The Selkirk Rex cat breed is known for its unique and distinctive appearance, with large, expressive eyes and long curly, soft fur. They are a small-to-medium sized cat with a playful and affectionate personality that has made them a popular choice for cat lovers around the world.

One of the most striking physical features of the Selkirk Rex is their curly, soft fur. Their coat is long and wavy, with loose, soft curls that give it a unique and distinct texture. They come in a variety of colors and patterns, including black, white, blue, cream, and tortoiseshell.

Selkirk Rex cats are known for their large, expressive eyes that are typically a bright and vivid shade of green or gold. They have a slender, athletic build with long, lean legs and a lithe, agile frame. Despite their small size, they are a very active breed and love to play and explore their surroundings.

Selkirk Rex cats are also known for their affectionate and outgoing personalities. They are highly social cats that love to be around people, and they have a playful and mischievous streak that makes them a joy to be around. They are intelligent and curious cats that love to explore their surroundings, and they are always eager to play and interact with their owners.

One of the benefits of owning a Selkirk Rex is that they have minimal grooming requirements. Their curly fur does not shed much, which means they are a good choice for people with allergies or those who do not want to deal with excessive shedding. Regular brushing is recommended to keep their coat looking healthy and shiny, but they do not require the same level of grooming as other longhaired breeds.

Making its first appearance in Montana in 1987, the Selkirk cat breed (named after the original breeder's stepfather) is a relatively new breed, but it didn't take long for cat associations and pet lovers to take notice.

The Selkirk Rex curls are the result of a natural mutation found in a litter of kittens produced by a blue tortoise cat and a white cat. This curly-haired kitten, whose siblings all had straight hair, also had the curly whiskers for which the Selkirk is known for today. The woman who adopted this unique kitten (and named her Miss DePesto because of her pesky personality) discovered that while the mother cat had slightly wavy hair, "Miss DePesto's littermates all had normal coats and that there were no other curly cats in the area, leading her to believe that Miss DePesto might be the source of a new mutant rex gene," notes The International Cat Association. What makes this rex different from other curly-haired breeds is that the gene is dominant in the Selkirk rather than recessive, as with the Devon and Cornish breeds.