The Selkirk Rex is the result of a dominant spontaneous mutation that causes each hair to curl gently. Unlike the Cornish and Devon Rex, the Selkirk retains all of its hair and the coat is not reduced to a fine down or a Wirehair-like bristle. It is plush, soft, and curly, with longhairs having slightly looser curls than the shorthairs. The Selkirk descends from a shelter cat found in Montana, who was given to a Persian breeder. This shelter cat, Miss DePesto of Noface, was bred to one of her black Persians, PhotoFinish of Deekay; the resulting litter was half curly and half straight-haired, showing that the first dominant rex gene had been discovered. The Selkirk was developed along these cobby lines because of the Persian ancestry, with British Shorthairs used in development as well. Selkirks are amiable, clownish cats with a laid-back, friendly personality—not surprising, given their ancestors. Selkirk owners have to have a sense of humour, if only to put up with the comments they will get from spectators, which can range from curious (“What kind of cat is that?”) to the bizarre (“Do you put its fur in rollers?”).
Type & judging remarks
The Selkirk is a medium to large cat with heavy boning with surprising weight and an impression of power that resembles the British Shorthair. The shorthaired Selkirk has a short, plush curly coat; the longhaired Selkirk often has a looser curl, giving it a wavier look.
