Selkirk Rex

There are three curly-coated cat breeds in the world — the Cornish Rex, the Devon Rex, and the Selkirk Rex — and the Selkirk stands apart from the other two in almost every way. Where the Cornish and Devon are sleek, fine-boned, and elfin, the Selkirk is round, substantial, and plush. Its curls are not tight waves lying flat against the body, but loose, flowing ringlets that give the coat a soft, woolly depth. Combined with a round face, large eyes, and a patient, gentle temperament, the Selkirk Rex has a strong argument for being the ultimate comfort cat.

1. History and Origins: Wyoming Beginnings

The Selkirk Rex is among the most recently established of all recognized cat breeds, and its origin is documented with unusual precision.

Miss DePesto

On July 4, 1987, a litter of kittens was born to a feral cat in a shelter in Powell, Wyoming. One of the five kittens was distinctly different from the others: it had curly whiskers, curly eyebrows, and a curly coat. The shelter worker recognized the kitten’s unusual appearance and contacted Jeri Newman, a local Persian breeder, who adopted the curly kitten and named her Miss DePesto — after a curly-haired character on the television show Moonlighting.

Newman’s Experiment

Newman bred Miss DePesto with one of her male Persians. Out of the resulting litter of six kittens, three had curly coats. This confirmed that the curly coat gene was dominant — unlike the genes responsible for the Cornish Rex and Devon Rex coats, which are both recessive. A dominant gene meant the trait would express itself in every generation without requiring two copies.

The Selkirk Name

Newman named the new breed the Selkirk Rex, reportedly after her stepfather, Calvin Selkirk. The “Rex” designation follows the convention established by the Cornish Rex and Devon Rex. The breed was recognized by TICA in 1992 and by the CFA in 2000.

Foundation Breeds

To establish the Selkirk Rex as a breed, Newman and subsequent breeders used Persians, Exotic Shorthairs, British Shorthairs, and American Shorthairs as outcrosses. This contributed to the breed’s round, substantial body type and plush coat and is also why the Selkirk Rex has one of the broadest gene pools of any newer breed — a significant health advantage.

2. Appearance: The Teddy Bear Cat

The Selkirk Rex’s physical appearance is soft, round, and plush — a cat built for cuddling.

The Curly Coat

The coat is the defining feature. The curls are loose and random rather than uniform waves — they form ringlets and spirals that vary from cat to cat and even from day to day, as humidity and temperature affect the curl pattern. The curls are present across the entire body, including the belly, the tail, and — most distinctively — the whiskers and eyebrows. Curly whiskers are a hallmark of the breed and often the first feature people notice.

The coat comes in two lengths: shorthair and longhair. The longhaired Selkirk has particularly dramatic curls, especially around the neck and on the tail, where the ringlets can be quite pronounced. Both lengths feel soft and plush — owners consistently describe the texture as similar to lamb’s wool or cashmere.

Not all kittens born to Selkirk Rex parents will be curly. Because the curl gene is dominant, kittens can inherit either one copy (curly) or no copies (straight coat). Straight-coated Selkirk kittens are born in every litter and are considered part of the breed but are not shown in curly-coat classes.

Body and Build

The body is medium to large, round, and substantial. This is a cat with real weight to it — males can reach 11 to 16 pounds, females 6 to 12 pounds. The build is heavily influenced by the Persian and British Shorthair outcrosses: broad chest, level back, round paws, and thick legs. The overall impression is of comfortable, solid roundness.

Head and Face

The head is large and round with full cheeks, a short, broad muzzle, and large, round eyes. The eye color corresponds to the coat color. The combination of the round face, full cheeks, and large eyes creates a pleasant, open expression.

3. Personality: The Patient Charmer

The Selkirk Rex’s personality matches its appearance: warm, unhurried, tolerant, and affectionate.

Calm and Patient

The Selkirk Rex is an exceptionally patient cat breed. It tolerates handling, children, and the unpredictability of busy households with an equanimity that few other breeds match. It does not scratch when annoyed — it will typically remove itself calmly from an uncomfortable situation and find somewhere quieter to settle.

Affectionate

The Selkirk Rex is consistently warm with its family. It enjoys being held, is content to sit in laps for long periods, and will seek out its owners for company throughout the day. The affection is uncomplicated and reliable.

Playful but Not Demanding

The Selkirk Rex enjoys play — it will happily engage with wand toys, chase a ball, or explore a new object — but it does not demand entertainment with the insistence of higher-energy breeds. Its play style is relaxed rather than frenetic.

Social with Everyone

Selkirk Rex cats tend to be friendly with everyone, not just their primary owners. They approach visitors with curiosity rather than fear, get along well with other cats and dogs, and adapt well to multi-pet households.

4. Care and Maintenance

Grooming the Curls

The curly coat requires specific care. The most important principle is gentleness — aggressive brushing will straighten the curls and cause the coat to puff out rather than maintain its ringlet structure. Instead, use fingers or a wide-tooth comb to gently work through the coat, loosening any tangles without disrupting the curl pattern.

How frequently grooming is needed depends on the individual cat’s coat density and lifestyle, but two to three times per week is a reasonable baseline for longhaired individuals. Shorthaired Selkirks need less frequent attention.

The curly coat can be prone to accumulating grease from the skin more readily than flat-coated breeds, which means occasional bathing — every four to six weeks — is beneficial. Introduce bathing early in kittenhood to build tolerance.

General Care

Ears should be checked and cleaned regularly, as the breed can be prone to wax buildup. Nails should be trimmed every two to three weeks. Dental care — brushing if tolerated — reduces the risk of periodontal disease.

5. Health and Lifespan

The Selkirk Rex is a healthy breed with a lifespan of 14 to 15 years. The diversity of foundation breeds has contributed to a broader gene pool than many newer breeds, which is a meaningful health advantage.

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)

Because Persians were used in the breed’s development, the PKD gene can be present in some Selkirk Rex lines. A DNA test is available and responsible breeders screen all breeding cats. Always ask for PKD documentation.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)

HCM can occur, as in most breeds. Cardiac screenings are recommended, particularly for breeding cats.

Hip Dysplasia

The British Shorthair and Persian influences mean some Selkirk Rex individuals may be susceptible to hip dysplasia. Maintaining a healthy weight and providing appropriate exercise significantly reduces the risk.

6. Suitability

Ideal for:

• Families with young children who need a patient, tolerant cat
• People who want a visually distinctive, unusually textured coat
• First-time cat owners who want a gentle, forgiving companion
• Multi-pet households — Selkirk Rex cats adapt well to other animals

Less ideal for:

• Those with wool or lanolin allergies, as the coat texture can occasionally trigger sensitivities
• Owners who want a high-energy, acrobatic cat
• People unwilling to invest in regular gentle grooming

Conclusion

The Selkirk Rex delivers on almost everything asked of a companion cat: it is beautiful in an original, tactile way; it is patient with children; it is affectionate; and it is healthy by the standards of newer breeds. Its devoted following has grown steadily in the relatively short time since Miss DePesto curled her way into the world on the Fourth of July 1987 — and the appeal is easy to understand the first time you run your fingers through those ringlets.