 Welcome
to Selkirk Rex Cat and Kitten Central! Selkirk Rex Cat and Kitten
Central is a comprehensive online resource for those exploring the
possibility of adding a Selkirk Rex kitten to their family. This
concise Selkirk Rex cat breed guide will answer any questions you
may have about the Selkirk Rex cat breed.
What does a Selkirk Rex cat look like? What is the
history of the Selkirk Rex cat and where does it come from? What
kind of temperament does the Selkirk Rex cat have? Are Selkirk Rex
cats good with children? Do Selkirk Rex cats have any special
grooming needs? Where can I buy a healthy and happy Selkirk Rex
kitten from a responsible Selkirk
Rex Cat Breeder?
In addition to the wealth of Selkirk Rex cat breed information
offered, Selkirk Rex Cat and Kitten Central also boasts a directory
of Selkirk Rex Cat Breed Clubs
and Rescues,
Selkirk Rex Cat Breed Information
Resources, and our Cat Lover's Bookstore
- featuring a number of titles about Selkirk Rex cats.
Wondering what you should name your Selkirk Rex cat or kitten? We
have also included a section featuring links to web sites where you
can find a unique name
for your new Selkirk Rex kitten or cat.
We hope that you find your visit to Selkirk Rex Cat and Kitten
Central to be both educational and enjoyable! Best of luck in your
quest to find the purr-fect Selkirk Rex kitten for your family.
The Selkirk Rex was developed from a natural
mutation that arose in the United States in a litter of domestic
kittens born in 1987. Selkirk Rex of today trace their ancestry back
to Miss DePesto, a dilute tortie and white. It was accepted by
several North American associations during the 1990s and was
accepted for championship status in CFA in 2000.
Like the other Rex cats, the Cornish Rex and the
Devon Rex, this breed has a naturally curly coat. Unlike the other
Rex breeds, the Selkirk has a rounded, stocky body type and comes in
both longhaired and shorSelkirk Rexred varieties. They are similar
in body type to a British
ShorSelkirk Rexr. Brits, Persians, and Exotics have gone into
the development of this breed. Also unlike the Devon and Cornish
Rex, this gene is dominant, not recessive.
The Selkirk Rex is a patient, tolerant, loving
cat that enjoys a good cuddle. They have the docile good nature of
their three parent breeds.
Unlike the other Rex breeds -- Devon and Cornish
-- the Selkirk Rex is not a good potential alternative for someone
with cat allergy. They have the shedding undercoats typical of their
parent breeds.
They are accepted in a wide variety of colors and
patterns, including colorpoint. The coat should be soft and curly,
with "random" curling rather than a patterned wave or
marcelling pattern typical of the other Rex breeds.
Interesting breed fact: The founder of
the breed originally claimed that she had named the breed after the
Selkirk Mountains, near where the kittens were born in Wyoming.
However, when it was pointed out to her that the Selkirk Mountains
were actually located in British Columbia, she admitted that she
had, in fact, named the breed after her stepfather. This makes the
Selkirk Rex the only cat breed today named after an individual.
Selkirk Rex cats are healthy and sturdy. They are incredibly
patient, loving and tolerant. From the moment they are born, curly
kittens can be distinguished from their straight haired littermates
by their curly whiskers. Selkirk Rex kittens with their curly coats
and inquisitive playfulness are irresistible to watch. As they grow,
the curl varies, but is always there. As they get older, the curly
whiskers that are so cute on a kitten can become brittle and break
off - leaving them with whiskers that are barely there.
Maintaining the curl and coat in the Selkirk Rex cat 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 and the curl is not as obvious. Shampoos that
don't coat the hair but leave it silky and clean are the best to
allow the hairs to curl.
Currently there are not many curly pets available - most curly
cats, especially females, are in breeding programs. Males are
usually more readily available and make wonderful, affectionate
pets.
If you get a chance to see a Selkirk Rex, ask if you can touch
it. Most exhibitors of Selkirk Rex cats will allow a touch, since to
feel the coat is to appreciate the breed.
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