This is a strange-looking cat breed found in the Big Sky Country of Montana.  The cat is known as “a cat in sheep’s clothing.”  I personally think these cats are “dolls.”  They are more described as Teddy Bears.

They can have a following with their lambs’ wool coat and clownish personality.

Physical Description

• Covered with a downy, curly coat, with every little hair arranged in little ringlets that lie close to its body
• The hair on its tiny little tail is curly
• If the whiskers are curly, a breeder knows the kitten will grow up to be a top show cat
• Straight whiskers indicate a straight-haired kitten that will never see the show hall
• The amount of curl in the coat at birth seems to be an indicator of how curly the mature cat will be
• As the kitten grows the coat can fluctuate in curliness
• When the cat is about one year old, the coat settles down.  The hope is that the adult cat will develop the treasured curls.
• Even during the teenage gangly state, the coat should exhibit some curl around the neck and on the tummy
• Mature males, neutered or not, and spayed females will have the best coats
• In the best of examples, the curling is strongest on the flanks, on the tummy, and around the neck, with some curl on the back
• The harder hair on the back seems to be the most difficult to keep in curl, regardless of the softness of the rest of the coat.  This is especially true on the short-haired version
• The long-haired version has long enough hair that curling becomes more obvious
• The hair of a mature whole female cat at times appears either curly or nearly straight, depending on the state of her hormones.  Her whiskers will continue to be

curly regardless of her hormonal state
• A female in heat, pregnancy and lactation will have a coat that looks nearly straight
• The Selkirk Rex coat feels and looks the same as a teddy bear brand new
• The coat should be thick, full, and plush with no thin patches, whether it is short or long
• Selkirks grow up with short curly whiskers
• A newborn’s fine little whiskers can be difficult to see at night.  The morning light allows for proper classification as either a straight hair or a curly.  A magnifying glass is also helpful in identification.
• The kittens should be kept out of the light as much as possible.
• The whiskers can be described as short, curly and sparse, and do not change as the cat gets older.  If they are curly at birth, they will be curly in adulthood.
• Younger cats can look like Persian lambs with little spit curls all over
• Medium to large cat with males weighing between 12 and 15 pounds and females weighing between 10 and 12 pounds
• The head should be round
• The eyes should be round and set well apart, at least one eye’s diameter apart.
• The cat should have a sweet open expression to match its personality.
• This breed has a definite muzzle and a nose for getting into everything.

Source:  The Cat Fanciers’ Association Complete Cat Book, By CFA and Its Associates

Written by:  Connie Limon.  Visit “Adopting Kittens” at http://smalldogs2.com/AdoptingKittens to find a complete online reference for choosing and caring for the perfect kitten, which matches you and your lifestyle.  For a variety of FREE reprint articles visit http://www.camelotarticles.com

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Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved Connie Limon