As children, many of us perhaps wished that our stuffed animals could come to life. They were always so adorable, fluffy, and cuddly; they would make ideal pets, right? In a manner, your childhood wishes may come true! A new breed of cat has been officially recognized Poodle Cats.
What are poodle cats?
Don’t worry, poodle cats are not a hybrid between the famous canine breed and a cat, despite their appearance. The Selkirk Rex, also known as “a cat in sheep’s clothing,” is a fluffy kitten with uniquely curled hair. Researchers from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna named the breed.
The Origin of Selkirk Rex Poodle Cats
The Selkirk Rex is a form of Cinderella story. In 1987, a stray cat in Montana produced a litter of kittens. There was one cat who stood out from the rest: she had curly whiskers and, as she matured, curly fur. Jeri Newman, a breeder who specializes in Persian cats, noticed her unique appearance when visiting the shelter where she was living at the time. He adopted her and named her “Miss DePesto” after the secretary from the TV show “Moonlighting” who was also famed for her curly hair. (1, 2, 3, 4)
A dominant gene
Now, there are other breeds with the curly-haired gene, such as the Devon Rex and the Cornish Rex, however, the gene in those cats is not dominant, so the likelihood of having curly-haired kittens from them is quite low.
When Newman adopted Miss DePesto, he wasn’t sure if her curly gene was dominant or not. He mated her with his black Persian PhotoFinish and waited to see what happened. When the litter was born, three of the six kittens had curly hair. This demonstrated that the gene was, indeed, dominant, making the Selkirk Rex the first naturally dominant curly-haired breed. (2)
How to know you have a Selkirk Rex in a litter
This may seem obvious, however, when a litter is firstborn, you can’t really tell if a kitten’s fur is curly or straight. Instead, you must look at their whiskers. The Selkirk Rex, or poodle cats, will have curly whiskers right from the start.
How to care for poodle cats.
According to the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA), Selkirks are a generally strong and healthy breed. They are also docile, caring, and tolerant, making them ideal pets. Their care must be somewhat different than other cats:
Whether you have a short or long-haired Selkirk, in order to maintain their curls you must actually brush them less often than straight-haired cats.
When bathing poodle cats, you must be sure not to use shampoos that coat the fur. Ask your breeder or at your local pet store for recommendations.
Be okay with your cat having a somewhat “messy” or “disheveled” look – they are supposed to look that way! Let their natural curls shine through.
The perfect pets
As previously said, Selkirks are renowned to be particularly affectionate cats. They are playful, attention-seeking, and often enjoy being cuddled. If you can’t get enough of their soft, curly fur and playful, cuddling personality, expect to pay a premium! A Selkirk kitten can cost anything from $500 to $800.
If the price doesn’t deter you from getting one of these lovely cats, your allergies might. Unlike actual poodles, these cats are not hypoallergenic and are not recommended for anyone with pet allergies.
