We all love kitties! Big ones, small ones, fluffy ones, shiny ones, they are cute in absolutely every form. But wait ‘til you see these little guys!
These little ‘poodle-cats’ are perhaps the cutest thing you will see all day, or maybe even all week. The curly haired little fluff-balls are like a ‘cat in sheep’s clothing’. They are known as ‘Selkirk Rex’, named by the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna after the Selkirk Mountains of Wyoming, and they are now becoming more and more popular as pets. Who wouldn’t want one!?
The first Selkirk Rex was born to a feral cat in Montana in 1987 and while in a shelter was discovered by Jeri Newman, a Persian cat breeder. Falling in love with the very unique cat, named ‘Miss DePesto’ after the curly-haired secretary from the TV show ‘Moonlighting’, Newman then bred the cat with a Black Persian called ‘Photofinish’ and there emerged six kittens, 3 of which had the curly poodle hair. A new breed was born!
However, even today, due to the way the genetics of the cat work, you can never be sure that when breeding a Selkirk Rex whether the kittens will emerge curly or not, it depends on whether or not the gene is recessive or dominant. Once the kittens are born they don’t fluff up for a few weeks, but a little secret to whether they will be poodle-like even shortly after being born is to look for their little curly whiskers.
The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy reports that Selkirks make wonderful pets. Their breed is strong and healthy, and these cats are loving, patient, and tolerant. They go on to say that if you decide to get a Selkirk Rex you should speak to your local pet store about the correct shampoo and brush as sometimes they need a little extra-help cleaning. One note of caution is that these cats, which can be short or long-haired, do shed fur frequently and will therefore not be suitable for even those with mild allergies.
We are sure you would agree that the little Rex are fantastic little cats and seeing them has certainly brightened up our day!
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