Selkirk Rex Cat Breed

The Selkirk Rex cat breed is a medium to large, solidly muscular rex cat, and, like the LaPerm, it carries a dominant curl gene rather than the recessive genes of the Devon and Cornish Rex.

This genetic distinction has practical consequences: a single copy of the Selkirk curl gene produces a curly coat, which means that every Selkirk Rex kitten born from a Selkirk Rex parent has a chance of inheriting the curl regardless of what the other parent looks like. The breed can be reliably produced without the complex double-carrier genetics required by the Devon and Cornish Rex programs.

The breed's origin story begins in Montana in 1987, with a single curly-coated kitten born among otherwise straight-haired littermates and adopted by Persian breeder Jeri Newman, who named the kitten Miss DiPesto. When Miss DiPesto was bred to a Persian, half of the kittens in the resulting litter had curly coats, confirming the dominant nature of the mutation.

Newman named the breed after her stepfather, Selkirk, which makes it the only cat breed named after a person.

The Selkirk Rex's plush, woolly, teddy-bear coat and substantial body make it one of the most immediately appealing rex breeds to the general public. Where the Devon Rex's elfin appearance and the Cornish Rex's greyhound build are somewhat acquired tastes, the Selkirk Rex's rounded face and dense curls create an undeniably appealing stuffed-animal effect.

Origin and Foundation

Miss DiPesto was born in Montana in 1987 in a litter of otherwise straight-haired kittens. Her curly coat was noticed by Jeri Newman, a Persian breeder who recognized its potential. Newman adopted the kitten and, when Miss DiPesto was old enough, bred her to a black Persian male.

The litter confirmed Newman's hypothesis about dominant inheritance: three of the six kittens had curly coats. This is the expected ratio for a dominant heterozygote, approximately half the offspring of one curly-coated parent and one straight-coated parent will be curly. All three curly kittens and three straight-haired kittens from this litter became the foundation of the Selkirk Rex breed.

Newman chose to incorporate Persian breeding into the Selkirk program from the outset, which gave the breed its substantial body and rounded head but also introduced the PKD1 mutation that is prevalent in Persian populations. This inheritance has made PKD testing an essential part of responsible Selkirk Rex breeding.

TICA accepted the breed in 1992, and the CFA accepted it in 2000. Both shorthaired and longhaired variants are recognized, with the longhaired version's curls particularly dramatic and dense.

Genetics of the Selkirk Curl

The Selkirk curl is caused by a dominant mutation in the KRT71 gene, the same gene affected in some other rex mutations, though the specific mutation differs. One copy of the gene (heterozygous) produces a curly coat with loose, soft curls. Two copies of the gene (homozygous) produce tighter, denser curls.

This dominant inheritance pattern contrasts sharply with the Devon Rex and Cornish Rex, both of which require two copies of their respective recessive genes to produce a curly coat. A Selkirk Rex kitten can be born curly from a single Selkirk Rex parent regardless of what the other parent is, which simplifies breeding but also means that not all kittens from Selkirk x non-Selkirk matings will be curly.

Genetic State	Copies of Curl Gene	Coat Effect
Non-Selkirk	0	Straight coat
Heterozygous Selkirk	1	Soft, loose curls
Homozygous Selkirk	2	Tight, dense curls

Kittens are born curly if they inherit the Selkirk gene, but the coat goes through a phase of relative straightening during adolescence before the adult curl pattern develops fully. Breeders and potential buyers should be aware that a Selkirk Rex kitten's adult coat may look quite different from its kitten coat.

Physical Characteristics

The Selkirk Rex is a medium to large, substantial cat with a round head, full cheeks and a robust body reminiscent of the British Shorthair or Persian in overall effect, but covered in plush, loose curls rather than a straight plush coat.

Characteristic	Details
Weight	Males 5.4-6.8 kg, females somewhat smaller
Build	Large, substantial, rounded
Head	Round, full-cheeked
Eyes	Large, round
Coat	Plush, woolly, curly, shorthair and longhair versions
Curl gene	KRT71 dominant mutation
CFA recognition	2000

The coat is available in all colors and patterns, and in both shorthaired and longhaired versions. The longhaired Selkirk Rex has the most dramatic visual impact, the long, plush curls create a look unlike any other longhaired breed, somewhere between a Persian and an extremely fluffy stuffed animal. The shorthaired version is more restrained but still noticeably textured compared to any straight-coated breed.

The coat can tangle and mat if not maintained, particularly the longhaired version. The woolly texture traps dead hair and creates tangles more readily than silky longhaired coats. Regular, gentle combing is important for longhaired Selkirk Rex cats.

Temperament

The Selkirk Rex has a balanced, easygoing personality that reflects its Persian heritage. The breed is calm and affectionate without the high-maintenance social demands of breeds like the Siamese or Oriental. It is playful and interactive without the hyperactivity of the Cornish Rex.

The breed is good with children and with other animals, and adapts readily to multi-pet households. It is not particularly vocal and does not demand attention with the intensity of the Oriental-type breeds. Owners looking for a relaxed, affectionate companion that also has visual distinction will find the Selkirk Rex to be a well-balanced choice.

Health Profile

The Persian heritage in the Selkirk Rex foundation introduces PKD (polycystic kidney disease) as a primary health concern. The PKD1 mutation found in Persian-derived breeds is autosomal dominant, one copy causes disease and is prevalent in any breeding program that used Persian cats without systematic DNA testing before the test became available.

Health Concern	Details	Testing
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD)	PKD1 dominant mutation from Persian ancestry	DNA test, essential
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)	Breeders screen because British Shorthairs and Exotics were used in development	Echocardiogram screening

When purchasing a Selkirk Rex, confirmation of PKD1 DNA testing on both parents, with negative results documented, is non-negotiable from a health perspective.

For grooming guidance see Grooming Your Cat at Home: Techniques . For rex breed comparisons see Devon Rex and Cornish Rex Breed . For a large semi-longhaired breed comparison see Maine Coon Cat Breed .

Grooming

Managing the Selkirk Rex coat demands more care than the Devon or Cornish Rex coats require. The woolly texture catches loose hair and mats easily, especially in the longhaired variety and in areas where friction builds up such as the armpits, behind the ears and in the groin region. Use a wide-toothed comb for gentle maintenance, do not reach for a slicker brush, which can straighten the curls and disrupt the pattern.

Bathing occasionally helps reset the coat and remove accumulated oils. The Selkirk Rex coat requires gentle, thorough rinsing and gentle drying to preserve the curl. Vigorous toweling or heat from a hair dryer can disrupt the curl pattern.