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At
a glance...
Body Size... Med
to Large
Coat Length... Short to Long
Life span... 15 yrs |
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Selkirk Rex |
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A~ Z index |
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Description... |
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 This is a bulky-bodied cat
with a unique curling coat. The head is round and both genders have
jowls. The female is generally smaller than the male. The coat is
thick and curly over the entire body. Curly whiskers may be present;
these may break off in adults, leaving them with no discernible
whiskers. The ear furnishings resemble steel wool. Both shorthaired
and longhaired varieties exist, and many colours and coat patterns
are accepted.
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History...
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A cat born with this coat, due
to a spontaneous mutation, was discovered in an animal shelter in
Wyoming in 1987. That cat was bred back to her son, and the coat
mutation proven to be dominant. Outcrosses allowed since that time
include the Persian, Exotic, British Shorthair and American
Shorthair.
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Traits...
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Selkirk Rex are tolerant and
people-oriented cats.
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Health...
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No breed specific health
problems have been reported.
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Summary...
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Selkirk Rex kittens
exhibit their curly coat from birth, but the coat develops until
about 6-8 months of age. The Selkirk Rex is the
result of a dominant, spontaneous mutation that causes each hair
(guard, down and awn) to have a gentle wave or curl giving the coat
a soft feel. This is a medium to large cat with heavy boning that
gives the cat surprising weight and an impression of power. Females
may be less massive than males but not dainty in appearance. The
Selkirk Rex is an active cat with a sweet and endearing personality.
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