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Selkirk rex |
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TranslationFrancis Vandersteen |
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OriginThe Selkirk rex is a breed of cat native to the United States. |
| This medium-sized cat is characterized by its curly coat. |
A brief historical overview |
| A “mutant” (curly) alley cat was found in 1987 in Wyoming, USA. The little cat was entrusted to Jeri Newman, a breeder of Persans, who named her Miss De Pesto of no Face. She then decided to pair her with her black Persan “Photo Finish of Dekay”, and from this pairing were born 3 curly kittens, and three non-curly (showing the dominant character of the curl gene). Among these curly kittens was a black and white shorthaired male, whom Jeri Newmann christened Noface Osar Kowalski. She chose him to establish the breed standards, which she had named “Selkirk rex” after her father-in-law, for TICA, ACFA and CFA, the three major cat organizations in the USA, and he was re-mated with his mother. Thus began the breeding program. Then, to consolidate the breed, British Shorthair and, recently (since 2015) American Shorthair contributions were allowed. The breed was recognized by TICA in 1992 and by CFA in 2000. It is under provisional admission by FIFé and should be definitively recognized by the latter federation from January 1, 2018. The first Selkirk rex imported into France via Switzerland was “Noface Grace Slick”, a colorpoint blue female with white gloves. |
General appearance |
| Generally speaking, the Selkirk rex is a round, massive, muscular and powerful cat. It is medium-sized and fits into a shortened rectangle (semi-cobby). |
Behavior / characteristics |
| The Selkirk rex's genial temperament reflects the breeds used for its development. The Selkirk rex has the reserve and laid-back nature of the British shorthair, the cuddly nature of the Persan and the playfulness of the Exotic shorthair. These cats are patient, tolerant and affectionate, with the power and hunting skills of the American shorthair. However, these character traits remain perfectly individual and are above all a function of each cat's history. |
Head |
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Cranial region |
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Head |
The head is broad with rounded contours. | |
Skull |
The skull is rounded. | |
Facial region |
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Forehead |
The forehead is rounded with a curved profile. | |
Nose |
The nose is broad but short, well-curved. | |
Muzzle |
From the front, the muzzle fits into a rounded rectangle and the dough pieces are firm. In profile, the muzzle is aligned with the nose, upper lip and chin. | |
Eyes |
Rounded and open. The gaze is benevolent. | |
Ears |
Broad at the base, medium to small with rounded tips. They should be set wide apart on the head. | |
Body |
Limbs |
| Like the rest of the body, the legs are medium to short, massive and powerful. Feet are large and round. | ||
Forequarters |
Hindquarters |
Coat |
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Coat and texture |
The coat is dense, plush and tightly curled. However, the curls can be tighter on the neck, throat, belly and tail. Vibrissae are also curly. All coats and colors are accepted, as long as the eye color matches the coat. | |
Hair |
The Selkirk rex differs totally from other “rex” breeds such as the Devon rex and Cornish rex. Unlike them, it has all three coat types, and all three are curly (guard, undercoat and jar). It also differs from the LaPerm in the type of fur, which is denser and fluffier, in fact, “woolly-silky” to the touch, not “crunchy”. The Selkirk rex is available in long and short coats. |
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Authorized marriages |
| In France, the LOOF authorizes matings with the British shorthair and longhair and, since 2015, with the American Shorthair (as do the TICA and CFA). It has prohibited marriage with cats in the Persan group (Persians and Exotic Shorthair). In CFA and TICA, pairing with the Persan group will be prohibited for kittens born after January 1, 2020, and with the British group for kittens born after January 1, 2025. LOOF annually reconsiders pairing with British and American Shorthair group cats according to the interest for the French gene pool. |
English (United Kingdom) 
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