Bred from a naturally occurring dominant curly haired mutation, in the United States, the Selkirk Rex is still not recognized by all organizations. The Selkirk Rex has been described as a tolerant, patient, loving, easy-going cat that would make a wonderful addition to any family seeking a pet that will easily adapt to living with people and other animals. They are affectionate, cuddly, and playful though to describe them as 'lapcats' might be misleading. There are two varieties of Selkirks. The first is a 'shorthaired version' with length similar to the Exotic. The second is the longhaired version. At birth, kittens will appear very curly (both in hair and whiskers). At approximately six months of age they will reach the 'straight stage' which as been described by some as awkward. At adulthood, the plush coat will maintain loose curls; even in shorthaired varieties curls can be seen on the belly and neck. The coat has often been compared to that of lamb's wool. This cat possesses a muscular body, framed by heavy bones. It has a wide head and short muzzle, with wide set eyes and ears. The eyes are large and round. The ears are also rounded with pointed tips and ear tufts. The Selkirk can come in a large number of colors. See breed standards for more details on coloring. The average Selkirk Rex is about 9 - 11 pounds. In 1987, a curly haired calico kitten was found in an animal shelter. This kitten (named 'Miss DePesto of Noface') was then subsequently bred to a black Persian producing a litter with half of the kittens having curly coated hair, showing that the rex gene was dominant. There is debate over whether the breed was named after Wyoming's Sleeker Mountains or whether it was named after the breeder's (Jeri Newman) stepfather. | 
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