The Selkirk Rex is one of the newest natural breeds, which evolved from the domestic cat. The Selkirk Rex is one of the newest natural breeds, evolving from the domestic cat. It first came from Wyoming, USA, and was bred with the Persian cat to form its unique breed characteristics. It can be mated with Persian cats, exotic shorthair cats, British shorthair cats and American shorthair cats. There will be no genetic or other diseases, and they are very healthy cats.
I. Origin of the Selkirk Rex-coated Cat
In 1987, a shelter in Wyoming a spotted cat gave birth to a litter of kittens, one of which was a curly-haired breed. The curly-haired kitten was found by breeder Jeri Newman when it was 14 months old, and Jeri Newman, who loves to study genetics, bred the cat with her own Persian cat heterozygous, resulting in the birth of six kittens. Three of them had curly coats like their mothers. The first cat with the curly coat gene was finally confirmed by the CFA in 2000 after more than ten years of breeding efforts, and has since been introduced into the world for breeding.
II. Introduction of Selkirk Rex Cat breed
The Selkirk Rex Cat is also known as the “cat in sheep’s clothing”. They are one of the four types of curly-coated cats, and their hair looks like it has been curled. The Selkirk Rex-coated cat has an extraordinary curly-coated gene, which comes from a natural genetic mutation of the domestic cat.
In 1987, a shelter cat gave birth to a litter of kittens, one of which was a curly-haired breed, and that cat was the originator of the Selkirk Rex. The curly-haired cat was given to a Breeder in Wyoming, who mated the curly-haired cat with a prize-winning Persian of her own, and she called the later breed “Selkirk” in honor of her stepfather, so it is the only cat breed named after a human.
- Selkirk Rex Cat Morphological Characteristics
The biggest feature of the Selkirk Rex Cat is that it has curly hair all over its body, and even its whiskers are curly. This is something that other cats do not have and is very unique.
Morphology of the Selkirk Rex-coated Cat
Characteristics: For this breed, color is not restricted; exhibitors focus more on coat quality when judging. Color definition is also important, however, eye color should match coat color. This cat has blue and cream colored coats and eyes that can vary from dark gold to purple-bronze.
Size: The Selkirk Curl has now developed into a large cat, which is different from the size of the British Shorthair.
Body shape: Similar to the British Shorthair, it is also a large, heavy-boned breed with strong limbs and a thick, straight body.
Head: The head is large and round.
Ears: Medium sized ears with a wide distance between them.
Eyes: Round, bright and large eyes.
Nose: Straight nose.
Jaw: Square mouth shape.
Coat: The most distinctive feature is the curly coat, especially around the neck and belly, which is thick and curly, while the back coat is flat and straight.
Coat color: The coat color varies widely, with any color, and the eye color varies with the coat color.
- Selkirk Rex Cat personality characteristics
The Selkirk Rex cat has a lively and playful personality, a sticky character, likes to be close to people, especially likes to stick to the master, when the master is at home he always likes to follow, is a small footsteps of the little fetish. The Selkirk Rex cat has a soft voice, giving people a gentle and tame feeling, very friendly, not only to the owner, but also very friendly to animals, and dogs can also get along very well, is the ideal companion pet.
The Selkirk Rex has a strong learning and memory ability, is very good at understanding people and can “learn by example” and apply what it has learned to other different problems. He can turn on the tap and drink by himself and turn it off when he is done. The Selkirk Curl has a strong sense of time and can predict when his owner will feed him, and even sense that he may be going away or on vacation and become closer to him. It can also predict certain natural phenomena, such as earthquakes and thunder and wind. If given good training, the Selkirk Curl can also learn to stand on its hind legs and retrieve thrown objects.
- Selkirk Rex cat care knowledge
The most important thing for the Selkirk Rex-coated cat is the tear duct and kidney problems. Both long and short haired cats need to be groomed regularly to keep their coats neat and tidy. Most Selkirk cats have oily skin and need frequent bathing. Similar to the British Shorthair, it is also a large, heavy-boned breed with strong limbs and a thick, straight body. Usual care is essential!
Care of Selkirk Rex-coated Cats
In the wild, long-haired felines only change their coats in winter, but domestic cats change their coats throughout the year because they are kept in a bright and warm environment all year round. Therefore, the Selkirk Rex-coated cat needs to be groomed twice a day for 15 to 30 minutes each time. Otherwise, the fur will become tangled. If the tangles are not dealt with in time, the cat will be in great pain and you will have to call your veterinarian to give the cat an anesthetic and shave off the tangles. Not only will your cat suffer, but you will also lose money!
Before you start grooming, take the opportunity to check the cat’s eyes, ears, mouth and paws to see if they are clean and free of disease. You will need a thin-toothed, dense-toothed comb, a cat brush with bristles and wire, a toothbrush, and a pair of blunt-tipped shears to cut away tangles, as well as a laurel oil accelerator (for dark cats) and talcum powder (for light cats) to rub into the fur. For exhibition cats, a grooming brush for brushing the cat’s tail is also required.
- Selkirk Rex Cat Feeding Points
Selkirk Rex cat can not eat too salty too oily things, the best food for cats is natural cat food and steamed chicken breast, small fish, can not drink milk, can drink goat’s milk, if you want to beauty hair, you can feed some salmon or seaweed. Some pet stores also sell some hairdressing powder, but be sure to choose a large regular pet supplies sales point.
Feeding of Selkirk Rex Cat
The Selkirk Rex Cat must be fed with a controlled amount of protein. It should not be too low or too high, so as not to affect the cat’s breeding of the next generation with poor quality. The right amount of vitamins and minerals should also be supplemented. Calcium, phosphorus, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E and B vitamins are important for the male reproductive system, and a prolonged deficiency can lead to loss of fertility. Maintain adequate exercise. Rational mating and good protection of the reproductive system. A ban on inhumanity and indulgence is not sensible. Premature initial mating will affect the development of the reproductive system and frequent mating will shorten the life span of the cat. Regularly clean the external genitalia to avoid infection. The normal sexual function of male cats is around 7 years, and it is important to do de-sexing at the right time. Some spicy and salty foods must not be given to cats that can cause kidney failure.
