The American Curl is a breed of cat originating from the United States and whose breeding began in the 1980s. The cross was made from a black female cat with naturally backward-curled ears and an alley cat.

Considered rare, this medium-sized cat breed has a distinctive characteristic: curled ears with an arched shape of 90 to 180 degrees toward the back of its head. The American Curl requires weekly brushing and regular ear cleaning.

The breed is described as curious, friendly, and intelligent. Cats act like kittens their entire lives! Their necks are slender and fairly long, their muscles are long and toned, and their bones are balanced. The American Curl has robust health and reaches maturity between two and three years of age. Males are often larger than females, and kittens are born with upright ears. The cartilage begins to dry out and harden between one and three days of life, then gradually relaxes. The ear does not stabilize until about four months of age.

There are three degrees of ear inclination. The first has a very slight curvature, cats of this variety being generally sold as "pets". Cats used for breeding are of the second degree and have more curved ears, almost at a right angle. The third degree, the most appreciated, is in the form of a "crescent moon" and is typical of show cats.