Selkirk Rex

The Selkirk Rex is a medium-sized domestic cat with a curly coat that sets it apart. The curl affects all three hair types (guard, awn and down), which gives the fur a plush, woolly texture unlike the flatter waves of other rex breeds. Coats come in both shorthair and longhair versions, and the curl is most obvious around the neck, belly and tail.

The breed has a sturdy, rounded build with a broad head, full cheeks and large round eyes. Even the whiskers are curly and often appear brittle or kinked. The overall impression is of a heavy, solid cat softened by a tousled coat.

Temperament is a defining feature. Selkirk Rex cats are patient, good-natured and affectionate, with a calm presence that suits busy households. They are playful without being demanding and tend to tolerate handling well, which keeps the curly coat easier to look after.

Who it suits

The Selkirk Rex fits owners who want a relaxed, sociable cat that enjoys company but does not constantly demand it. The gentle disposition works well with children and with other cats and dogs. The curly coat needs only modest grooming compared with high-maintenance longhairs, though the longhair variety asks for more attention. People with cat allergies should note that the breed is not hypoallergenic.

The Selkirk Rex traces to a single cat born in 1987 in Montana, in the United States. A litter at a local animal shelter contained one kitten with an unusual curly coat. The kitten, a female, was placed with a Persian breeder who recognised the curl as something new.

The breeder bred the curly female to a black Persian. The resulting litter included curly kittens, which showed that the curl was carried by a dominant gene. This sets the Selkirk Rex apart from the Cornish Rex and Devon Rex, whose curls come from recessive genes.

Because a single copy of the gene produces the curl, breeders were able to outcross to several established breeds while keeping the coat. Persians and Exotic Shorthairs contributed the round head and heavy boning, while British Shorthairs and American Shorthairs added body type and coat variety. These outcrosses gave the breed both shorthair and longhair coats.

The breed gained recognition from major cat registries through the 1990s and 2000s and is now accepted in championship classes. The woolly coat earned it the nickname 'the cat in sheep's clothing.'

The Selkirk Rex is a substantial cat with a rounded, muscular body and heavy boning. The head is broad and round with full cheeks, a short muzzle and a clear stop. Ears are medium-sized and set well apart, and the eyes are large and round. The defining feature is the curly coat, which gives a soft, tousled look across the whole body.

Coat and colours

The curl involves the guard, awn and down hairs, which produces a dense, plush texture rather than flat waves. The curl is loosest in young kittens, can flatten during a teenage stage, and develops more fully as the cat matures, usually by about two years of age. Humidity, season and grooming all affect how tight the curl appears.

The Selkirk Rex is accepted in the full range of colours and patterns. Common examples include solid black, blue, cream and white, along with tabby, tortoiseshell, calico, bicolour, silver and pointed varieties. The whiskers and eyebrows are also curled and may appear sparse or kinked.

The Selkirk Rex has a patient, easygoing personality. These cats are affectionate and like to be near their people, often settling on a lap or beside someone on the sofa, but they are not clingy or loud. The calm temperament likely reflects the Persian, British Shorthair and Exotic Shorthair breeds used in its development.

With family members the breed is gentle and tolerant, which makes it a good match for households with children. It tends to accept handling and grooming with patience. With strangers most Selkirk Rex cats are friendly or quietly curious rather than shy. They usually get along with other cats and with dogs that are used to cats.

Play is part of the daily routine but on a moderate setting. The Selkirk Rex enjoys toys, gentle games and short bursts of activity, then returns to a relaxed state. This balance of playfulness and calm suits owners who want company without constant stimulation.

Grooming

• Comb gently once or twice a week with a wide-toothed comb; the longhair variety benefits from more frequent combing to prevent mats.
• Avoid heavy brushing, which can pull out the curl and leave the coat looking flat or frizzy.
• Bathe occasionally and let the coat air-dry or scrunch it rather than blow-drying straight, which preserves the curl.
• Clean the ears as needed and trim nails every few weeks.
• Wipe around the eyes if the rounder-faced cats show tear staining.

