Selkirk Rex
Gr Ch & Gr Pr & TICA Ch Crinkles Forget Me Not (SRL f) – Photo by Woozles. Breeder Kelly Dove.
Thank you to owner Carol Walker for allowing me to use the pictures above and below 
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 Ch & Gr Pr & TICA Ch Alter, Curlu Nate (SRL n) – breeder Pamela Anderson. Thank you to owner Carol Walker for allowing me to use the picture.
The Selkirk Rex is distinct from all other Rex breeds. Unlike the Devon Rex and Cornish Rex, the hair is of normal length and not partly missing. There are longhair and shorthair varieties. It differs from the LaPerm in that the Selkirk Rex coat is plusher and thicker. While the LaPerm gene is a simple dominant, the Selkirk gene (Se) acts as an incomplete dominant; incompletely dominant, allele pairs produce three possible genotypes and phenotypes: heterozygous cats (Sese) may have a fuller coat that is preferred in the show ring, while homozygous cats (SeSe) may have a tighter curl and less coat volume.
The Selkirk Rex originated in Montana, USA in 1987, with a litter born to a rescued cat. The only unusually coated kitten in the litter was ultimately placed with breeder, Jeri Newman, who named her Miss DePesto (after a curly-haired character in the TV series Moonlighting played by Allyce Beasley). This foundation cat was bred to a black Persian male, producing three Selkirk Rex and three straight-haired kittens. This demonstrated that the gene had an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. All Selkirk Rex trace their ancestry back to the cat Miss DePesto.  TICA Sup Gr Ch Alter Crinkles Reed (SRL d) aka GCCF IGMC Sr Joshua Purrkins, breeder Kelly Dove. Photos by Alan Robinson
The breed has been developed in two coat lengths, long and short. It is a large and solidly built breed, similar to a British Shorthair. The coat is very soft and has a woolly look and feel with loose, unstructured curls. The head is round, with large rounded eyes, medium sized ears, and a distinct muzzle, whose length is equal to half its width. An extreme break, like that of a Persian, is a disqualifiable fault.
 TICA Sup Gr Ch Alter Crinkles Reed (SRL d) aka GCCF IGMC Sr Joshua Purrkins, breeder Kelly Dove. Shown as an HP in GCCF due to being undershot sadly. Photos by Alan Robinson
To ensure a healthy gene pool out-crosses are essential. Breeds approved for use in out-crossing by the GCCF are: British Shorthair (including longhaired Variants), Persian and Exotic (including Variants). All other breeds are listed as non-approved. In addition, for cats bred outside the UK, American Shorthair was an approved outcross until 1.12.97 when it was discontinued. All other breeds are listed as non¬approved. The breed is accepted in all colors, including the pointed, sepia, and mink varieties of albinism; bicolors; silver/smoke; and the chocolate and lilac series. This breed has an extremely dense coat and high propensity for shedding. Unlike other Rex breeds with reduced amounts of hair, the Selkirk Rex is not recommended for those who might be allergic to cat allergens.
 Ch & Gr Pr & TICA Ch Alter, Curlu Nate (SRL n) – breeder Pamela Anderson. photo by Woozles
Thank you to owner Carol Walker for allowing me to use the pictures
The temperament of the Selkirk Rex reflects that of the breeds used in its development. They have a lot of the laid-back, reserved qualities of the British Shorthair, the cuddly nature of the Persian, and the playfulness of the Exotic Shorthair.
There are no known health problems specific to the Selkirk Rex breed. They are a robust breed. Breeding towards proper head structure is necessary to prevent kinking of the tear ducts, resulting in tear run down the front of the face, or muzzle creases that can result in dermatitis on the face. Like other Rex breeds, irritation of the inside of the ear by curly fur can occur, increasing the production of ear wax. Homozygous cats (with two copies of the dominant Selkirk Rex gene) may have a tendency towards excessive greasiness of the coat, requiring increased frequency of bathing. Other health problems may be inherited from the outcross breeds used, including Polycystic Kidney Disease from Persians and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy from British Shorthairs. Responsible breeders screen their breeding cats for these diseases to minimize their impact on the breed. In the UK all Selkirk Rex registered with the GCCF for breeding are genetically tested for Polycystic Kidney Disease or are from 2 genetically tested parents. References
http://en.wikipedia.org/ http://www.gccfcats.org/ IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR SELKIRK REX TO BE FEATURED HERE FILL OUT THE CONTACT FORM WITH YOUR DETAILS.
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