Selkirk RexCharacteristics, history, behaviour and care

The breed appeared in 1987 in Montana, USA, in a litter born to a rescued cat. The only kitten with an unusual coat went to the Persian breeder Jeri Newman, who named her Miss DePesto, after a curly-haired character in the series “Moonlighting”.

Miss DePesto was mated with a black Persian male. On 4 July 1988 six kittens were born: three curly and three straight-haired, which showed that the mutation is dominant. All Selkirk Rex cats descend from her. Jeri Newman named the breed after her stepfather, Selkirk; it is the only cat breed named after a real person. TICA recognised it in 1992, CFA in 2000 and FIFe in 2017.

How the breed developed

• 1987 – Miss DePesto is born, in Montana.
• 4 July 1988 – the first litter: three curly kittens, three straight-haired.
• 1992 – recognised by TICA.
• 2000 – recognised by CFA.
• 2017 – recognised by FIFe.

• Families with children. It is patient, tolerant and loving.
• People who want a calm but playful cat.
• Not for people with allergies. Wikipedia says that, with its full coat, it is not recommended for people allergic to cats.
• People with patience for grooming. The ears and coat need a little extra attention.

It is a medium to large cat, with a solid, muscular, rectangular body and heavy bones. Adult males weigh 5.4–6.8 kg; females are somewhat smaller.

General appearance

The head is round, with full cheeks. The eyes are large, round and set wide apart, with a sweet expression, and the ears are medium-sized and set wide apart. The whiskers are curly and fragile, and break easily.

The coat, short or semi-long, is covered all over in soft, plush curls, especially on the neck, tail and belly. All colours are accepted. Cats with one copy of the gene have loose, full curls; those with two copies have tighter curls and a slimmer body, with larger ears.

Related breeds and how to tell them apart

Unlike the Cornish Rex, the Devon Rex and the LaPerm, which have thinner coats, the Selkirk Rex has a full coat. Its mutation is on the KRT71 gene, the same gene that carries the Devon Rex and Sphynx mutations. Persian, Exotic, British Shorthair and American Shorthair cats were used in breeding it.

The FIFe profile describes it as charming, playful and well balanced, with an extremely sweet, intelligent and curious nature, adapting well to family life.

French Wikipedia says it has the reserve and calm of the British Shorthair, the loving nature of the Persian and the mischief of the Exotic: it is patient, tolerant and affectionate.

Socialisation

Wikipedia describes it as quiet, sociable and loving.

A kitten gets used to new people, noises and other animals most easily in its first months of life.

Habits at home

Like all cats, it sleeps a lot: usually 12–16 hours a day. It is most active early in the morning and in the evening, but partly adapts to the family's routine.

Cats instinctively bury their droppings, so it quickly learns to use a litter tray. It scratches rough surfaces to shed the old outer layer of its claws, so it needs a scratching post or board.

It is moderately active; daily play keeps it fit.

Tips for a balanced life

• Change its toys from time to time, so it does not get bored.
• Play with it in short sessions, several times a day.
• If it goes outside, let it do so in a fenced area or on a balcony with a safety net.

Coat care

The curls are brushed gently, with a wide-toothed comb, so they do not come undone. Wikipedia says that, as in other rex breeds, the curly hair can irritate the inside of the ear and increase wax, so the ears should be checked often. Cats with two copies of the gene may have oilier skin and need more frequent baths.

Common health problems

Wikipedia says no breed-specific health problems are known. It can, however, inherit polycystic kidney disease from the Persians and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy from the British Shorthairs used in crosses.

Recommended genetic tests

In Britain, all Selkirk Rex cats registered with the GCCF for breeding are genetically tested for polycystic kidney disease or have both parents tested. Ask for a heart ultrasound as well.

Is it hypoallergenic?

Cat allergy is caused mainly by the Fel d 1 protein, found in saliva and skin glands; it is behind the allergy in 90% of people who are allergic to cats. Kittens, females and neutered males produce less of it, but still enough to trigger symptoms. No breed is completely hypoallergenic.

Other care

• A check-up at the vet once a year.
• Vaccinations and parasite treatment on the schedule set by the vet.
• Trim the claws if they do not wear down on their own.
• Clean its teeth or give it food that helps keep them clean.

The cat is a carnivore: it needs animal protein. Unlike a dog, it must get vitamin A, arachidonic acid and taurine from its food. Water is very important, because cats usually drink little; several water bowls around the house encourage it to drink.

Tips for a healthy diet

The table gives a starting estimate, calculated with the formula from the Merck Veterinary Manual for a healthy adult cat. The last column shows what this means in dry food with 3,500–4,000 kcal per kilogram. If you also feed wet food, reduce the dry portion.

• Adjust the portion to its weight: neutered cats put on weight easily.
• Weigh it monthly; the ribs should be easy to feel under your fingers.
• Kittens need more calories: Merck recommends 2.5 times the resting energy requirement.

Dangerous foods and substances

Some common household items are dangerous for cats:

• Lilies (and daylilies): they can destroy a cat's kidneys. Even the pollen or the water in the vase is dangerous.
• Paracetamol: extremely toxic to cats, which lack the enzyme that breaks it down. Never give it human medicines.
• Flea spot-ons and collars for dogs containing permethrin: the concentration meant for dogs is dangerous for cats.
• Foods: chocolate, coffee, alcohol, onions, garlic, grapes and raisins.

Maturity

Females usually reach sexual maturity at 5–10 months, and males at 5–7 months. The age varies from breed to breed.

Mating and pregnancy

Pregnancy in cats lasts 64–67 days, 65 on average. A first litter usually has fewer kittens than later ones. Only healthy cats that match the breed standard are used for breeding.

Blood type

Cats have blood type A, B or AB. Type A is the most common: in a study from England, 87.1% of non-pedigree cats and 54.6% of pedigree cats had type A. This matters for breeding: if the mother is type B and the kittens are type A, the antibodies in her first milk (colostrum) can destroy their red blood cells. The condition is called neonatal isoerythrolysis. That is why breeders test the blood type of both parents.

We found no published data on how common type B is in this breed; the test is done before mating anyway.

Caring for the kittens

Kittens are weaned at 6–7 weeks. They are ready to go to their new home at about 12 weeks, when they can be separated from their mother.

Neutering

Neutering used to be done at 6–9 months, but it is more and more often done before puberty, at around 3–6 months. It prevents unwanted kittens, urine marking in males and the loud “calling” of females in heat. A 2024 study found that neutered cats live one year longer on average. After the operation, the metabolism slows down and appetite increases, so the portion has to be reduced.

How to choose a kitten

• Ask for the pedigree from a recognised cat association (for example, a FIFe member).
• The kitten leaves its mother at about 12 weeks.
• Ask for the parents' polycystic kidney disease test.
• Look at the mother and at the place where the kittens are raised: it should be clean, with kittens used to people.
• Ask about vaccinations, parasite treatment and the blood type of the parents.

• Named after a real person. It is the only cat breed named after a person: the breeder's stepfather.
• Named after a TV series. Miss DePesto got her name from a curly-haired character in the series “Moonlighting”.
• Whiskers that break. The curly whiskers are fragile.
• The gene is dominant. One curly parent is enough for some of the kittens to be curly.

Is it hypoallergenic?

No. Wikipedia says that, because of its full coat, it is not recommended for people with allergies.

Where does the name come from?

From breeder Jeri Newman's stepfather, Selkirk, plus “Rex”, as with the other curly-coated breeds.

Is there a longhaired version?

Yes, FIFe recognises both the shorthaired and the longhaired varieties.

How much does it weigh?

Males weigh 5.4–6.8 kg; females are smaller.