One of the newest natural breeds, this naturally curly cat originated from a housecat, Miss DePesto of Noface, found in a shelter in Wyoming in 1987. Given to a persian breeder, Jeri Newman of Montana, who bred her to PhotoFinish of Deekay, a black persian. On July 4 1998 "Pest" produced three curly kittens out of six - proving that pest's mutation was dominant. Because the gene is dominant, curly kittens can be born in the same litter with straight haired kittens.
Several breedings later, including breeding Miss DePesto back to her son, proved that not only was the mutation dominant, but that she carried the genes for both restriction and longhair.
They were accepted into CFA and TICA as of May of 2000.
The Selkirk Rex are currently bred into the British Short Hair, Exotic and Persian. With low maintenance and the ability to get along with everyone, they are sure to make the best pet you've ever had.
Selkirks are healthy and sturdy. They are an incredibly patient, loving, and tolerent cat. From the moment of birth, curly kittens can be distinguished from their straight haired littermates by their curly whiskers. The whsikers are brittle and may break as they grow longer. The whiskers and hair do not change as the cat grows older; if they are curly at birth, they are curly as an adult. Even if the coat later shows less curl, the cat has the curly gene and retains the curly whiskers. The curling is strongest on the flanks, tummy and around the neck, with some curl on the back. The back of a selkirk has the least amount of curl.
Keeping such a rare treasure indoors, neutering or spaying and providing acceptable surfaces for the natural behavior of scratching are essential elements for maintaining a healthy, long and joyful life.
Selkirk Rexes come in two coat lengths: short and long. Their coats are soft, thick and plush with non-matting loose curls which has led to calling them "The Cat in Sheeps Clothing". The care of the two different lengths of coats is similar. Maitaining the curl and coat is the same as with any longhair cat-combing and brushing before bathing. However, too much combing and brushing after the bath will straighten the hairs. Spritzing with water and finger crunching retains the curl. Shampoos that do not coat the hair but leave the cat feeling silky clean are the best to allow the hairs to curl.
