Selkirk Rex
People love the Selkirk Rex for its quiet, gentle temperament and its plush, curly coat that feels like a teddy bear. This medium-to-large, stocky cat is a devoted lap companion that is playful without being hyperactive and patient with children and other pets.
Medium to large; heavy-boned and muscular with a cobby, solid build. Males 12–15 pounds, females somewhat smaller; overall range 6–15 pounds.
10–15 years
Wants regular lap time and will politely ask for attention if not soon met. Enjoys floor-level play sessions and being near its owner. Expects to share a bed. Not demanding of constant high-energy interaction but does want to be close.
Quiet; not particularly vocal. Will 'talk' back if you start a conversation, but does not initiate much. Rated 1 out of 5 for chattiness.
Most comfortable keeping all four feet on the floor; best suited for floor-level toy play rather than climbing or leaping. Does well with children and other animals. Expects to share a lap or bed with its owner.
Naturally curly, plush coat in shorthair or longhair varieties; curls are well-defined and individual, ranging from short and slightly crisp to long dreadlock-like. Whiskers are curly and fragile. Most are born with curls, though some are born straight-haired and develop curls as adults. Does not mat easily; a wide-toothed comb once a week or gentle finger combing once or twice a month is sufficient.
Mellow and laidback; more interactive than active. Prefers floor-level stalking of toys over leaping or high-energy play. Playful but not hyperactive. A devoted lap cat.
Temperament
The Selkirk Rex is a quiet, mellow cat that prefers a warm lap to running laps. They are more interactive than active, and their focus is on their person. A Selkirk will politely ask for attention, then settle into a lap or onto a bent back if their needs are not met. They combine intelligence with a playful, silly streak, often chasing toys on the floor rather than leaping at wand toys. While not particularly vocal, they are responsive to their owners and will talk back if you start a conversation. They do well with children and other animals, though children should learn to handle the cat gently. For a working household, a Selkirk is a low-drama companion: patient, not hyperactive, and content to keep all four feet on the floor while you are away. They are a lap cat first, and they will expect to share your bed.
“Super mellow and laidback, the Selkirk Rex prefers laps to running laps.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Daily needs and attention
The attention-seeking instinct runs deep. The foundation cat, Miss DePesto, earned her name because she was a pest for attention, and her descendants carry that same persistence. In practice, this means a Selkirk will position themselves near you throughout the day—on a lap, on a back, in your line of sight—and wait to be acknowledged. They are not loud about it, but they are steady.
Daily play looks different from a typical cat's. Think short bursts of charging through the house after a toy, or the breed's signature silliness of trying to walk up a wall while chasing a laser pointer. These sessions are brief and floor-level. A few short play periods daily is enough.
For a household where someone is out most of the day, a Selkirk will manage. Their patience is a defining trait. But they expect a reunion: a few minutes of talking, a lap to settle into, and the quiet companionship of being near you.
“Miss DePesto earned her name because she was a pest for attention.”
CFA
Health and lifespan
The Selkirk Rex is known for robust good health and carries no breed-specific health concerns. Typical lifespan is 10 to 15 years.
Because British Shorthairs and Exotics were used in the breed's development and remain allowable outcrosses, responsible breeders screen for conditions associated with those parent lines: polycystic kidney disease, hip dysplasia, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Blood type incompatibility is another consideration, and most breeders perform genetic blood-type testing before pairing cats.
For a working household, the practical takeaway is straightforward. A Selkirk sourced from a screening program should arrive free of inherited conditions requiring ongoing management. The breed's solid, muscular build and heavy boning support a sturdy constitution that carries them well through a full decade or more.
“Selkirks are known for their robust good health and not for any breed-specific health concerns.”
Cat Fanciers' Association
Habits and behavior
The Selkirk Rex is a cat that invites touch. The CFA describes the coat as one that "demands to be felt and played with," and the breed is called "an irresistible, touchable companion." In daily life, this means a cat that will settle close and simply be there, soft and warm, while you work. The curls, which the CFA notes "seem to go every which way," give the cat a perpetually tousled look that is part of its charm.
One quirk to expect: Selkirk whiskers are curly and fragile, and they tend to break off over time. The CFA observes that Selkirks "seem able to navigate just fine without them," so a cat with shorter or fewer whiskers is not a sign of distress.
The VCA notes that both shorthair and longhair Selkirks "feel soft to the touch like a teddy bear," a texture that suits a household valuing a calm, present companion.
“Whiskers are curly, fragile, and tend to break off, but Selkirks seem able to navigate just fine without them.”
