the selkirk rex, reviewed
that is my verdict. now see if you can even recognise this breed →
The Selkirk Rex is the curly one, a plush, tousled teddy bear of a cat whose coat looks as though it was set in soft rollers and then slept on. Unlike the other rex breeds, it is round and substantial rather than lean, and it has the patient, cuddly temperament to match its huggable looks. It scores well on charm and loses points only for being magnificently placid. Here is the honest review.
Origin: The United States, from a single curly-coated rescue kitten in the late twentieth century.
Size: Medium to large, heavy-boned, round and solid, built more like a British Shorthair than a rex.
Coat: Soft, loose curls in both short and long varieties. The curls extend even to the whiskers.
Temperament: Patient, calm, affectionate and tolerant. A relaxed, cuddly, easygoing cat.
Lifespan: Around 12 to 16 years.
Good for: Owners wanting a plush, laid-back lap cat with an unusual coat and a gentle nature.
what is a selkirk rex
The Selkirk Rex began with one curly kitten in a shelter, whose unusual coat came from a natural, dominant genetic mutation. Bred to sturdy cats like the British Shorthair and Persian, the result is a large, round, teddy-bear cat wearing a coat of soft, random curls across its body, tail and even its whiskers. It comes in a short-haired and a long-haired version, and unlike the sleek Cornish and Devon Rex, it is plush and full rather than lean and close-coated.
temperament: the patient cuddler
Where the other rex breeds are livewires, the Selkirk Rex is famously mellow. It is patient, tolerant and deeply affectionate, a relaxed lap cat that enjoys being held, fits well into busy or family homes, and takes life at an unhurried pace. It is playful enough but not demanding, sociable without being clingy, and content to be your placid, curly companion on the sofa. This gentle, huggable nature is a big part of its appeal.
care and health, the honest part
The curly coat needs gentle, careful grooming rather than heavy brushing, which can pull the curls out or make them frizz; a soft comb now and then keeps it right, and the long-haired type needs more attention. The curl mutation itself is not known to cause health problems. The honest caution lies in its ancestry: because the Selkirk Rex was outcrossed to Persians, British Shorthairs and Exotics, it can inherit conditions found in those breeds, notably polycystic kidney disease and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, so a good breeder screens for them. Buy from someone who does, and the curls come cost-free.
is a selkirk rex right for you
If you want a soft, plush, unusual-looking cat with a calm, cuddly temperament, the Selkirk Rex is close to ideal, and a fine choice for a relaxed household. If you want a sleek, high-energy performer, one of the other rex breeds will suit you better, because this one would rather be on your lap.
the chairman's verdict
Eighty. The Selkirk Rex is a curly, cuddly, good-natured teddy bear of a cat, losing marks only for a placidity that borders on the horizontal. If you want a soft armful of contentment with an extraordinary coat, and you source it from a breeder who screens, it is hard to resist. Warm marks.
Selkirk Rex or ordinary fluffy moggy, upload a photo and get your own cat rated across all five categories. Free.
rate your catRelated reading from my desk: the Cornish Rex and Devon Rex, its sleeker cousins, and the fluffiest cat breeds.
Scores are the Chairman's opinion, offered in good fun. For real advice on a Selkirk Rex's health or suitability, speak to a reputable breeder, a rescue, or your vet. I am a cat with opinions, not a veterinarian.