Selkirk Rex Shorthair Cat Breed

History

In 1987 in Montana, a feral blue tortie & white cat gave birth to an odd-looking kitten among a litter of five. When the kitten was nine weeks old, she came to Jeri Newman's attention, a Persian cat breeder, who took the kitten and named her Miss DePesto.

Jeri discovered that her mother had fur that was not wholly normal either, with a small kink right at the end of the hair strand. The kitten, Miss DePesto, had a coat that looked similar to a body wave, curly whiskers, and brillo hair in her ears. She had slanted eyes, a fine muzzle with a strong whisker break, a wide flat spot between her large ears, and prominent cheekbones. Like the Cornish Rex cat, her body was hefty, well-boned and her legs were long.

Jeri recognized that Miss Depesto's littermates all had normal coats and there were no other curly cats in the area. This led her to believe that Miss DePesto might be the basis of a new mutant rex gene. Jeri bred Miss DePesto at 14 months of age to her black Persian male. They enthusiastically waited for the kittens, and on July 14, Miss DePesto had a litter of six kittens, of which three were definitely curly.

The outcome proved that the gene was dominant, unlike that of the Cornish Rex and Devon Rex, and that Miss DePesto carried longhair variety. In 1990, the International Cat Association accepted the Selkirk Rex into the New Breed program and, in February 1994, recognized it for championship competition.

To preserve their genetic diversity and give the cat breed a more pleasing appearance, she and other cat breeders outcrossed them not only to Persian cats but also to American Shorthair, Exotic, and British Shorthair cats. Selkirk Rex was accepted as a breed by The International Cat Association in 1992. Then, in 1998, the American Cat Fanciers Association recognised the cats, followed by the Cat Fanciers Association in 2000.

Appearance

The Selkirk Rex comes in both shorthair and longhair coats. The shorthair variety have a dense, lush curl to their coat that highlights the density of their coat and resembles a teddy-bear. Meanwhile, the long haired variety have an even more dishevelled appearance that highlights the resemblance to a woolly sheep. Unlike their cousins, the Devon Rex and Cornish Rex, the Selkirk Rex’s coat is full rather than partly missing.

The two hair lengths come in a rainbow of colours. Though the curly-haired gene is dominant, some Selkirk Rex kittens in a litter may have straight hair. Straight-haired Selkirk Rex cats make just as wonderful pets as their curly siblings, but you won’t see them competing in cat shows.

This cat breed is a medium to large cat with robust, heavy boning, which gives them an extensive feel, but it takes time to grow to their full maturity. Their head is rounded with large round eyes. Their muscular body is somewhat rectangular, resulting in a firm feel under their soft coat.

Personality

The Selkirk Rex is an affectionate, easy-going feline, largely thanks to their ancestors. The British Shorthair cats contributed to their relaxed personality; the Persian cats added their lovable nature, and the Exotic Shorthair cats brought a playfulness to the whole package.

Guests are always fascinated by these cats and want to touch their coats, while cat owners have an incredible desire to pick and hug these felines. Fortunately, the Selkirk Rex is a patient cat that accepts these actions with excellent tolerance.

While affectionate, tolerant and patient. The Selkirk Rex is known to be playful and loves to cuddle. Still, this unique cat breed is not so active; hence, they will not wear you out. They are also not too demanding of attention but are welcoming to anyone who wants to touch their unusual coat.

The Selkirk Rex is sweet and attentive to their family. They can get along great with children who treat them with respect and gentleness. They also have a comical side and are often described as clownish.

Selkirk Rex loves being a lap cat and will happily chat with you in a soft, quiet voice. In addition, what cat owners love about this adorable cat breed is that they can entertain themselves when left alone for long periods of time.

Often seen as laid back, these cats are also smart. You can expect a Selkirk Rex to learn how to open cabinets or cupboards looking for toys or treats. Challenge their intelligence by teaching them to follow commands, learn new tricks and play a game of fetch. Invest in interactive toys like puzzles to keep them busy. They love treats and kibbles as rewards, so don’t forget to give them one each time after each training or play session.

