Selkirk Rex Cat Breed Guide
Frizzy | Plush | Cuddler. Nicknamed the “poodle cat” due to their dense curly coat, the Selkirk Rex is a playful and independent floof. Known for being goofy jokesters, these woolly cats make excellent family pets, always up for a game or two or entertaining their hoomans with their antics. Today we’ll be delving into what makes a Selkirk Rex so special, as well as how to care for one, and finish with how Scrumbles can help.
SELKIRK REX CAT BASICS
Average Lifespan: 10 - 15 years
Average Weight: 4 - 7kg
Coat Length: Short - Long
Colouring: All colours and combinations
Shedding: Low
WHAT IS THE ANCESTRY OF THE SELKIRK REX CAT?
The first Selkirk Rex cat was a wiry-haired floof named Miss DePesto who was born in the 1980s in Montana, USA. She was the only kitty of the litter that had her signature bed hair look and was adopted by a cat breeder named Jeri Newman. Miss DePesto went on to have a litter of her own with a lucky black Persian cat, three of whom had inherited her curly hair.
The gene for her curly hair was found to be dominant in comparison to the recessive trait that causes the Devon Rex and Cornish Rex’s similarly wavy coat. These adorable kittens became the foundation for the Selkirk breed which was named after Jeri Newman’s stepfather, making the Selkirk Rex the only cat breed that is named after a person.
WHAT DO SELKIRK REX CATS LOOK LIKE?
Selkirk Rex cats look like they’ve just stepped out of a tornado. They have a wiry wooly coat similar to that of a sheep which can be short or long and in any colour combination. Their curliness doesn’t stop at their coat as they also have kinked whiskers. They’re the biggest of the Rex cats with solid bones and hefty muscles and can weigh up to 7kg.
WHAT IS THE PURRSONALITY OF THE SELKIRK REX CAT?
Fortunately for us hoomans, Selkirk Rex cats are incredibly affectionate and enjoy cuddling up with their owners. They’re highly affectionate and enjoy being part of the family, getting along well with hooman and fur babies alike. They love the warmth and are often found snuggling under the duvet with their owners, noogying them in the morning when they’re ready for breakfast.
Selkirk Rex cats love to play and are known for being goofy, particularly as kittens, so be sure to stimulate them with plenty of toys and games. They are however prone to slowing down as they age, taking up residence on the couch rather than the treadmill. With this, ensure to coax them into 15-30 mins of daily cat exercise using interactive toys to prevent them from stacking on the pounds.
ARE SELKIRK REX CATS CUDDLY?
Selkirk Rex cats are exceptionally cuddly. Their coat is plush which makes spooning sessions a luxurious experience for their pawrents. They can thank their Persian lineage for their laidback and affectionate purrsonalities.
SELKIRK REX CAT FEEDING REQUIREMENTS
Selkirk Rex cats have been linked to some hereditary cat diseases including Polycystic Kidney Disease and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Ensure that your breeder can provide genetic testing for these as well as health assurances so that you know that your kitten will be as healthy as pawssible.
Other than these, Selkirk Rex cats tend to live healthy and long lives if fed the proper nutrition. This means a diet high in good quality animal protein as well as a balance of 41 essential nutrients. Look for food that is labelled as “complete” so that you know it will be hitting these key nutritional marks.
SCRUMBLES, THE PAWFECT FOOD FOR SEKIRK REX CATS
If you’re looking for your Selkirk Rex’s next favourite cat food that has high levels of animal meat as well as the purrfect blend of vitamins, minerals and nutrients, look no further than our range of gut-friendly cat food!
Here’s why you and your Selkirk Rex will love our cat food:
- High-Quality Animal Protein - Our recipes are filled with at least 60% human-grade animal meat to provide Selkirk Rex cats with all they need to maintain long and curly lives.
- Nutritionally Complete Recipes - Our wet cat food and dry cat food is complete and balanced with the 41 essential nutrients our fur babies need to thrive.
- Gut-friendly Goodness - Tummy upsets are common in our kitties, leading to stinky farts, smelly litter trains and unhappy tums. That’s why we use gut-loving goodies like prebiotics or probiotics and avoid artificial nasties and added salt and sugar which upset sensitive stomachs.
- Hypoallergenic Ingredients - We leave out common allergens in our recipes, purrfect for those Selkirk Rex cats that need a little extra TLC.
- Coat-Nourishing Nutrients - Our popular salmon dry cat food is bursting with delicious salmon oil and Omega 3’s which help to keep the curly hair of the Selkirk Rex looking plush and feeling silky smooth.
- Eco-Friendly: The modern pawrent wants more from their cat food. They want to know that it’s not costing the planet. We’ve heard and we’ve listened! That’s why we use eco-friendly packaging and are proud to be B-Corp certified. We pledge 1% of our sales to environmental causes and have a brand commitment to sourcing our meat ethically and reducing our carbon pawprint.
