Personality:
- Robust and fun loving.
- Affectionate and sociable.
- Kittens are born with a dense, curly coat that straightens when they are about six-months old, returning to full curl when they are 1 to 1- 1/2 years old.
History:
A result of a natural genetic mutation, the first curly-coated kitten was found in a litter of cats in Wyoming in 1987. The curly-coated kitten was crossed with Persians and British Shorthairs to develop the Selkirk Rex breed. Unlike the Cornish or Devon Rex, the curly coat is the result of a dominant gene. One of the newest breeds of cat, the Selkirk Rex was accepted for championship status in The International Cat Association (TICA) in 1994. This breed is not recognized by the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA).
Body Type:
- Medium size with a rectangular, muscular torso that has a slight rise to the hindquarters.
- Head is round and full-cheeked with medium, pointed, wide-set ears.
- Wide-set, round eyes complement coat color.
Coat:
- Non-matting coat is medium long in length, thick, and arranged in loose individual curls with curly whiskers, eyebrows, and ear furnishings.
- A shorthaired version of the Selkirk Rex has a shorter coat with the same curly characteristics.
- Any color or pattern is acceptable, including pointed.
Health and Wellness:
- Cats that are homozygous for the gene that provides the curly coat, tend to be less robust and have a tendency to lose their hair.
What you should know:
- Combing or brushing your Selkirk Rex will straighten the curl in their coats.
- Since the breed is new, there may be a waiting period before a kitten is available.
