Selkirk Rex: the curly-coated cat that looks like a sheep in a British Shorthair's body

In 1987, at a shelter in Montana, a litter of ordinary domestic kittens included one oddball: a curly-coated female who looked nothing like her littermates. Jeri Newman, a local breeder, adopted her and named her Miss DePesto. By breeding Miss DePesto back to her own father, a black Persian, Newman discovered something the curly-cat world had never seen before: the mutation was dominant. Both the Cornish Rex and the Devon Rex carry recessive curl genes, but this one passed straight to half the kittens in the very first litter. The breeding program that followed consolidated the breed, which TICA recognized in 1992 and the CFA accepted for championship status in 2000.

The Selkirk Rex is the third recognized curly-coated cat breed, and it's genetically distinct from both the Cornish and the Devon. Cross a Selkirk with a Cornish, or a Selkirk with a Devon, and the kittens come out straight or only loosely waved, not curly, because all three mutations sit at different loci and don't interact.

Unlike the Cornish (which lacks guard hairs) and the Devon (whose hairs are short and fragile), the Selkirk keeps all three hair types intact: guard, awn, and down, all of them curled. The visual result is a plush, voluminous coat that genuinely resembles sheep's wool, wrapped around a heavy cobby body built like a British Shorthair.

How the Selkirk Rex differs from the Cornish and Devon Rex

Trait	Selkirk Rex	Cornish Rex	Devon Rex
Inheritance	Dominant	Recessive	Recessive
Mutation	Distinct gene (non-allelic)	KRT71 Cornish variant	KRT71 Devon variant
Hair types	All 3 (guard, awn, down)	Down only (no guard)	All 3 but fragile
Curl appearance	Plush, sheep-wool	Flat marcel waves	Soft loose waves
Body	Cobby, sturdy	Slender, oriental	Slender, muscular
Face	Rounded (British type)	Narrow, angular	Triangular, full cheeks
Origin	USA (1987)	Cornwall, UK (1950)	Devon, UK (1959)

In one line: the Selkirk looks like a British Shorthair with a perm, while the Cornish and Devon are lean, elegant, oriental silhouettes.

What the Selkirk Rex's temperament is actually like

Three traits define it.

Calm and patience. The Selkirk inherits the serene disposition of the British Shorthair, which was used heavily in the breed's reconstruction crosses. It tolerates handling well, rarely vocalizes, and doesn't demand constant attention. This is a cat that settles into a household rather than running it.

Moderate to high sociability. It bonds with the whole family, greets visitors politely, and accepts other pets without drama. It's not as demanding as a Burmese or as reserved as a Russian Blue. It sits comfortably in the middle: affectionate but undemanding.

Medium energy. It plays normally and enjoys interactive toys, but it isn't hyperactive. That makes it a good fit for apartment life without needing extreme enrichment.

Put together, those traits make the Selkirk an excellent breed for first-time cat owners and for families with young children.

What hereditary health issues it has

Because the breed is young and was built with frequent outcrosses to the Persian, British Shorthair, and Exotic Shorthair, it inherited a handful of well-known pathologies from those lines. A serious breeder addresses each one openly.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Present at moderate prevalence, as in many breeds with Persian and British Shorthair ancestry. The heart muscle thickens, reducing ventricular volume and straining circulation. Cardiac ultrasound screening of breeding stock is the standard safeguard.

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Documented in lines carrying Persian ancestry. A genetic test for the PKD1 mutation is available, and reputable breeders test their cats before pairing them. Diagnosis in individuals is by abdominal ultrasound in young adults.

Patellar luxation. Documented in specific lines. The kneecap slips out of its groove, ranging from mild and intermittent to surgical in severe cases.

Hip dysplasia. Uncommon in cats overall but documented at moderate prevalence in heavy cobby breeds. Radiographic screening is sensible in breeding stock.

Tendency to obesity. Inherited from the British Shorthair side, this is a lifestyle problem more than a genetic one, and it is preventable with portion control.

Average life expectancy is 13-15 years with appropriate care.

How much grooming does the Selkirk Rex need?

Moderate, despite the dense curly coat.

Brush 2-3 times a week with a soft-bristle brush. Over-brushing relaxes and damages the curls, so a light touch beats aggressive grooming.
Skip frequent baths. Water temporarily straightens the curls until the coat fully dries, so reserve bathing for when it's genuinely needed.
Standard dental care on the usual schedule.

The sheep-wool coat is fairly self-regulating, but mats can still form in friction zones such as the armpits and the base of the tail, so check those spots during each brushing session.

Does it adapt well to apartment life?

Yes, very well. The Selkirk is a calm, adaptable breed that thrives in an apartment with standard enrichment: a scratching post, a few elevated resting spots, and interactive toys. It doesn't need open space, only a comfortable indoor environment and regular play.

How much should a Selkirk Rex eat?

A healthy 12-pound (5.5 kg) adult needs roughly 1.8-2.6 oz (50-75 g) of premium dry food per day, split into two meals and adjusted for activity. Because the breed leans toward weight gain, weigh the cat every two to three months and tune the ration accordingly. Every extra pound on a heavy frame adds stress to the joints and the heart.

How much does a Selkirk Rex cost in the United States?

The breed is still uncommon in the United States. A kitten with CFA or TICA pedigree and health-tested parents (PKD, HCM screening) typically costs between $1,200 and $2,500 in 2026. Show lines with championship parents run higher. As always, paying far below the going rate from a seller who can't show health testing usually means absent screening and a higher chance of inherited disease down the road.

Does it get along with other pets?

Excellent. Its calm temperament makes coexistence with other cats, and with relaxed dogs, straightforward, especially when introductions are gradual.

Selkirk Rex data sheet

Identification

Size: medium-large, cobby
Weight: 9-15 lb males / 7-11 lb females
Length: 16-20 in nose to tail tip
Life expectancy: 13-15 years
Origin: Montana, United States (1987)

Physical

Coat: curly, sheep-wool texture, short or semi-long
Colors: all colors and patterns accepted
Body: cobby, sturdy, British Shorthair type
Head: rounded

Temperament

Sociability: high
Independence: medium
Vocalization: low, soft and infrequent
Trainability: medium

Care

Brushing: 2-3 times a week with a soft-bristle brush
Bathing: infrequent; water relaxes the curls
Diet: premium kibble, ration adjusted for weight control

Frequently asked questions

Why is it called Selkirk? After breeder Jeri Newman's stepfather, as a family tribute. It is not named for any geographic location, which makes it the only breed named after a person.

Is it hypoallergenic? No. This is a common myth. The Selkirk produces Fel d 1 like any other cat, and the curly texture of the coat has no effect on allergies.

Does it get along with dogs? Yes. Its calm temperament makes integration with relaxed dogs easy when introductions are done gradually.

Does it shed a lot? Moderately, given the dense coat. It is not a low-shedding breed, so it's a poor match for anyone hoping to avoid hair around the house.

How long does it live? 13-15 years with appropriate care.

Bibliography

The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA), Official Breed Standard: Selkirk Rex. https://cfa.org
The International Cat Association (TICA), Selkirk Rex judging criteria and registry. https://tica.org
Gandolfi, B. et al. (2013). Selkirk rex: morphological and genetic characterization. Animal Genetics, 44(6).
American Veterinary Medical Association, clinical resources on feline HCM and inherited disease.
Royal Veterinary College, VetCompass studies on hereditary pathology prevalence in cat breeds.