Selkirk rex Cat: appearance, character, care, breeding


Selkirk rex Cat appearance, character, care, breeding
Selkirk Rex Cat

The origins of the Selkirk Rex Cat

The breed appeared in 1987 in the United States: a cat with normal fur and an unknown father conceived a cat with curly hair, which was called Miss Pesto. The kitten, adopted by Mrs. Jeri Newman (breeder in Montana), was mated to a black Persian called Photo Finish, and from this union six kittens were born, among which three were curly-haired.

To fix the breed, Miss Pesto was crossed with one of her sons: of the four offspring born from this union, three looked like “little sheep”. 

In the opinion of geneticists, the Selkirk gene is unique and new, it is a dominant gene: it has nothing to do with those of Devon and Cornish Rex.


Appearance of the Selkirk Rex Cat

The dress of the Selkirk Rex cat is curly, as are its eyebrows, whiskers and the hair inside its ears. There are two varieties, one with short hairs and the other with long hairs.


The character of the Selkirk Rex Cat

The temperament, quite similar to that of the Persian and the common cat, makes them a quiet, tolerant, lively, curious and very intelligent kitty. These qualities make it a very good companion for humans.

Hug:
This very endearing sheep cat with an atypical coat will know how to be affectionate towards its humans.

Player: 
This tomcat is well muscled and will count on proving it to you on a daily basis.

Calm:
After spending energy playing alone with small toys or chasing a feather duster that is waved in front of them, it will also know how to be calm.

Intelligent:
The Selkirk Rex will understand the routine of its humans very well and adapt accordingly. And to have your undivided attention, it will quickly learn how to achieve it!

Fearful / suspicious of strangers:
Curiosity is the strong point of cats, but some individuals are more curious than others. It would be relevant to install a hiding place or a high space for this beautiful cat from where it can observe all the novelties. This will help them adapt better.

Independent: 
The sheep cat will know how to take care of itself when it is alone, as well as when its humans are present, since it will have at its disposal activities that will stimulate it.


Behavior of the Selkirk Rex Cat 

Talkative:
This living room cat does not have a reputation for knowing how to “sing”. It can still meow to see if it manages to catch the gaze of its humans and start over whenever it wants!

Greedy / gluttonous:
This very beefy tomcat will have a good appetite so it is necessary to take care of the quantity of food ingested for its well-being.

Need for exercise:
What better way to overcome boredom than a little daily physical exercise! This is not what will displease the Selkirk Rex.

Runaway:
This feline adapts very well to apartment life.


Compatibility of the Selkirk Rex Cat with other animals

The Selkirk Rex and the Dogs: It’s not easy for a tomcat to sympathize with another species with a different body language. Over time, they will adapt very well to each other with a bit of heights here and a bit of dog training there.

The Selkirk Rex and the Other Cats:
The arrival of a new cat in a Selkirk’s home can put them in a bad mood. In fact, it will often become stressed. Taking the time to make the presentations in due form will be necessary to ensure that the first contacts are positive.

The Selkirk Rex and the Children:
As it is playful and calm at the same time, it will adapt to the presence of children who know how to be responsible and attentive to the needs of their four-legged playmate. A cat sometimes needs its own space where it does not like to be disturbed. 

Learning and respecting this rule is the key to a beautiful relationship between a cat and humans, whether small or large!

The Selkirk Rex and the Elderly:
Some people may be calmer than others, and as they get older they all become calmer. They would then make excellent companions for calmer people.


Price of the Selkirk Rex Cat

The average purchase price of a Selkirk Rex kitten in breeding is between 1000 USD and 1600 USD. This price varies according to its breeder, its line, its age at the time of purchase or even its sex. For the monthly budget, it will take an average of 50 USD / month to meet your needs.


Caring of the Selkirk Rex Cat

Grooming:
A light weekly brushing to remove dead hair will be enough to allow this cat’s curls to keep their shape. Some areas like the belly and under the legs should also be combed. It is also advisable to check your ears and clean them with a suitable product because earwax can accumulate. 

Likewise, for its eyes, cleaning with physiological serum may be necessary, according to the recommendations of the attending veterinarian.

Hair loss:
The moults may appear more or less important depending on whether it has a medium-long or short hair.


Food of the Selkirk Rex Cat

A quality diet is recommended in order to maintain it in good health.


Health of the Selkirk Rex Cat

Life
expectancy : Its life expectancy is between 12 and 20 years.

Resistant / robust: 
The density of its fur and the presence of undercoat make it fairly resistant to cold and heat, although with greater ease of adaptation to the cold.

Tendency to
gain weight : It is advisable to be vigilant on the nutritional quality and the quantity of food granted in order to avoid weight gain.

Common diseases:
The Selkirk Rex can develop the same diseases as other cats, such as oral pathologies. But some diseases are rather due to a genetic factor linked to the breed:

  • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy results in thickening of the heart muscle. By decompensating, this pathology can cause heart failure which can result in arrhythmias, lung edema, thrombosis of an artery, etc. Screening is carried out by an echocardiography examination, to be repeated in general on an annual basis. Treatment can be administered according to the ultrasound report to improve the cat’s comfort.
  • Polycystic kidney disease is a disease where cysts develop which will prevent the kidney from functioning normally, causing kidney failure which cannot be cured. Monitoring and veterinary care as well as a specialized diet can delay the pathology and improve the quality of life of the cat so that it can live longer.

Reproduction:
Females give birth on average to 3 or 4 kittens.

The LOOF authorizes marriage with an American Shorthair, British Shorthair or British Longhair because the Selkirk Rex is still not very widespread.


Good to know

The curling of the hair of this cat will vary according to the seasons, the age and also the hormonal state. Thus, it will be necessary to wait until the age of two years before seeing the curls take their adult appearance. And the vibrissae are also buckled.


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