The "poodle cat" is not a cross between a cat and a dog, and it is not a new species. The nickname usually refers to the Selkirk Rex, a recognised cat breed with a thick, loosely curled coat that really does look like a poodle's, or a lamb's. The breed traces back to a single curly kitten from a rescued litter in Montana in 1987, and its curls are caused by a dominant gene, which is why the breed was established so quickly.
If you have seen photos of curly kittens and wondered what they are, how the curl works and what they are like to live with, here is the full story, along with what breed organisations say about grooming, health and allergies.
Where the Selkirk Rex came from
The breed began in 1987 with a kitten born to a rescued cat in Sheridan, Montana (the CFA dates the litter to 1986). One kitten in the litter had curly fur and curly whiskers, unlike her siblings. She reportedly ended up at a local animal shelter, where she was spotted by Jeri Newman, a breeder of Persian cats.
Newman adopted the kitten and named her Miss DePesto, after Agnes DiPesto, the curly-haired receptionist in the 1980s television comedy Moonlighting. When Miss DePesto was old enough, Newman bred her with a black Persian male, reportedly named Photofinish. Of the six kittens born, three had curly coats. That result was the first clue that the curl was dominant: one curly parent was enough to pass it on to about half of the litter.
Newman named the new breed after her stepfather. The name is sometimes linked to the Selkirk Mountains or to a university, but neither story is correct, and the Selkirk Mountains are in western Canada and the northwestern United States, not in Wyoming as some older articles claimed.
(The video originally embedded here is no longer available on YouTube.)
How the curly coat works
Most cat coat mutations that cause curls are recessive. A kitten needs a copy from each parent for the effect to show. That is the case for the Devon Rex and the Cornish Rex, both British breeds with short, fine, wavy coats. The Selkirk Rex is different: its curl is dominant, so a single copy of the gene is enough.
That has a few practical consequences:
- Not every kitten is curly. When a curly cat is mated with a straight-coated cat, roughly half the kittens inherit the curl on average. The straight-coated ones are often called "Selkirk straights" and are still part of breeding programmes.
- Two copies can mean tighter curls. Cats that inherit the gene from both parents tend to have a tighter, more dramatic curl than cats with one copy.
- The curl changes with age. Kittens are often born curly, then the coat can loosen or straighten for a while before the curls return. The full adult coat may not develop until the cat is about two years old.
Breeders have a useful early clue: curly whiskers. Kittens that will grow a curly coat usually have crinkled whiskers and eyebrows from birth, even before the fur fluffs up.
Unlike the Devon and Cornish Rex, the Selkirk keeps all three layers of a normal cat coat, which is why it looks plush and full rather than thin and silky. The coat can be short or long, and every colour and pattern is accepted, so curly Selkirks can be white, cream, grey, black, tabby, tortoiseshell or pointed.
From one shelter kitten to a recognised breed
To build a healthy gene pool, Miss DePesto's descendants were crossed with Persians, Exotic Shorthairs and British Shorthairs, and in North America also American Shorthairs. These outcrosses gave the breed its sturdy, rounded build: Selkirks are medium to large cats with heavy bones and a broad, round head.
Recognition followed fairly quickly for a new breed:
- 1992: The International Cat Association (TICA) accepted the Selkirk Rex.
- 1998: The American Cat Fanciers Association followed.
- 2000: The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) recognised the breed.
- 2002: The first Selkirks arrived in Britain, imported from Austria.
- 2004 and 2009: The UK's Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) gave the breed preliminary recognition in 2004 and full championship status in June 2009.
Today the breed is still relatively uncommon, and kittens are usually bought from specialist breeders rather than found in pet shops.
Personality: what Selkirks are like at home
Breed clubs and the GCCF describe the Selkirk Rex as affectionate, patient and tolerant, a calm cat that generally enjoys company and copes well with family life. The Persian and British Shorthair heritage shows in a relaxed, cuddly temperament, while many owners also describe a playful streak.
As with any breed, individual personalities vary. A kitten's early socialisation, its health and the home it goes to matter at least as much as its pedigree. If you are considering a Selkirk, meet the kittens and, ideally, their mother before deciding.
Grooming and care
The curly coat needs less work than you might think, but it does need the right kind of care:
- Do not over-brush. Too much brushing pulls the curls straight and can leave the coat frizzy. A wide-toothed comb, used gently, is usually best.
- Long-haired Selkirks need more attention. The GCCF recommends daily combing for long coats to stop tangles, while short-haired cats need less.
- Some coats get greasy. Selkirks can have oilier coats than many breeds, and some owners bathe them occasionally. Ask a vet or experienced breeder which shampoo to use.
- Ears and eyes. The curly hair can extend into the ears, so check and clean them regularly.
Like all cats, Selkirks need a good diet, fresh water, vaccinations and regular vet checks.
Health and the allergy myth
The outcrosses that shaped the breed also brought some inherited risks. From Persians and Exotics comes a risk of polycystic kidney disease (PKD), and from British Shorthairs a risk of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a heart condition. Responsible breeders screen their cats for both, and buyers should ask to see the results. Overall, the breed is regarded as robust, and well-bred Selkirks often live into their teens.
The most common myth is that curly cats are hypoallergenic. They are not. The GCCF states plainly that Selkirks shed and that claims they are hypoallergenic are "not correct". Cat allergies are mostly triggered by a protein called Fel d 1, found in saliva and skin secretions, which every cat produces whatever its coat type. If you or someone in your home has allergies, talk to a doctor before bringing any cat home.
Is a Selkirk Rex right for you?
A Selkirk could suit you if you want a gentle, people-friendly cat and are happy with light but careful grooming. It is less suitable if you were hoping for an allergy-friendly pet or a cat that never sheds.
Before you buy, choose a breeder registered with a recognised cat organisation, ask about PKD and HCM screening, and expect that not every kitten in a litter will be curly. Straight-coated Selkirks have the same temperament and make equally good pets. And if a curly coat is not essential, local shelters are full of cats waiting for a home. After all, the whole breed started with a shelter kitty.
Sources: GCCF: Selkirk Rex breed profile; Wikipedia: Selkirk Rex; CFA: Selkirk Rex breed page.
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