The Selkirk Rex are also known to be adaptable in any home environment. They can thrive in a one-bedroom apartment or a big house with a big garden. They can also live alone or as part of a bigger pack. All they need is your love and attention, but without being too needy or clingy. They are great feline companions for the elderly and children because they are very gentle and easy to handle pets.

Like other cat breeds, the Selkirk Rex enjoys climbing a cat tower. They also love having a window seat to watch birds and people passing by. In addition, they enjoy having a lot of toys such as plastic balls, interactive games, felt mice, laser pointers and feather teasers.

Trainability

The most vital thing to consider with this cat breed is early socialisation. Remember, this cat is destined to get much attention from different people, even strangers on the street. Everyone desires to get a closer look at their uncommon coat, and many people will touch it without hesitation.

To keep your Selkirk Rex cat safe and content, make sure to prepare them for this kind of centre stage type of life. Luckily, Selkirk Rex are naturally relaxed and peace-loving. Nonetheless, it is still a good idea to support them in building positive connections with different people to prevent stress and unpleasant encounters.

In training your cat, they will jump at the chance to learn basic commands and enjoyable tricks. They have a lot of playful energy, and they will enjoy learning how to walk on a leash and play fetch.

As with any cat breed, it is best to follow your Selkirk Rex cat’s lead. You can use their favourite toys or treats during training and play sessions to keep their attention.. Selkirk Rex cats may look more silly than serious, but they are intelligent. Without appropriate mental stimulation, this cat breed will find their own ways to keep busy and amused, which may be undesirable things like scratching the furniture.

With proper training and socialisation at an early age, they will become a well-mannered and well-rounded feline companion ideal for families, children, the elderly and homes with other pets.

Coat & Care

Even with their luxurious and thick coat, the Selkirk Rex Shorthair needs only little grooming. Weekly combing is enough to maintain their silky waves, but twice a week is better. However, remember not to use a brush and not to over-comb their delicate fur as it tends to loosen up the curls and cause frizziness. Regular combing will keep your feline’s fur from piling up all over your house because Selkirk Rex does shed moderately, specifically during summer when shedding is at its peak.

Get your Selkirk Rex familiar with grooming from an early age. Start by using a comb that will gently groom their delicate curly fur at an early age. After every grooming session, reward your cat for behaving well. As they mature and get used to grooming, you can upgrade your tools to a more age-appropriate comb for their coat needs.

Aside from combing, you can bathe your Selkirk Rex regularly to prevent matting. However, be careful not to use a thick shampoo that doesn’t rinse well because it will make their fur fall flat.

Preferably, brushing their teeth every day is best; but, weekly brushing is sufficient for avoiding tooth and gum diseases. Keep their nails clean by trimming them twice a month or when needed. For their eyes, keep them clean by wiping the corners with a clean, soft, damp cloth.

Eliminate dirt, debris and wax weekly from their ears to ensure they don’t develop any infection. Use a clean cotton ball or a soft, damp cloth and a vet-approved ear cleanser to clean them. If there is a foul odour, contact your vet for care and treatment as this can signal infection.

Like many other cat breeds, the Selkirk Rex are very specific about their bathroom hygiene. So, make sure to keep their litter boxes clean at all times. If it is left unclean, they tend to develop a habit of using other places in the house.

Health

The Selkirk Rex is generally a healthy cat breed. However, because their genetic parents are Persians, the Selkirk Rex can suffer from polycystic kidney disease (PKD), which is common in Persians. Some cat registration bodies, such as the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) require cats to be tested for this before breeding.

Another possible genetic condition is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which comes from British Shorthairs. If buying a Selkirk Rex, it is strongly recommended only to buy from a breeder who runs DNA health checks on all their breeding cats and kittens.

Children & Other Pets

Due to their calm, gentle, and very affectionate nature, the Selkirk Rex are excellent for families with children and the elderly. They are perfect for kids as they are very playful and will play fetch with them tirelessly. But, always supervise any interaction with your Selkirk Rex and a child to avoid any mishaps such as the child pulling their fur or twisting their tail.

A Selkirk Rex will do well as a single pet or within a pack. They can live harmoniously with other cats, cat-friendly dogs and other pets in the same household. Just make sure to slowly introduce them in controlled environments to make sure that they learn to get along well.