The Selkirk Rex is one of the few cat breeds with curly hair!
A natural genetic mutation causes their curly hair.
History
The Selkirk Rex hails from Montana, US.
In the late 80s, a Persian breeder named Jeri Newman came across a stray kitten with unusual curly hair.
Newman took the kitten home and named her DiPesto after Allyce Beasley’s curly-haired character in the TV series Moonlighting.
She later bred DiPesto with one of her black Persian males. This litter produced six kittens: three curly kittens and three straight-haired kittens.
Those three curly-haired kittens are the ancestors of the Selkirk Rex that we know today.
Both Persians and British shorthairs were used to further the breed.
Newman named the breed after her stepfather Selkirk–a Scottish surname–and their second name, Rex, comes from the curly-haired rabbit breed called Rex rabbits.
The Selkirk Rex was accepted by TICA in 1992, then the ACFA later in 1998. The CFA accepted the breed in 2000.
Appearance & Physical Traits
The Selkirk has beautiful curls that can be either short or long, tight or loose.
Their coat almost looks like sheep’s wool that is plush and soft to the touch.
They can be almost any color and pattern known to cats, such as red, white, and black (including other variations of the three dominant colors), calico, tortoiseshell, bicolor, tabby, colorpoint, etc.
Selkirks are medium to large cats, weighing up to 16 lbs (7 kg).
The breed has a stocky, muscular build–likely inherited from their British shorthair ancestors–and flat, rounded features.
Personality & Behavior
Selkirks typically have a sweet, easygoing, and docile temperament.
Most Selkirks are great with children and dogs thanks to their patient and loving personality.
They are very affectionate, friendly, and intelligent, and make great lap cats!
Selkirks are a sociable and energetic breed and can get a bit bored if they have no one to play with, so it’s important to schedule playtime with your cat and make sure that she has access to toys, cat trees, and scratching posts to keep her occupied while you’re busy.
Health & Care
The Selkirk Rex is still a new breed so there’s not much information on what diseases and illnesses they are susceptible to, other than that they are prone to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, polycystic kidney diseases, and hip dysplasia.
You should schedule annual veterinary check-ups to ensure the health of your cat.
All cats should be kept up to speed with their vaccinations and boosters.
Selkirks only require minimal grooming, about once a week. Be careful not to overgroom your Selkirk, because it causes their curly hair to frizz, just like humans. All grooming should be done with a cat grooming comb, not a brush.
The breed should have occasional baths, and their teeth brushed daily.
Related & Similar Breeds
Persian
British shorthair
Cornish rex
Devon rex
LaPerm
Works Cited
Brown, Jackie, “Selkirk Rex: Cat Breed Profile, Characteristics, & Care,” Spruce Pets,
“Selkirk Rex Cat Breed: Personality & Information,” Hill’s Pet,
“Selkirk Rex,” Wikipedia,