Selkirk Rex

No — and assuming so is the central buying mistake. The Selkirk's curl comes from a dominant gene and the breed is regularly outcrossed to Persians, Exotic Shorthairs and British Shorthairs for diversity. That means it inherits those breeds' serious health risks — polycystic kidney disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and hip dysplasia — not a mild 'rex' profile. The personality is genuinely easygoing, but the health vigilance and the breeder-screening questions are exactly as demanding as for a Persian. Judge it by its outcross genetics, not its coat type.

Gently and infrequently — the opposite of most cat-coat advice. Aggressive or daily brushing pulls out the curl and leaves the coat frizzy or flat. Use a wide-tooth comb 1-2 times a week (slightly more for the longhair), scrunch rather than brush, bathe sparingly, and air-dry instead of blow-drying, which straightens the wave. Expect the curly whiskers to be brittle and sometimes break — that is normal and needs nothing. The coat is low-frequency but technique-sensitive: how you groom matters more than how often.

Selkirk Rex cats typically live 14-15 years and often longer with good breeding and care. The biggest single risk is polycystic kidney disease, inherited from the Persian/Exotic outcross lines, which can cause kidney failure around 7-10 years. It is also the most preventable risk, because a definitive DNA test exists. The practical takeaway: lifespan in this breed is largely set by whether the parents were PKD-tested and HCM-screened. Buying from screened lines is the highest-impact decision you make.

Two are essential and specific. One: a DNA test for polycystic kidney disease on both parents — this is definitive, inexpensive, and there is no excuse for an unscreened line. Two: documented cardiologist echocardiogram screening of breeding cats for HCM, repeated over time since HCM can develop with age. Also reasonable to ask about hip-dysplasia history given the heavy outcross body type. A breeder who provides PKD DNA results and HCM echo records is managing the breed's real risks; vague 'healthy lines' language is the warning sign.

Yes — temperament is the breed's strongest asset. Selkirks are patient, tolerant, mellow, affectionate and a little clownish; they are lap cats, relatively quiet, and generally good with respectful children, dogs and other cats. Their moderate energy and adaptability make them well suited to apartment living. The only real family caveat is supervising young children for gentle handling, as with any cat. The personality genuinely is family- and apartment-friendly; just do not let that easygoing nature distract you from the parent-breed health screening.

Because genetically it partly is one. To keep the dominant curl gene in a healthy, diverse population, Selkirk breeding has relied on regular outcrossing to Persians, Exotic Shorthairs, Himalayans and British Shorthairs. Each outcross imports those breeds' inherited conditions — most importantly PKD and HCM, plus hip dysplasia and, in Persian-leaning lines, flat-faced complications. So the Selkirk's risk list mirrors its foundation breeds by design. Understanding that is what turns a generic 'is it healthy?' into the specific, useful questions you should actually ask the breeder.