Standards

General

The Selkirk Rex is the result of a dominant, spontaneous mutation that causes each hair (guard, down and awn) to have a gentle curl giving the coat a soft feel. The Selkirk Rex is muscular and stocky and the heavy boning gives surprising weight.  

Points 

Head:  

25 

Shape  

Top of head 

Rounded, massive and broad head with round underlying bone structure. Top of head is rounded. 

15 

Muzzle and chin 

The muzzle is medium width. The underlying bone structure is rounded with well-padded whisker pads to give the impression of squareness. The length of the muzzle is equal to 1/2 the width. The muzzle is clearly visible beyond the curve of the cheek, when viewed in profile. Chin is firm and well-developed. The tip of the chin lines up with the tip of the nose and the upper lip in the same vertical plane. 

5 

Profile  

Rounded forehead. Profile with a stop. The broad nose has a downward slant with a convex curve and is set below the eye line.  

5 

Eyes 

Large and round, set well apart. The outside corner is set very slightly higher than the inner corner, giving a sweet open expression to the face. Clear intense eye colour preferred. 

10 

Ears 

Medium sized ears, broad at the base, with rounded tip, set well apart. Should fit without distorting into the rounded contour of the head 

Furnishings, if present, are curly. 

5 

Body: 

20 

Size and boning 

The Selkirk Rex is a medium to large sized, muscular and stocky cat.  Substantial boning. 

5 

Torso 

The body is semi-cobby and rectangular in shape, but not long. Back is straight with a slight rise toward the hindquarters. Shoulders and hip should appear to be the same width. 

5 

Neck 

The neck is short and thick. 

5 

Legs and paws 

The legs are medium in length with substantial boning. 
The paws are large and round. 

5 

Tail 

The tail is medium in length, thick and tapering to a rounded tip, furnished with curls. 

5 

Coat: 

30 

Length 

Short on head, shoulders and legs, becoming gradually longer down the back and sides.  Loose curls prominent on the neck, back and tail.    

10 

Texture  

The coat texture is soft, full, and obviously curly. It does not feel or appear to be as plush as the shorthair coat, however, should not appear to be thin. The coat is arranged in loose, individual curls. The curls appear to be in “clumps” or “ringlets” rather than as an all over wave. 

Curliness may be evident more around the neck, on the tail and the belly. Allowance should be made for less curl on younger adults and kittens. The coat is dense and full with no bald or thinly covered areas of the body. The coat may stand off from the body but may appear and feel less than plush, but not close-lying. 

15 

Colour 

All colours and patterns, with any amount of white allowed. 

5 

Condition  

5 

Total  

100 

Special breed fault 

Excessive cobbiness or sleek, oriental appearance. 

Without certificates 

Extreme nose break.
Lack of visible muzzle.
Too fine coat.
Lack of curl. 

Disqualify 

No evidence of curl. 

Remarks 

Kittens may lack curly coat.  They are curly at birth and may lose their coat.  It begins to develop, as they mature so must be judged mainly on head and body type.
The curliness of the coat on the back is subject to climate, seasons and hormones, particularly in females.
Straight hair varieties are registered for breeding but not accepted for showing. 

Outcross  

Persian, British Shorthair, Exotic Shorthair, American Shorthair.