Facts about Selkirk Rex
- 08
Longhaired Selkirk Rex cats can take up to two years to develop their full curly coat texture, whereas shorthaired varieties reach maturity much faster.
- 07
Selkirk Rex cats typically weigh between 6 and 12 pounds at adulthood, making them one of the heaviest rex breed varieties due to their sturdy bone structure and muscular build.
- 06
Selkirk Rex cats have a distinctive soft, woolly texture to their curly coat that requires grooming two to three times weekly to maintain optimal coat condition and prevent tangles.
- 05
The Selkirk Rex breed standard accepts both longhair and shorthair coat lengths, with The International Cat Association recognizing them as separate divisions since the breed's official acceptance in 1992.
- 04
Selkirk Rex cats require regular bathing every four to six weeks to prevent matting and maintain the health of their curly coat, unlike most other cat breeds.
- 03
Both dominant and recessive gene copies produce the signature curly coat in Selkirk Rex cats, making them unique among rex breeds that typically require two recessive copies.
- 02
Three to five generations of selective breeding were required to establish the Selkirk Rex breed standards recognized by major cat associations in the 1990s.
- 01
Curly-coated cats emerged in 1987 when a Selkirk Rex kitten was born to a domestic shorthair in Wyoming, establishing the breed's single documented origin point.