Links for Selkirk Rex Cats - Dramatails Selkirk Rex Cattery

The Selkirk Rex is an easy-going relaxed cat that resembles a soft, stuffed toy that you just
dense coats that leads makes them look as though they are having a bad hair day!
Sometimes called the cat in sheep's clothing, these gentle cats bring a smile to your face
and a warmth to your heart just like that favorite toy did when you were young. These
plush-coated, medium-sized cats with solid boning and bodies fill your arms when you pick
them up for a quick hug and cuddle.

History
In 1987 a feral blue tortie & white cat in Montana had a strange looking kitten in a litter of 5.
At 9 weeks she came to the attention of Persian breeder Jeri Newman who took the kitten
and named her Miss DePesto because she was always pestering for attention. Jeri was
able to find out that her mother had hair that was not completely normal either-it had a slight
kink right at the end. Miss DePesto had curly whiskers, brillo hair in her ears and the coat
on her body looked like a body wave. She had a narrow muzzle with a strong whisker
break, prominent cheekbones, slanted eyes and a wide flat spot between her large ears.
Like a Cornish Rex, her body was heavy but her boning was fine and her legs were long.

Jeri established that Miss Depesto's littermates all had normal coats and that there were
no other curly cats in the area leading her to believe that Miss DePesto might be the
source of a new mutant rex gene. At 14 months of age, Jeri bred Miss DePesto to her
black Persian male Ch. Photo Finish of Deekay and eagerly awaited the kittens. On July
14 Miss DePesto had a litter of 6 kittens of which 3 were definitely curly. These results
proved hat the gene was a dominant unlike that of the CR and DR and that Miss DePesto
carried longhair. TICA accepted the Selkirk Rex into the New Breed program in 1990 and
recognized it for championship competition in February 1994.

Personality
These are loving, patient cats reflecting the temperaments of the breeds used to develop
the Selkirk Rex. The British Shorthair contributed the laid-back personality, the Persian
added the cuddly nature while the Exotic Shorthair brought an impish playfulness to
package. Visitors are always intrigued by the cats and want to touch their coats while
owners have incredible urges to pick and hug their charges-fortunately the Selkirk Rex is a
patient cat that accepts these human foibles with great tolerance.

Traits
Selkirk Rex come in both long and shorthair coats. The shorthairs have a dense, plush curl
to the coat that emphasizes the density of the coat and a similarity to a teddy-bear;
longhairs have an even more tousled look that emphasizes the similarity to a woolly sheep.
And both hair lengths come in a rainbow of colors. Lucky pet owners will always have the
best coats on their cats as coats are seen in their prime on mature altered males and
spayed females. The curls are most prominent on the flanks, undersides and neck. The
thick, plush coat is very soft and falls in loose curls.

They are a medium to large cat with strong, heavy boning giving them a substantial feel but
take time to develop to their full maturity. The head is rounded with large round eyes and a
sweet expression. The body is slightly rectangular and very muscular resulting in a firm feel
under the soft coat.