Selkirk Rex Cat Breed Description

Active: The Selkirk Rex is moderately active. They are not prone to laying around the house all day but, they are not hyperactive either. They have a laid back personality that will enjoy a good game and some play time but will equally love to curl up on your lap and relax.

Size: The Selkirk Rex cat breed is medium to large in size, ranging in weight from 6 to 16 pounds. They have a muscular body and substantial boning which gives them a hefty feeling when picked up.

Characteristics: The Selkirk Rex has such an adorable and endearing appearance. Beyond their curly coats, they have lovely faces that will draw you in and make you fall in love. They have medium ears and large, round, wide-set eyes. They have cute, full cheeks covered in curly fluff. Their medium to large size bodies sit atop medium, muscular legs that have substantial boning and are proportionate to their bodies.

Temperament: While the curly coat of the Selkirk Rex may be its crowning glory, it's personality is wonderful as well! They make wonderful companions and best friends because they are not overly active and enjoy a good cuddle. They have a low-key, relaxed personality that will not demand your attention and energy around the clock. But, just because they are low-key, does not mean they are loners. They are very people-oriented and quite affectionate. He is wonderful with people of all ages, including children, as long as they are gentle and respectful of this sweet-natured cat. While they are not hyperactive or incredibly demanding cats by nature, they still enjoy to play and do not love to be left alone for long period of time. Entertain and intrigue the highly intelligent mind of the Selkirk Rex with fun games that are challenging and playful. And don't forget to lavish your cuddly best friend with lots of love.

Care: The Selkirk Rex coat goes through number of changes in its life. The coat will start out curly and then around 6 months of age, they will lose their curly coat. The coat will become sparse and even straight but, just wait it out. The coat will come back curly and full, and lovely to the touch. The coat will not be fully developed until about 2 years of age. The coat is prone to tangles so it should be combed or brushed a few times a week to keep the beautiful curls looking their best. Bathing is rarely necessary with the Selkirk Rex. Additionally, brush your cats teeth to prevent periodontal disease and trim your cat's nails as needed. If you do these things, your Selkirk Rex will be the envy of all the cats and their fanciers with their beautiful, curly-coated appearance.

Coat: Selkirk Rex coat can be both longhair and shorthair but they are all curly. In shorthair cats, the coat is dense, plush and full textured. In longhair cats, the coat is still curly but may not appear as fluffy and may lay a little closer to the body. But, the coat is still full of beautiful curls in either breed, and the curls are their crowning glory. The Selkirk Rex coat can come in a variety of colors. A well kept coat will have luscious curls that do not appear matted and have no bald patches, a coat that is well kept will make all the other cats jealous!

Origin: The brief history of the Selkirk Rex cat begins in Montana in 1987. A cat gave birth to a litter of 6 kittens in an animal shelter and 5 of the kittens had straight hair and ordinary appearances. One kitten stood out from the pack with a curly coat. Jeri Newman, a breeder of Persians for many years, was known for her love of strange kittens. When a friend saw the curly-coated, unique kitten at the shelter she acquired the kitten for Newman. Newman took the kitten and affectionately named her Miss Depesto because she was always "pestering" for attention. Not only did Miss Depesto have a curly coat but she also had curly whiskers. Newman was intrigued by Miss Depesto and suspected that she may have Rex genes.

She decided to breed Miss Depesto with her champion black Persian male cat named Photo Finish of Deekay. Miss Depesto had a litter of 6 kittens and three of the kittens had the same curly hair. Miss Depesto clearly had unique dominant genes and Newman named the new breed Selkirk Rex, after her stepfather. Interestingly, the Selkirk Rex cat breed is the only breed named after an individual. TICA accepted the new Selkirk Rex breed in 1990 was recognized for championship status in 1994. In 2000, the CFA granted championship status to the Selkirk Rex cat breed as well.