Selkirk Rex

According to the CFA, the breed's founding cat was named "Miss DePesto" because she pestered people for attention, and her descendants often share the trait: they politely ask for your time and love, and if their needs aren't met soon, they may jump into your lap or onto your bent back. They combine intelligence with a silly streak, such as trying to run up the wall after a laser light.

The CFA says Selkirks tend to be "more interactive than active": you're their focus, and a warm lap is their idea of heaven. They prefer to keep all four feet on the floor but can still charge through the house after a toy. They're not particularly vocal, but if you start a conversation, they'll "talk" back.

According to TICA, the breed's temperament reflects the breeds used to develop it: a laid-back side from the British Shorthair, a cuddly nature from the Persian and an impish playfulness from the Exotic. It's very social and dislikes being left alone for long periods. TICA notes that it can even be taught to walk on a leash.

The Selkirk Rex suits families who want to spend a lot of time with their cat and are looking for a calm but attention-loving companion. The CFA and TICA describe the breed as a good choice for families with children and cat-friendly dogs.

Everyone wants to touch this coat; the CFA even says it's a coat that "demands to be felt and played with." Still, teach children not to pick the cat up against its will and to always leave it a way out.

According to TICA, in 1987 in Montana, one of five kittens born to a blue tortie-and-white stray cat looked unusual. At 9 weeks old, this kitten with curly fur and curly whiskers caught the attention of Persian breeder Jeri Newman, who took her in and named her "Miss DePesto" because she was always pestering for attention. (The CFA dates the same event to 1986.) Her littermates all had normal coats, and there were no other curly cats in the area, which suggested a new gene had appeared.

When Miss DePesto was bred to a black Persian, three of the six kittens were curly. That showed the curly-coat gene was dominant, unlike the genes behind the Cornish and Devon Rex. Newman named the new breed after her stepfather's family name, Selkirk; according to the CFA, it's the only cat breed named after a person. TICA accepted the breed into its new breed program in 1990 and granted championship status in 1994; the CFA accepted it for registration in 1992 and for championship in 2000.

A genetic study published in 2013 showed that the curly coat comes from a change in a keratin gene called KRT71. According to the same study, the breed was extensively crossed to British Shorthairs, Exotic Shorthairs and Persians, both to widen the gene pool and to bring in features such as a round, sturdy body, long hair and a moderately shortened muzzle.

Outcrossing is now being limited: in the CFA, Persian outcrosses applied to kittens born before 2020, and British Shorthair or Exotic outcrosses to kittens born before 2025; Selkirk Rex kittens born on or after January 1, 2025 must have only Selkirk Rex parents. FIFe allows only the British Longhair and British Shorthair as outcrosses.

The Selkirk Rex is a medium-to-large, muscular cat with heavy boning. According to the CFA, adult males weigh 12 to 15 pounds (about 5.4–6.8 kg), and females are somewhat smaller. The head is round with full cheeks, the eyes are round and set well apart, and the ears are medium-sized.

• Coat: According to the CFA, unlike the tight waves of the Cornish Rex or the soft waves of the Devon Rex, the Selkirk has well-defined, individual curls. According to TICA, the curls are most prominent around the neck and tail and on the flanks and underside.
• Shorthair and longhair: In shorthairs the hair is the same length all over; longhairs have a face-framing ruff and a plumed tail.
• Whiskers: Curly and fragile; according to the CFA, they often break off, but the cats seem to manage fine without them.
• Colors: Almost every color and pattern is accepted.
• Straight-coated cats: Because the gene is dominant, two Selkirks can produce straight-coated kittens. FIFe treats them as part of the breed and registers them with a separate code, and the CFA says straight-coated Selkirks can offer the same temperament at a lower price.

A coat that changes

According to TICA, kittens are born curly but may lose their coat at 8 to 10 months and then grow in their adult curly coat. The coat keeps developing until about 2 years of age. That's why it can be normal for a young cat to look "straight" or sparse for a while.

Caring for a Selkirk's coat is easier than it looks. The CFA says no special tools are needed and that the curls can be fluffed up with a gentle scratching motion of your fingers. To remove dead hair and prevent mats, the CFA recommends combing once or twice a month, while TICA suggests a couple of times a week; it makes sense to comb more often for longhairs and during shedding.

