The Selkirk Rex is the newest of the Rex cat breeds, discovered in Montana in 1987 when a shelter kitten was born with an unusually curly coat. Unlike Devon and Cornish Rex, the Selkirk Rex has a full, plush, sheep-like coat rather than a thin wavy one, giving them a teddy bear appearance that is immediately endearing. Their personality is equally cuddly — patient, affectionate, and wonderfully uncomplicated.
Selkirk Rex are relatively new as breeds go (developed in the 1980s) but breeders have prioritised health alongside the coat characteristic. Our girl has been in excellent health for five years. The rex gene in Selkirks is dominant, unlike in Devon and Cornish Rex, meaning they can be outcrossed mor…
Read full review →If you want an active, highly interactive cat, the Selkirk Rex may underwhelm you. Mine is friendly and playful but not high-energy. She's content with calm companionship more than intense play. I love this about her but a friend who got one expecting the energy of their previous Abyssinian was disa…
Read full review →Three years with my Selkirk Rex and I'm still amazed that an animal can be this easy to live with. She's never destructive, always affectionate, completely healthy, and a source of daily aesthetic pleasure just to look at. The teddy-bear appearance and the genuinely gentle personality are equally re…
Read full review →The Selkirk Rex coat is unlike any other — thick, plush curls that feel extraordinary. Unlike the more delicate Devon and Cornish Rex coats, the Selkirk Rex has a full, robust coat. It needs regular brushing to prevent matting but the texture rewards the effort. Visitors consistently want to stroke …
Read full review →My Selkirk Rex is gentle in a way that feels almost deliberate. He moves carefully around young children, accepts handling graciously, and has never in four years shown aggression to anyone. The patience of this breed is remarkable. He seems to assume every interaction will be positive — and because…
Read full review →The Selkirk Rex coat, while beautiful, mats more readily than shorter-coated breeds. I brush mine three times a week and still occasionally find a tangle starting. Professional grooming every few months keeps everything in order. The coat is rewarding but it is genuinely not low-maintenance. Know th…
Read full review →We have two cats and a dog. Our Selkirk Rex treated all existing animals as potential friends from day one, with zero aggression or territorial behaviour. She approached the dog on day one and they now sleep in the same bed. The dog visibly enjoys her company. This easy sociability has made our mult…
Read full review →The Selkirk Rex likes to play but doesn't demand it in the way of higher-energy breeds. Mine will enthusiastically engage with a feather wand for 15 minutes twice a day and then be perfectly content to rest. This moderate activity level suits my lifestyle perfectly — engaged enough to be interesting…
Read full review →If you've seen a Selkirk Rex, you know immediately why people call them teddy bears. The thick, plush curly coat and round face genuinely make them look stuffed. My girl is all of this and more — as soft to touch as anything I've encountered, and with a patience and gentleness to match the cuddly ap…
Read full review →My Selkirk Rex is the most relaxed cat I have ever encountered. He's never startled by anything, never shows anxiety, and faces all life situations with a kind of benevolent curiosity. He was immediately comfortable with strangers, with our other cat, and with being groomed. His unflappable calm is …
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