Cat Fanciers' Association
Housing: indoor life, space and enrichment
A Selkirk Rex is a floor-level cat. The CFA notes they are most comfortable keeping all four feet on the floor, and while they can charge through the house after a toy, their enrichment is met horizontally rather than vertically. A tall cat tree is not essential; a clear path along the floor, a soft surface to settle on, and proximity to their person cover most of what they need.
In a working household, the setup is straightforward. Keep a few floor-level toys within reach and allow the cat to be near you. The VCA points out that this breed favors ground-oriented stalking over vertical swatting, so enrichment means brief play at floor level, not a multi-level climbing structure.
They will want access to wherever you rest. The VCA advises saving room on your bed, as this breed plans to share sleep. A quiet, warm area near a doorway is sufficient for a Selkirk whose enrichment is proximity and a soft surface at floor level, not large territory or elaborate structures.
“They are most comfortable keeping all four feet on the floor but are quite capable of charging through the house chasing a toy.”
The Cat Fanciers' Association
Challenges
A Selkirk Rex is not a high-maintenance cat, but a few considerations deserve honest attention before adoption.
If anyone in the household has a cat allergy, this breed is not a fit. The VCA states that Selkirks "are not recommended for individuals who are allergic to cat allergens," and the dense, plush coat does not mitigate that sensitivity.
Households with young children should plan for supervision. The CFA notes that while Selkirks "do well with children and other animals," children must understand the cat needs to be handled gently. A toddler who grabs or pulls will overwhelm even a patient cat.
Availability is another practical factor. The CFA describes the breed as "still considered relatively rare," meaning finding a healthy, well-bred kitten may require patience or travel. A straight-coated Selkirk offers the same personality at a lower cost, but the curly coat is the trait most people seek.
None of these are deal-breakers. They are the details that separate a good match from a strained one.
“They do well with children and other animals, however, children need to understand that the cat must be handled gently.”
The Cat Fanciers' Association
The fun part
The fun part of a Selkirk Rex is the low-stakes comedy. The CFA notes this breed pairs intelligence with a silly streak, and the most reliable laugh is watching one try to walk up a wall chasing a laser dot. They are more interactive than active, so the fun is in the engagement: a cat that politely asks for your time, then plants itself in your lap or on your lower back if you hesitate.
The coat is where the hands-on fun lives. No special tools are needed; running your fingers through the curls in a gentle scratching motion keeps the coat looking its best and makes the cat happy. The VCA calls them a "wash-and-wear" cat, and a wide-toothed comb once a week is plenty.
They are not particularly vocal, but they will respond. Start a sentence and a Selkirk will "talk" back, keeping things quiet and brief. Giant fuzzy paws, a cobby build, the disheveled ringlets behind the "cat in sheep's clothing" nickname: the whole package reads as a plush, low-effort companion with a sense of humor.
Living with kids, dogs and other cats
A Selkirk Rex suits a busy household because its temperament is low-demand. The VCA describes the breed as "super mellow and laidback" and highlights "its patience with people and other pets" as one of the breed's best traits. In a home with children, that patience means the cat tolerates general noise and movement rather than seeking out rough play. The VCA rates the breed 3 out of 5 for compatibility with dogs, so coexistence is workable but not automatic; a calm, non-chasing dog is the better match. With other cats, the Selkirk's quiet, floor-level nature makes it unlikely to initiate conflict, though it will want its own warm spot nearby.
The CFA notes the breed is "more interactive than active," so a household where children are at school most of the day and a dog provides gentle companionship fits the cat's rhythm. The cat does not need constant engagement; it needs proximity, a soft surface, and the occasional hand in its curls.
“One of the best traits of this breed is its patience with people and other pets.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
What to ask the rescue
Before you commit, ask for the cat's health screening records. Because British Shorthairs and Exotics were used in developing the breed, responsible breeders screen for polycystic kidney disease, hip dysplasia, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Confirm those tests were done and what the results show. Blood type was also part of routine testing, so ask whether the cat's type is on file.
Ask about the coat specifically. Most Selkirks are born with curls, but a few arrive with straight hair, and in some the curls become more prominent as the cat matures. If you are adopting a younger cat, the coat you see today may not be the coat it will have at two.
Ask how the cat behaves when handled and how it settles with a stranger in the room. A short observation of the cat's body language and willingness to approach tells you more than a written description.
Finally, confirm the cat's current weight. Adult males typically land between 12 and 15 pounds, with females somewhat smaller.
“Most are born with curls, but a few are born with straight hair.”
VCA Animal Hospitals