The Selkirk Rex is the curly-coated cat whose health you inherit from its outcross breeds — and that is the single most important thing to understand before buying one. Unlike the Cornish and Devon Rex, the Selkirk's curl comes from a dominant gene, and to keep the gene pool healthy the breed is regularly outcrossed to Persians, Exotic Shorthairs and British Shorthairs. That conformation and that outcrossing are exactly why a Selkirk's risk profile reads like its parent breeds', not like a 'rex.' You are not just choosing a curly cat; you are choosing the inherited diseases of Persians and British Shorthairs. Physically the Selkirk Rex is a heavy-boned, rounded, substantial cat — think a British/Persian-type body — covered in a soft, plush, randomly curled coat (curlier in the longhair; even the whiskers curl and can be brittle). Adults are typically 3-7 kg, with a sturdy, cobby build. Both shorthair and longhair varieties exist. Temperament is the easy part and a genuine strength: Selkirks are patient, tolerant, affectionate, mellow and a bit clownish. They are lap-oriented, quiet, good with children, dogs and other cats, and adapt well to apartments. They are not high-energy or demanding. The personality is low-maintenance; the coat and the inherited-health vigilance are not. Who the Selkirk Rex is right for: an owner who wants a calm, cuddly, easygoing cat and will commit to gentle coat care and — crucially — buy from a breeder who screens for PKD and HCM in the Persian/British outcross lines. Who it is wrong for: a buyer who treats 'rex' as low-maintenance and skips the parent-breed health questions. The curl is charming; the genetics behind it are the real decision.
Origin
🇺🇸 United States
Life Span
14–15 years
Weight
3–7 kg
Height
23–30 cm
moderate
Exercise
low
Grooming
low
Shedding
Yes
Good with Kids
Yes
Good with Pets
Friendly
Apartment
The Selkirk Rex began in 1987 in Montana. A curly-coated kitten, later named Miss DePesto, appeared in a litter from a shelter cat in Sheridan and was placed with breeder Jeri Newman. Bred to a black Persian, Miss DePesto produced both curly and straight kittens, proving the curl was caused by a dominant gene — unlike the recessive curl mutations of the Cornish and Devon Rex. Newman named the breed after her stepfather (it is the only cat breed n…
Selkirk Rex cat breed portrait
The Selkirk Rex originated in United States.
The Selkirk Rex is considered a hypoallergenic breed, producing fewer allergens than most cats.
The Selkirk Rex is a true lap cat that loves to curl up with their owners.
Selkirk Rex cats are exceptionally dog-friendly and can live harmoniously with canine companions.
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Selkirk Rex care has one counterintuitive rule and one non-negotiable health step. Coat — less is more: the defining mistake owners make is over-grooming. Aggressive daily brushing pulls the curl out and leaves the coat frizzy or flat. Instead, comb gently 1-2 times a week (the longhair a bit more) with a wide-tooth comb, scrunch rather than brush, and let the curl set naturally. Bathe sparingly and air-dry without heavy blow-drying, which straightens the wave. The curly whiskers are naturally brittle and may break — that is normal and needs no intervention. This is a low-frequency, gentle-technique coat, not a high-effort one. Skin and ears: the wavy coat and slightly oily skin mean some Selkirks need an occasional bath if the coat gets greasy, and the curl can trap debris in the ears — check and gently clean the visible ear weekly. Weight: this is a cobby, easy-keeping body type prone to gaining. Feed measured meals, keep a palpable rib line, and weigh monthly. Excess weight directly worsens the hip dysplasia the breed can inherit from its outcrosses and adds load to a heavy frame. The non-negotiable: because Selkirks are outcrossed to Persians and British Shorthairs, ask the breeder for documented DNA testing for polycystic kidney disease and cardiologist HCM screening of the breeding cats. This is the highest-value action you can take and it happens before purchase, not after. Decision rule: if a breeder cannot show PKD DNA results and HCM echo screening on the parents, treat the curl as irrelevant and walk — the coat is cosmetic, the kidney and heart genetics are not, and no amount of good care reverses an inherited PKD or HCM you could have screened out at purchase.
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Selkirk Rex Care Guide
## Selkirk Rex Care Overview This Selkirk Rex care guide gives owners a practical plan for daily...
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