Exercise

• Offer short daily play sessions with wand toys, balls or puzzle feeders.
• Provide a scratching post and a climbing perch to support natural activity.
• Rotate toys to keep a moderate-energy cat interested without overstimulation.

Environment

The Selkirk Rex is suited to indoor life. It adapts well to flats and to homes with children or other pets thanks to its calm nature. Give it warm resting spots, since the curly coat is not a heavy insulator, and keep its space free of hazards it might chew or swallow.

The Selkirk Rex does well on a complete, balanced diet formulated for cats. As an obligate carnivore it needs animal protein as the main ingredient, along with taurine, fat for energy and controlled carbohydrates. Wet food, dry food or a combination all work, provided the product meets recognised nutritional standards for the cat's life stage. Fresh water should always be available.

Because the breed is heavily boned and naturally sturdy, it can gain excess weight if overfed. Measure portions rather than free-feeding, and adjust based on body condition and activity. Indoor adult cats in particular need careful portion control.

Treats and supplements

Keep treats to about ten per cent of daily calories. A cat on a complete diet usually needs no supplements; add them only on a vet's advice. Hairball-control food or occasional malt paste can help long-coated cats that swallow fur during grooming.

The Selkirk Rex is generally a healthy, robust breed with a typical lifespan of 13 to 16 years. Because its development used Persians, Exotic Shorthairs and British Shorthairs, it can inherit conditions associated with those breeds. Responsible breeders screen parent cats and use genetic testing where it is available.

Preventive care

• Annual veterinary check-ups, with more frequent visits for senior cats.
• Core vaccinations and parasite prevention kept up to date.
• Dental care, including brushing or dental diets to limit plaque.
• Weight monitoring and body-condition scoring at each visit.
• Ask breeders for PKD and HCM screening results on parent cats.

The Selkirk Rex is intelligent and willing, though training a cat is always about cooperation rather than command. The calm, good-natured temperament makes this breed receptive to gentle handling and routine. Most individuals learn litter-tray habits quickly and accept grooming, nail trims and carrier travel with patience when these are introduced early.

Basics

1. Set up a clean, accessible litter tray and keep it in a quiet spot.
2. Introduce grooming, nail trims and the carrier in short, calm sessions from kittenhood.
3. Reward wanted behaviour immediately with a small treat or praise.
4. Use a scratching post and redirect scratching to it rather than punishing.
5. Teach simple cues such as coming to a sound or sitting, using food rewards.
6. Keep sessions short, a few minutes at a time, and end on a success.

The Selkirk Rex curl is controlled by a dominant gene, which means a single copy produces a curly coat. A cat with one curly parent can therefore have curly kittens, and litters from a curly and a straight-coated parent often contain both types. This dominant inheritance is the main genetic difference between the Selkirk Rex and the recessive-curl Cornish and Devon Rex breeds.

Responsible breeding outcrosses to approved breeds such as the Persian, Exotic Shorthair, British Shorthair and American Shorthair to maintain body type, coat quality and genetic diversity. Breeders screen parent cats for polycystic kidney disease and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, since those risks come from the foundation breeds. Cats usually reach maturity slowly, and the coat itself is not fully developed until around two years of age.

Queens are typically bred once they are physically mature. Gestation runs about 63 to 67 days, and litters are usually small to average in size. Kittens are born with a noticeable curl that loosens and changes through the first months before settling as the cat grows. Young cats benefit from gentle early handling, which supports the breed's calm, people-friendly temperament.

Registering a Selkirk Rex in Ireland

Cats sit outside the 2015 chipping law, so whatever record your Selkirk Rex has is the one you make yourself. Make it a free one: the United Pet Club profile carries your details, her photo, and her chip number for the whole of her life. Registering your cat costs nothing, now or ever.

A chip under her skin with no record behind it is a riddle nobody can solve. Lodge the number with United Pet Club instead: free for life, any brand at all, updates that never cost a cent, and a record that answers scans at home or abroad. Register the microchip, then the free account finishes the profile.