How to Identify a Selkirk Rex

Every breed of cat has a history and characteristic that distinguishes them from other breeds. One of the newer breeds of cats to arrive on the scene is the Selkirk Rex. It arose from the cross of a black Persian and a cat rescued from a shelter. The breed has a naturally curly coat and whiskers. Unlike the Devon Rex and Cornish Rex breeds, this cat's curly coat is a dominant mutation. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Examine the cat's coat and note characteristics. The Selkirk Rex comes in both long and short hair varieties. Both types have pronounced curly hair. The appearance is soft and plush. The most notable place to find the curly hair is on the flanks, tummy and neck of the cat.

2. Determine the relative size of the cat. The Selkirk Rex is a larger cats and has large bone structure with balanced musculature. They tend to be moderately heavy for the size.

3. Inspect the whiskers. Selkirk Rex tends to have curled eyebrow hairs and whiskers. The whiskers and eyebrow hairs may break off easily but will grow back.

4. Look at the head of the cat. Selkirk Rex has no flat planes. They have full rounded faces. The forehead will be broad and gives the appearance of being strong.

Tips & Warnings

• Careful examination should give you the ability to narrow down if a certain cat is a Selkirk Rex. For definitive identification, it is always best to ask about parents and lineage of the cat.

Resources

• Cat Fanciers' Association
• The International Cat Association