attention rather than the other way around. They can act in unpredictable ways at times, and although they can adjust well to family life, they may act defensively toward new faces.
Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?
Jungle Curls are generally a friendly breed that gets along well with other cats and dogs — if socialized early. Remember that wildcats are solitary creatures, and this trait is inherent in your Jungle Curl too. They do have a strong prey drive, like most cats, but with their wild heritage, this is more pronounced. Any small family pets, like rodents, are best kept away from them. If you have a rat problem in your home, they’ll swiftly sort it out, though, as they are expert ratters!
Image Credit | Left: American Curl, xixicatphotos, Shutterstock; Right: African Jungle Cat Dmitri Gomon, Shutterstock
Things to Know When Owning a Jungle Curl
Food & Diet Requirements
When feeding any cat breed, protein is of the utmost importance, but with wildcat hybrids like Jungle Curls, this is even more vital. All cats, wildcat and domestic, are obligate carnivores, so high-quality protein is the most essential part of their diet. High-quality dry kibble is great; just make sure that the first listed ingredient is an animal-sourced protein, like chicken or salmon, and that there are not too many grains or vegetable proteins in the food. Too many of these ingredients can cause digestive issues in your cat and can cause rapid weight gain too.
We recommend complementing this dry food with lean meats and organ meats as much as possible for added variety and essential amino acids. This could consist of chicken breasts and gizzards, liver, tuna, and salmon, or a combination of these; just make sure they are from a trusted source, especially if you are feeding them raw meat. Many breeders and wildcat hybrid owners insist on feeding raw meats to their cat, although there is controversy surrounding the subject, and some owners are not comfortable doing this. A good ratio would be dry food in the morning with added (cooked or raw) lean meats or canned food in the evening, or vice versa.
Exercise 🐈
Exercising your Jungle Curl is important, and they’ll need around 30-60 minutes a day to stay happy and healthy. Interactive play with toys like balls and lasers that stimulate their natural hunting and chasing instincts are ideal and will provide them with the necessary mental and physical stimulation. A cat tree is a highly recommended investment, as with their wild heritage, these cats love climbing, and this will keep them endlessly entertained.
The parent breeds of Jungle Cat | Left: American Curl (maxkrapiva, Shutterstock); Right: African Jungle Cat (Gosza Wlodarczyk, Shutterstock)
Training 🧶
Jungle Curls are highly intelligent cats, and training is not usually a huge issue, but it is definitely more of a challenge than most domestic breeds. These cats are fairly independently minded and prefer to do things on their own terms. That being said, their eagerness for interaction with their owners helps, and you can use that to your advantage during training. Try to make training sessions short and as fun and entertaining as possible, and positive reinforcement training methods involving toys, treats, and loads of praise are ideal. Early socialization is vital with this breed and will go a long way in helping with training.
Jungle Curls are notoriously difficult to litter train. These cats are known to mark their territory by urinating, spraying, and scratching on furniture, and this is a difficult habit to break. They may even urinate along the boundaries of a bedroom, as they would do in the wild to mark their territory! Unfortunately, neutering and spaying are unlikely to change this behavior, so it needs to be addressed with consistency from a young age in order to prevent it in the future.
Grooming ✂️
Jungle Curls have widely varying coats, from thick, long coats to soft and short coats that are easy to care for. If your Jungle Curl has a short coat — which most of these cats do — grooming is a breeze, and an occasional brush to remove any dead hair is fine. If they have longer coats, however, knotting and matting is a real possibility, and they’ll need to be brushed every other day to keep this from becoming an issue. Begin brushing them from an early age to get them accustomed to the process, and they’ll likely end up loving it!
Health and Conditions 🏥
The Jungle Curl is a naturally healthy breed with a relatively long lifespan, but they have a few health concerns to be aware of.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a condition where the walls of the cat’s heart thicken, decreasing the heart’s efficiency and leading to a host of other symptoms. This is one of the most common cardiac health concerns in cats, whether domestic or wildcat hybrids.
Irritable bowel disease can vary widely in seriousness but can be painful for your cat and even cause chronic diarrhea. This is why a good diet is vital to the health of this breed.
Progressive retinal atrophy and luxating patella are other issues to look out for, although these are less common.
Minor Conditions
Obesity
Asthma
Gingivitis
Serious Conditions
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Irritable bowel disease
Progressive retinal atrophy
Luxating patella
Male vs. Female
There are a few important differences between male and female Jungle Curls to take into consideration before bringing one home. Males are typically bigger than females and far more likely to display territorial behavior. This could manifest in the marking of territory, excessively at times (although both males and females are known to mark territory), and may even occasionally result in aggressive behavior. Males are more likely to attach themselves to one owner, whereas females tend to be more aloof and independent, and do not have as much desire for your attention.
We highly recommend spaying and neutering your Jungle Curl, as this will mitigate wandering in males and unwanted pregnancies in females. Remember that all cats are individuals, and their personality is far more affected by their upbringing and environment than their sex.
Final Thoughts
The Jungle Curl is a uniquely beautiful animal that is a joy to have around the home. Even though these cats have their wild genetics largely bred out by the time they are sold, they still retain a few wild tendencies and behavioral traits, and they can be more of a challenge to look after than a domestic cat. They are more difficult to train than most domestic cats and can display unpredictable behavior at times. This is why they are not ideally suited to families with young children, although with proper socialization, they can adapt well to family life.
If you are up for the challenge of looking after this unique breed, it is well worth it, and they will give back plenty of affection, loyalty, and companionship.
Christian is the Editor-in-Chief of Excited Cats and one of its original and primary contributors. A lifelong cat lover, now based in South East Asia, Christian and his wife are the proud parents of an 11-year-old son and four rescue cats: Trixie, Chloe, Sparky, and Chopper.
