Selkirk Rex Longhair

Selkirk Rex Longhair are great cats for the family. They do not require excessive attention, get along well with children, and feel even better with elderly people. Unperturbed, calm, and extremely collected, the Selkirk Rex Longhair will fit well with any family. They love to cuddle and kiss their owner, extremely gentle creatures.

Breed Photos

Origin History

The Selkirk Rex – nicknamed cats in sheep’s clothing. One of only four cat breeds in the world with curly hair. These cats seem to have been chemically permed; women pay a lot of money to hairdressers to look like members of the Selkirk Rex Longhair breed. In 1987, an American shelter cat gave birth to a kitten who had abnormally curly hair. This particular kitten is considered the progenitor of the Selkirk Rex breed. The first curly representative was given for breeding to a breeder from Wyoming. She did not think long and decided to cross him with her most beautiful Persian cat.

A female felinologist decided to give the kittens a name like her late father’s. The Selkirk Rex is the only breed named after a human. A poodle, a sheep, and even a bear cub! What nicknames have not been given to the Selkirk Rex over the 30 years of the breed’s existence.

Appearance

The strange gene responsible for the curly coat appeared in Selkirk Rexes due to a spontaneous mutation in a very common litter of kittens. Everything in the Selkirk Rex is curly, even the whiskers. The breed comes in various colors, but unlike other curly breeds, the coat of these cats will always have three layers, no matter if it is long or short. Representatives of the Selkirk Rex Longhair breed have a medium-sized body and well-developed muscles. The weight of the animals is usually up to eight kilograms.

Character

Selkirk Rex Longhair are great cats for the family. They do not require excessive attention, get along well with children, and feel even better with elderly people. Unperturbed, calm, and extremely collected, the Selkirk Rex Longhair will fit well with any family. They love to cuddle and kiss their owner, extremely gentle creatures.

Quickly spreading worldwide, they became a real find for everyone wishing to have an incredibly friendly and unusual pet. Felinologists call the Selkirk Rex breed representatives – the cat of happiness because they are always in high spirits and never lose heart. To be happy, a cat needs to see its owner, and it already starts purring with pleasure. The Selkirk Rex is a very patient cat and can make friends with any other pets.

Care

Regardless of the length of the coat, the Selkirk Rex needs to be brushed every day. Regularly grooming your curly hair will help keep it lush and keep it from falling off. Also, the coat tends to get greasy, so you’ll probably need to bathe the Selkirk Rex quite often, once or twice a month. Be sure to keep your eyes clean and avoid clogging your tear ducts. The ears, too, should not be bypassed; the pet’s curly hair often causes irritation and excessive earwax production. They are adapted to live both in an apartment and a large country house. Feels great in the snow, not afraid of the cold.

Education

Selkirk Rex Longhair is a cat breed that has no aggression at all. Such a nice bonus makes it easier to raise a pet. Representatives of the Selkirk Rex breed are very intelligent and not intrusive themselves. If the owner is busy, the cat will never intrude; it will be happy just from the fact that its beloved master looms before its eyes.

Common Diseases

The Selkirk Rex Longhair breed has excellent health, not afraid of either draft or cold. This breed’s average lifespan is 13-15 years, but some reach the age of 18 years.

Persian cats inherited polycystic kidney disease, a condition in which the kidneys can fail. Selkirk Rex is prone to developing hip dysplasia as an adult. There is a risk of heart disease – hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The dangerous disease leads to arterial thromboembolism, heart failure, and sudden death. The key to your little pet’s health and longevity is timely vaccinations and periodic visits to a specialist.

Nutrition

Feed a cat of the breed Selkirk Rex Longhair should be balanced dry food or natural food, taking into account the content of useful substances in it. 60-80% of the pet’s menu must be given to meat products. The Selkirk Rex digestive system can easily cope with a lot of protein.

Foods for the Selkirk Rex can be fish, dairy, vegetables, grains, and eggs. A few drops of vegetable oil can be dripped into the food portions. Vitamin supplements can be used after a visit to the veterinarian. Wheat germs, a special herb for colon cleansing from the veterinary pharmacy, will be a real gift for the pet. Make sure the Selkirk always has freshwater; it should be changed daily.