History
The Selkirk is the newest Rex breed to be recognized by the U.S. cat associations and has been around only a short time compared with the Devon Rex and the Cornish Rex. The Selkirk’s development and promotion were due primarily to the efforts of breeder Jeri Newman of Livingston, Montana, although other dedicated breeders have lent a hand in furthering the breed.
Newman, a Persian breeder for many years, had always been fascinated by cat genetics and asked friends and family to be on the lookout for any cat that was out of the ordinary. In 1987 a woman who had bought one of Newman’s Persians noticed an unusual, curly kitten at the animal shelter where she worked and took the kitten to Newman.
Newman named the kitten Miss DePesto for her tendency to pester Newman for attention. Entranced by Miss DePesto’s personality and curly coat, Newman bred her to a Persian male. This mating subsequently produced a litter of six, three of whom had the distinctive curls.
Newman went on to combine the qualities of the British Shorthair, American Shorthair, and Exotic Shorthair into the Selkirk bloodline and to show and promote the breed in the associations. At first progress was slow, but with the help of Newman’s small clan of breeders the Selkirk gained recognition.
The breed was presented to TICA’s board of directors in 1990 and was accepted into the New Breed and Color class. The CFA accepted the breed for registration in the miscellaneous class in February of 1992. The breed now has Championship status with ACA, TICA, and UFO.