Selkirk Rex

The Selkirk Rex is a modern curly-coated breed that traces to a single unusual kitten from a shelter litter in Montana in the late 1980s. Persian breeder Jeri Newman named the kitten Miss DePesto of NoFace and bred her to a black Persian. Three of the six kittens had curly coats, supporting a dominant mode of inheritance and providing the foundation for an organised breeding programme.

This is a medium-to-large, substantial cat with heavy boning, firm musculature, a slightly rectangular body, a broad rounded head, full cheeks, a clearly defined muzzle, and large round eyes. The breed's dense coat includes guard, awn, and down hairs, all of which may curl; the whiskers and eyebrows are also commonly curled or broken.

Selkirk Rex cats occur in longhaired and shorthaired forms and in many genetically possible colours and patterns. The Shorthair has a dense, plush coat with compact curls, while the Longhair has a semi-long, more tousled coat with loose curls, a fuller ruff, and a plumed tail. BondPals maintains separate Selkirk Rex Longhair and Selkirk Rex Shorthair pages in addition to this breed-family entry.

Selkirk Rex cats are generally affectionate, patient, sociable, and relaxed without being inactive. Many enjoy staying close to familiar people, settling beside them, and participating in household routines, while retaining enough independence to rest quietly when the home is calm.

They are moderately playful and often enjoy wand toys, retrieving games, food puzzles, short training sessions, and sturdy climbing furniture. The breed usually matures into a balanced companion rather than an extreme athlete, but daily play remains important for muscle condition, weight control, and mental engagement.

Well-socialized individuals commonly live successfully with respectful children, compatible cats, and calm cat-friendly dogs. They often prefer regular companionship and may become bored when repeatedly left alone for long periods. Individual confidence, handling history, and gradual introductions remain more important than breed reputation alone.

Coat care depends on hair length, density, and curl. Most Selkirk Rex cats benefit from gentle combing once or twice a week, while dense longhaired coats may need more frequent attention around the ruff, belly, armpits, hindquarters, and tail. Excessive brushing can separate the curls and make the coat appear frizzy, so grooming should remove loose hair and tangles without repeatedly pulling through the coat.

Some individuals develop a greasy coat or need occasional bathing, but bathing should be based on the cat's skin and coat condition rather than a fixed schedule. Use a cat-appropriate product when necessary, rinse thoroughly, and allow the coat to dry without harsh heat. Curly whiskers can be fragile and should not be trimmed or handled roughly.

Daily care should also include interactive play, stable scratching and climbing furniture, dental hygiene, nail trimming, clean litter facilities, and measured portions of a complete life-stage-appropriate diet. The dense coat and substantial build can conceal gradual weight gain, making regular hands-on body-condition checks important.

The Selkirk Rex curl is associated with a splice variant in KRT71 and follows an autosomal incomplete dominant pattern. One copy generally produces a wavy coat, while two copies can produce tighter curl and differences in body and head type. This is a breed-defining coat test rather than a complete health clearance, and straight-coated kittens can be born when the curl variant is not inherited.

Polycystic kidney disease caused by the dominant PKD1 variant is relevant because Persian and related breeds contributed to the Selkirk Rex foundation. Veterinary genetics laboratories list Selkirk Rex as appropriate for PKD1 testing, and GCCF requires relevant genetic clearance for breeding registration. A negative result excludes the tested PKD1 variant but does not rule out every possible kidney disorder.

Breed-wide prevalence data for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hip disease, and other inherited conditions remain limited. Prospective owners should request documented PKD1 results, family history, veterinary records, and information about heart, kidney, mobility, and longevity in related cats. Breeding programmes should combine DNA testing with physical examination, veterinarian-guided cardiac or orthopaedic assessment when indicated, and attention to genetic diversity. This information is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment by a veterinarian.