Selkirk Rex Shorthair

The curly coat is not the only thing that makes the Selkirk Rex Shorthair special. The wavy coat gives these cats an attractive look. When you see these soft lumps, you want to squeeze them and cuddle them longer, but these beauties are also valued for their curious, cheerful, and friendly character.

Breed Photos

Origin History

The history of the Selkirk Rex Shorthair originated in the United States. The first kitten of this breed appeared in Montana in 1987. It was found in a cat shelter, among a litter of a white cat and a blue tortie-colored cat. Among the kittens with straight hair, one with curly hair was discovered. Soon this unusual hairball was adopted by breeder Jeri Newman. The kitten turned out to be a female, who was crossed with a black Persian cat after some time. As a result, six kittens were born, three of which had curly hair. These were the first representatives of the modern Selkirk Rex breed.

Over the years, the Selkirk Rex began to crossbreed with other breeds – the Persian, the Exotic Shorthair, and the British Shorthair, resulting in the Selkirk Rex long-haired and short-haired. The International Cat Association and the American Cat Fanciers Association recognized the Selkirk Rex in the 1990s, and the Cat Fanciers Association recognized it in 2000.

Appearance

Selkirk Rex cats are sometimes called “cats in sheep’s clothing” because of their distinctive curly hair. The curly hair gene is dominant in this breed, but not all Selkirks are born with curls. Some may have straight hair. Selkirk Rex Shorthair has shorter and denser curls; respectively, long-haired ones have longer curls. The “teddy bear” appearance, which is characteristic of the Selkirk Rex, makes this cat an ideal pet option.

The color of the Selkirk Rex coat can be varied – smoky, blue, white, red, or beige. The color can be monochromatic or a combination of several shades. Selkirk Rex Shorthair has a round head with a broad forehead and a square muzzle. Large round-shaped eyes are usually combined with the color of the coat. The cat’s body is rectangular and trim.

Character

The curly coat is not the only thing that makes the Selkirk Rex Shorthair special. The wavy coat gives these cats an attractive look. When you see these soft lumps, you want to squeeze them and cuddle them longer, but these beauties are also valued for their curious, cheerful, and friendly character.

Selkirk Rex cats are an intelligent breed that loves to play games or spend time with their owners. It is a loving and very affectionate cat that demands a lot of attention. Although she is not overly pushy or demanding, she can sometimes follow her owner around until she gets what she wants.

Care

A Selkirk Rex Shorthair requires less care than a long-haired one. A Selkirk Rex Shorthair can be brushed once a week, and regular bathing with a special shampoo is recommended. It will help keep the Selkirk Rex’s coat soft and healthy-looking. It is important not to forget about other hygienic procedures that almost all breeds need – brushing teeth daily or at least once a day, checking ears and eyes several times a week, clipping nails once a week. But the main rule of care is the owner’s attention, which the pet needs daily. Feeling this attention, the Selkirk Rex will not be capricious during all the hygiene procedures and will learn to enjoy it.

Education

The Selkirk Rex Shorthair is a breed that is quick to learn because of its intelligence and intelligence. It is not difficult to teach it the house rules, but it will still take some effort. It is not because she is naughty, but because she needs time to remember where the litter box, sleeping place, and feeding bowls are.

Selkirk Rex Shorthair cats are quite active, so you shouldn’t get this cat if you don’t have time to play with it. This breed needs plenty of exercises, so it’s a good idea to give it time to play daily to ensure that it can use up its energy.

Common Diseases

The average lifespan of the Selkirk Rex Shorthair breed is 12-14 years. Cats of this breed, in general, have good health, but that does not mean that they do not get sick at all. Many diseases can be diagnosed in the Selkirk Rex because of their genetic predisposition to them. These diseases include:

• polycystic kidney disease is a hereditary disease that causes cystic kidney degeneration, which eventually leads to kidney dysfunction;
• hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common form of heart disease in cats, which causes thickening of the heart muscle;
• hip dysplasia is a hereditary defect of the hip cup. It can occur in a mild form, with little or no pain, or can eventually lead to severe lameness.

To avoid the appearance of such diseases in a cat, when choosing a kitten, it is necessary to clarify who the Selkirk Rex parent is. If one of the kitten’s parents is an exotic, Himalayan or Persian cat, you should ask the breeder to prove that he has been tested for hereditary diseases.

Nutrition

Each cat is a unique creature with its preferences and food needs. That said, the main rule of any cat’s diet is a balanced meal enriched with vitamins and various nutrients.

The Selkirk Rex diet should be appropriate for its physical activity and age, as this breed is prone to obesity. It is important to control the portion size and provide the right amount of exercise, as obesity can harm the cat’s health.

The Selkirk Rex Shorthair can be fed both factory dry food or canned cat food and natural food. From natural food, the diet basis should be lean meat and by-products, which can be supplemented with fish and egg yolk, sour-milk products, vegetables, and greens for a variety. It is unnecessary to offer smoked and flour products, sweets, and other goodies from the table to the cat.