The Selkirk Rex: temperament, price, health, and breeders

The Selkirk Rex is a recent breed born in the United States in 1987. Its history begins in Montana with a cat with a naturally curly coat, taken in and then entrusted to breeder Jeri Newman. Crosses with the Persian, the Exotic Shorthair, the American Shorthair and the British Shorthair then made it possible to establish this very particular mutation. Its name would refer either to the breeder's stepfather, or to the Selkirk Mountains near the breed's place of origin.

The Selkirk Rex is a medium-sized cat, solid and muscular, with a pronounced bone structure and rounded lines. Its head is broad and round, its large, open eyes express gentleness, and its ears are medium-sized. Its signature is its wavy or curly coat, present in the guard hair as well as in the undercoat. The breed exists in a short-haired variety and in a semi-long-haired variety, with curls that are more or less dense depending on texture and age.

The Selkirk Rex is an affectionate, patient, and sociable cat. It combines a calm temperament with a real taste for play and human closeness. Gentle with children, generally tolerant with other animals and not easily stressed by visitors, it seeks a stable and caring family atmosphere. It enjoys petting, the presence of its loved ones, and willingly takes part in household life.

On a daily basis, the Selkirk Rex readily alternates between playtime and long periods of rest. It can live very comfortably in an apartment if its environment is enriched, but it also appreciates secure access to the outdoors. It is not a very noisy cat, but it does not cope well with prolonged absences and requires a regular presence. Its placid nature makes it an easy companion to live with in a calm household.

The education of the Selkirk Rex relies mainly on early socialization, gentleness and consistency. It responds well to routines, positive interactions and games that stimulate its curiosity without rushing it. Learning care handling, the carrier and the scratching post is generally done without difficulty if you proceed gradually. As it is close to its human, it benefits well from short and repeated sessions.

The Selkirk Rex remains a relatively rare breed, which influences its purchase price. The cost depends mainly on the seriousness of the breeding, the quality of the bloodlines, the health tests carried out and the kitten's conformity to the desired standard.

The Selkirk Rex generally enjoys fairly good health, but its development involved breeds known for certain hereditary predispositions. A serious selection of breeding cats is therefore important. With an appropriate diet, a well-monitored weight and regular veterinary follow-up, many individuals lead a long and comfortable life.

The Selkirk Rex is satisfied with a good-quality diet, complete and suited to its age, its body condition and its activity level. Its calm profile mainly requires not overfeeding and keeping a stable feeding routine.

The Selkirk Rex is sometimes nicknamed the sheep-cat because of its very recognizable curls. Unlike other rex breeds, its coat gives a denser and fluffier impression. Its original appearance does not prevent it from keeping a balanced temperament, which explains the growing interest of pet cat lovers in its gentle character.