shorthair
Poodle Cat
Origin: Germany
An extremely rare German experimental breed, the Poodle Cat (Pudelkatze) pairs a curly rex coat with folded ears, giving it a soft, lamb-like appearance and a famously gentle nature.
- Origin
- Germany
- Category
- shorthair
- Lifespan
- 12–15 yrs
- Size
- Medium
- Weight
- 3–5 kg
- Coat
- Short, dense and curly or wavy, plush to the touch
- Colours
- A wide range of colours and patterns
😺 Temperament
🏡 Best suited to
📊 Personality ratings
📜 History & origin
The Poodle Cat, or Pudelkatze, was created in Germany in 1987 by breeder Rosemarie Wolf, who set out to combine a curly coat with folded ears in a single sturdy cat. Her programme brought together the Devon Rex (for the curly coat), the Scottish Fold (for the ears) and European and Persian lines for body type. The result was a plush, wavy-coated cat, but concerns about the health of the fold gene and the breed's tiny numbers meant it never became widely established, and it remains one of the rarest breeds in the world — kept alive by only a handful of dedicated breeders.
🧼 Care & grooming
The short curly coat is low-shedding but benefits from very gentle weekly grooming with a soft brush or a stroke of the hand to distribute the skin's natural oils; harsh brushing can damage the delicate rexed hairs. The Pudelkatze is a placid, affectionate lap cat that thrives on close human company. Because of its Scottish Fold ancestry, buyers should seek breeders who prioritise joint and cartilage health and never pair two folded-ear cats.
🩺 Health notes
The breed's chief health consideration is inherited from the Scottish Fold side: the same gene that folds the ears (osteochondrodysplasia) can affect cartilage and joints throughout the body, so responsible breeding and veterinary monitoring of mobility are essential. Its rex coat can leave the skin a little more exposed, so protection from cold and sunburn is wise. Its extreme rarity makes a knowledgeable, health-focused breeder crucial.