Longhair and shorthair Selkirk Rexes feature plush coats of loose curls and curly whiskers. These medium to large cats range in weight from 6 to 16 pounds. They have stout, muscular bodies and round heads with no flat planes. Selkirk Rexes come in most colors and patterns, including bi-color, pointed, and silver varieties.
The curly coat of the Selkirk Rex is a fairly low maintenance one. In fact, brushing relaxes the curls and straightens them over time, so grooming activities are best kept to a minimum.
This breed is generally healthy and individuals typically live 13 or more years with good care. They're sweet and patient cats that coexist well with older children, other animals, and even strangers. Selkirk Rexes are a bit less active than the other two Rex breeds-Cornish and Devon Rexes-but they aren't lazy.
There's a myth that curly cats like Selkirk Rexes are hypoallergenic. While most people with cat allergies react differently to different breeds, there's no link between a cat's coat type and its allergenic qualities. Allergic people react to cat dander, or dead skin cells, not hair; some also react to cat saliva. Selkirk Rexes shed dead skin cells and produce saliva just like all other felines.
Selkirk Rexes are sweet, loyal, and loving cats. They aren't hyper or demanding, but they do love to snuggle and to play active games when the mood strikes. Though usually mellow, these Rexes also have a clownish side and enjoy chatting with their humans in a quiet voice.
This breed is known for its patience and tolerance. Selkirk Rexes get along well with children that handle them appropriately and with friendly cats and dogs. Strangers are drawn to their unique, soft coats, and these cats are receptive to interactions with unfamiliar people.
These cats are highly social, and their patience and lack of nagging should not be mistaken as a sign they don't need company and attention. Selkirk Rexes are lap cats at heart and they crave companionship. Cats of this breed are prone to depression and behavioral problems if they're isolated or left alone often or for long stretches.
Selkirk Rexes aren't an unhealthy breed, and they have a standard domesticated feline lifespan of around 13 years. Some genetic predispositions to certain conditions have come down through their Persian, British Shorthair, and Exotic Shorthair lineage. It's important to acquire these cats from a breeder who provides a written assurance of good health, but it must be noted that no breeder can guarantee a clean genetic line or continuing good health.
Polycystic kidney disease is a concern with Selkirk Rexes. This condition leads to kidney dysfunction in one or both kidneys, and it typically manifests around 7 to 10 years of age. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is another problem seen in the breed. This is the most common cause of feline heart disease.
Selkirk Rexes are also at heightened risk for developing hip dysplasia, an inherited defect of the hip socket. The condition may be mild to severe and is degenerative. It interferes with mobility and can cause significant pain. A breeder should provide evidence that a kitten's parents underwent appropriate hip imaging and had their hips rated excellent, good, or fair by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals.
In addition to being laid back, Selkirk Rexes are quite smart. Puzzle toys and other sources of calm mental stimulation serve them well. These cats also like to figure out how to get into drawers and cabinets as they amuse themselves and satisfy their curiosity. Appropriate precautions should be taken with dangerous objects and substances.
With proper socialization from a young age, Selkirk Rexes are highly adaptable cats. They accommodate the advances of strangers, they do well with travel, and they are often used as therapy cats. Socialization is also important to the development of their patience and their ability to handle environmental sources of stress.
Anyone who touches or interacts with a Selkirk Rex immediately understands the appeal. However, people who choose to acquire this breed should be willing to take the occasional derogatory remark in good humor. The breed's trademark just-got-out-of-bed appearance commonly prompts comments about bad hair days and even criticisms about owners' poor grooming habits.
The curly coat of the Selkirk Rex is a fairly low maintenance one. In fact, brushing relaxes the curls and straightens them over time, so grooming activities are best kept to a minimum. This goes for both the shorthair and longhair varieties.
As moderate shedders, Selkirk Rexes should be gently brushed about twice weekly to remove loose hairs so they don't end up around the home or as hairballs. This also prevents tangles and matting. A professional groomer can offer instruction on brushing technique to preserve curls, which may be fluffed by running fingers through the coat.
Dental and ear care is important for all cats, including this breed. Selkirk Rex teeth should be brushed regularly and dental exams should be included in veterinary checkups. The ears need careful cleaning with a feline otic cleanser and cotton balls as needed, and they should be monitored for signs of infection. The tips of the nails should be clipped bi-weekly.
Near the Selkirk Mountains, Montana-based Persian breeder Jeri Newman mated a local female curly haired cat named Miss DePesto to a black Persian male, PhotoFinish of Deekay. In 1987, a litter of six kittens was born, three of which had curly hair; the Selkirk Rex breed-the newest naturally curly breed-was born.
Because only one parent had curly hair, this spontaneously mutated gene for curly hair was obviously dominant, unlike the recessive gene governing the Cornish and Devon Rex coats. To develop the breed further, Newman incorporated British, American, and Exotic Shorthairs into the Selkirk Rex gene pool. This served to strongly differentiate the look and temperament of these new Rexes from the other two.
Development of this indigenous American cat breed started a bit slowly. However, other breeders got on board with Newman, and in 1990, The International Cat Association (TICA) accepted the Selkirk Rex into its breed development program. The breed is thriving and continuously gaining in popularity today.
The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) accepted Selkirk Rexes for registration in the Miscellaneous class in February of 1992.
