Selkirk Rex — breed standard (CFA & TICA: size, coat, temperament, type)

Selkirk Rex — breed standard (CFA & TICA: size, coat, temperament, type)

Claims

• *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* The Selkirk Rex arose from a spontaneous dominant mutation that gives every hair (guard, down and awn) a gentle wave, producing a soft coat (CFA).
• *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* It is a medium to large cat with heavy bone that lends surprising weight and an impression of power; females are less massive than males but never dainty (CFA).
• *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* The breed is active and described as having a sweet, endearing personality, with balance and substance as its essence (CFA).
• *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* The head shows a round, broad, full-cheeked skull in both sexes; the muzzle is of medium width with rounded bone and well-padded whisker pads that read as square, and the chin lines up with the nose tip and upper lip (CFA).
• *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Eyes are large and round, set well apart and never almond shaped, while the ears are medium, broad at the base, tapering and placed to fit the rounded head contour (CFA).
• *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* The body is medium to large and well balanced, more rectangular than square; the back is straight with a slight rise toward the hindquarters, the legs are medium to long with substantial bone, and the feet are large, round and firm with five toes in front and four behind (CFA).
• *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* The coat comes in two lengths, short and long; on shorthairs the texture is soft, plush and clearly curly, while on longhairs it is softer and full but less plush, and in both the curls are loose, random and individual rather than an all-over wave, standing out from the body (CFA).
• *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Curl shows most around the neck, tail and belly and varies with hair length, sex and age; allowance is made for less curl in kittens and young adults (CFA).
• *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Every genetically possible coat colour, or blend of colours, is accepted, and any eye colour is permitted (CFA).
• *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Faults that draw a penalty are excessive cobbiness or a sleek oriental look; disqualifying faults include an extreme nose break, a missing visible muzzle, malocclusion, tail kinks, crossed eyes, obvious deformities such as polydactyl feet, and a complete absence of curl (CFA).
• *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* TICA traces the breed to a shelter cat and kitten in Sheridan, Montana in 1987; breeder Jeri Newman named it Selkirk after nearby mountains, and TICA granted full Championship status in 1994 (TICA).
• *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* The curl is most obvious around the neck, underside and rear in both coat lengths, and the whiskers and eyebrows are curly; kittens are born curly but may shed and regrow an adult coat by about eight to ten months, with the coat maturing near two years (TICA).
• *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Temperament is sweet and loving; TICA withholds all awards for a nose break and disqualifies any cat whose temperament is challenging, though fear, flight or loud complaint is permitted as long as the cat does not threaten harm (TICA).