• Combing: Comb regularly to remove dead hair; for longhairs, the CFA suggests a hair pick to separate large clumps of curls.
• Bathing: According to TICA, it's rarely necessary. If needed, use a moisturizing shampoo and let the coat air-dry in a warm, draft-free place; TICA points out that a blow dryer will make your cat look like a Poodle.
• Claws, ears, teeth: TICA recommends regular claw trims, ear cleaning and tooth brushing with a vet-approved toothpaste.
• Scratching: A tall scratching post is a must.
• Play: Wand toys and chasing games keep this playful cat happy; see our article on playing with an indoor cat for ideas.

For ways to help your cat enjoy grooming, take a look at our article on cat grooming too.

According to TICA, the Selkirk Rex has no special nutritional needs; a good-quality wet or dry cat food is enough. Because it's a heavy-boned, calm cat, it's wise to keep an eye on its weight. In the 2024 study by Teng and colleagues, cats whose weight was further from the median for their breed and sex had shorter lives.

• Measure food, and set an ideal weight with your vet.
• Count treats as part of the daily food.
• A curly coat can hide weight changes, so weigh your cat once a month.
• TICA says placing the water bowl a little away from the food bowl, or using a water fountain, can help your cat drink more.

TICA describes the Selkirk Rex as a generally healthy breed, and the CFA says it's known for robust good health, with no known breed-specific health concerns. But a large part of the breed's gene pool comes from the Persian, the Exotic and the British Shorthair, and inherited problems from these breeds can pass to the Selkirk too. That's why, according to the CFA, breeders screen for conditions known in these breeds. The information below is for awareness only; ask your vet about diagnosis and treatment.

Issues that can come from outcrossing

• Polycystic kidney disease (PKD): An inherited disease in which fluid-filled cysts in the kidneys grow over time. According to UFAW, it's most common in Persians and related breeds; the GCCF also says it was once a problem in British cats. It can be detected with a DNA test.
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM): A heart disease in which the heart muscle wall thickens. UFAW notes that the British Shorthair is predisposed. It can be detected with an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiography).
• Hip dysplasia: Abnormal development of the hip joint. The CFA says breeders screen for this as well.
• Blood type incompatibility: According to the CFA, most breeders determine blood type with a genetic test before breeding; problems can arise during nursing between a mother and kittens with mismatched blood types.

Muzzle shape

The 2013 genetic study notes that outcrossing gave the Selkirk a moderately shortened muzzle. It isn't as flat as a Persian's, but it's still worth checking that your cat breathes easily and has clean eyes.

We couldn't find reliable lifespan data for the Selkirk Rex. In a 2024 VetCompass study of more than 7,900 cats that died in the UK in 2019, the Selkirk Rex wasn't among the 12 groups with at least 15 recorded deaths that could be analyzed separately. For the breeds used to develop it, the same study found a life expectancy of 9.58 years for the British group and 10.93 years for the Persian; for mixed-breed cats, it was 11.89 years.

The same study shows that neutered cats and cats at their ideal weight live longer. Choosing a kitten from health-screened parents, keeping a healthy weight and regular vet checkups are the most concrete things you can do to help your Selkirk live a long, healthy life.

• Consider a shelter: Purebred cats end up in shelters and rescues too. If you're set on a breed, follow breed groups and adoption listings.
• If you buy from a breeder: Ask to meet the parents, and ask for PKD DNA test results, heart screening (echocardiography), hip evaluations, blood types and vaccination records.
• Consider a straight-coated Selkirk: The CFA says straight-coated Selkirks have the same temperament and can be more affordable.
• Don't get one for allergies: A curly coat doesn't prevent allergies. According to a 2024 review, there's no scientific evidence that any cat breed is hypoallergenic. If you have allergies, spend time with the cat before bringing one home and talk to your doctor.
• Red flags: Steer clear of sellers who won't show you the mother, can't provide paperwork, always have kittens available or rush you.
• Registration: Rules vary by country; many places require or recommend microchipping. In Türkiye, owned cats must be microchipped and registered in the PETVET system.