Selkirk Rex Cats
Learn about the Selkirk Rex cat breed with a description, picture, breed standard, history & orignins and more.
Selkirk Rex Cat Breed Information
Learn all about Selkirk Rex Cats, read about the Selkirk Rex Breed information, find out about the Selkirk Rex Breed Standard, Selkirk Rex behavior and lots more about Selkirk Rexs.
Selkirk Rex Cat Breed Introduction
True to the name, "rex," which in animals means curly, the Selkirk Rex cat breed is a race of teddy-bear-like curly-furred cats.
Selkirk Rex Behavior/Personality
Source: Cat Fanciers' Association Breed Profile
Selkirk Rexes may require some brushing, but should not be brushed too often if the curly fur is to be maintained.
Selkirk Rex Breed Standard/Physical Description
Here are some facts on the Selkirk Rex breed based on information in the Cat Fanciers' Association breed standard and Wikipedia (March 2006).
- Head: round and broad
- Ears: medium-sized, broad-based and tapered
- Eyes: large and rounded but not oval or almond-shaped
- Body: medium-sized or large
- Legs: medium or long
- Paws: large and round
- Tail: medium-long
- Coat: either short or long, curly in either case
Selkirk Rex History
Source: Wikipedia (March 2006) and Cat Fanciers' Association Breed Profile
The first Selkirk Rex was born in 1987, to a cat named Miss DePesto and a Persian cat. The breed is a "natural" breed, based originally on naturally occurring traits rather than traits that resulted directly from selective breeding. In fact, Miss DePesto was found in an animal shelter.
In this case, the natural trait was the curly coat, a result of a mutated gene. Unlike other rex breeds ("rex" meaning curly), the relevant gene is dominant. These means both that outcrosses are still likely to produce a curly-furred cat, and that litters can have both straight and curly-haired kittens.