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Selkirk Rex

Standard of Points

Breeding Policy

Registration Policy

Significant Differences between the Selkirk Rex & Other Rex Breeds

Standard Of Points for Selkirk Rex (79L  79S)

General Type Standard

The Selkirk Rex is the result of a dominant gene that causes each hair (guard, down and awn) to have a gentle wave or curl giving the coat a soft feel. This is a medium to large cat with heavy boning that gives the cat surprising weight and an impression of power. Females may be less massive than males but not dainty in appearance. The coat occurs in both long and short haired versions. The curliness of the coat is variable due to age, gender, climate, time of year and hormones particularly in the female

.Kittens are curly at birth, may lose their curl, and develop a curly coat again at about 8-10 months of age. The coat continues to develop until about 2 years of age, so kittens and young adults should be judged mainly on head and body type. The Selkirk Rex has an alert and active personality with a sweet and endearing disposition, and should be in perfect physical condition.
 

Courtlycats Count Basie. Cream Longhair.  UK's First import Stud Selkirk 

Owned by, and photo by kind permission of, Janet & John Brett (Witchwillow)

Head         
Round, broad and full-cheeked with round underlying bone structure. The head should be set on a short thick neck. Forehead rounded, with a slightly curved top of head. The muzzle is of medium width with well-padded whisker pads giving a rectangular impression, and is clearly visible beyond the cheeks when viewed in profile. The whiskers are curly or broken.

Nose     
The nose should be short, broad and straight with a downward slant. In profile the nose can appear to have a convex curve. The nose break is neither too pronounced or too shallow.

Chin            
Firm and well developed. The bite must be level, the tip of the chin should line up with the tip of the nose in the same vertical plane.

Ears        
Medium sized, broad at the base and may be tufted at the tips, set well apart on the broad head. Should fit into (without distorting) the rounded contour of the head. Internal furnishings, if present, are curly. 

Eyes              
Large, round and well-opened. Set wide apart with no tendency to Oriental shape nor squint. All eye colours allowed.

Body             
Cobby type with a level back and may have a slight rise to the heavy hindquarters. The muscular torso is more rectangular than square, but not long. The body is equally broad across the shoulders and the rump, medium to large but not rangy.

Legs and paws           
Legs are of medium length and substantially boned. Paws are round and firm. 

Tail               
Thick, medium length, thicker at the base with a rounded tip. 

Coat              
The coat is thick and dense, with no bare or sparsely covered areas on the body. The coat stands out from the body and should not appear flat or close-lying. It is a random, unstructured coat arranged in loose individual curls giving an overall soft and plush feel. Ideally the entire coat should show the effect of the rex gene, but curliness may be most evident on the neck, belly and tail. Allowance may be made for less curl on kittens and younger adults especially females.

Longhair: The coat is semi-long, the tail curls are plumy and stand out away from the tail. The ruff hairs are longer and frame the face.

USA GR CH LaPurrfect El Zorro the Great. Black Longhair (Imp).
 Owned by, and photo by kind permission of, Janet & John Brett (Witchwillow)

Shorthair: The coat is a fairly uniform length over entire body. The ruff and tail fur being a similar length to the rest of the coat, with tail curls that are plush and lie compactly round the tail. 

Blue Shorthair Selkirk Rex Male, Trueblu Daringpositively.
 Bred by, and photo by kind permission of,  Lisa Peterson, owned by Zoe Amarilli

Colour          
Colour and pattern are irrelevant and carry no points therefore a cat should not be penalised if
apparently wrongly registered.

Scale  of  Points

HEAD                                    35

            Skull                 15

            Muzzle                5

            Ears                    5

            Eyes                    5

            Nose                   5

BODY                                       30

            Torso                 10

            Legs/feet           10

            Tail                     10

 COAT                                       35

            Density              15

            Curl                    10

            Texture              10

TOTAL                                       100

 

Withhold all awards for:

1. No evidence of curl

Withhold certificates, or first prizes in kitten open classes, for:

1. Flat face, snub nose or sleek, Oriental appearance

2. Lack of substantial boning

3. Lack of curls on either the neck, belly or tail. (nb Allowance may be made for less curl on kittens and young adults, especially females)

4. Uneven bite

5. Any other defects as listed in the Preface to this SOP booklet

Faults:

1. Lack of rectangular muzzle

2. Excessively weak chin

3. Tendency to Oriental eye shape.
 

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Breeding Policy for Selkirk Rex (79L  79S)

Introduction

This document is seen as a way of ensuring breeders observe what is considered ‘best practice’ in their involvement with the Selkirk Rex and particularly in their Selkirk Rex breeding programmes.

Selkirk Rex, unlike most other breeds, owe their origin in 1987 to one cat – Miss DePesto. Inbreeding was carried out to establish if this was a new, or already established gene. It was found that Miss DePesto was a new mutation of a complete dominant nature unlike the Devon and Cornish Rex which are both produced by a recessive gene. The Selkirk Rex may be homozygous (have two Rex genes) or heterozygous (have one Rex gene) and may be long or shorthaired. To produce Rex coated kittens at least one parent must be a Selkirk Rex. Straight coated Selkirk Rex Variants do not carry the Rex gene but are useful for breeding because the best exhibition Selkirk Rex are heterozygous. The ideal mating is Selkirk Rex x Selkirk Rex Variant. In order to encourage ‘best practice’, Selkirk Rex from two Selkirk Rex parents are placed on the Supplementary, rather then the Full Register.

Two blood types have been confirmed in Selkirk Rex - type A and type B. Type A is dominant over type B. This means a cat with type B blood is homozygous for B. Type A cats can be either homozygous for A or heterozygous (carrying the B gene). Cats with type B blood have strong antibodies against type A red blood cells. These anti-A antibodies can cause two serious problems: Neonatal Isoerythrolysis (fading kitten syndrome) and transfusion reactions.
 

Aims

It is vital regular selective outcrossing be introduced and maintained to increase the gene pool and maintain stamina and health.  This is ‘best for the breed’ in its ongoing development. 

Guidelines

Breeders and owners of Selkirk Rex and Selkirk Rex Variants are recommended to blood type test all their cats but more especially all breeding stock. Blood type A kittens resulting from a mating between a type A stud and a type B queen may die within the first few days of life if allowed to suckle their mother’s colostrum. It is also important to know that cats with the relatively rare type B blood can die if given a transfusion of the more common type A blood.

PKD has been confirmed in Selkirk Rex. Breeders are advised to buy only from PKD tested stock and to breed only with cats, including ALL outcrosses, which have been screened PKD clear under a recognised scheme (the FAB/PKD scheme in the UK. It is advisable when importing a cat, to insist on a DNA test.

All cats used for outcrossing should be thoroughly researched, of sound temperament and free from any hereditary defects.
Breeders should ensure, to the best of their knowledge, that any Selkirk Rex from which they breed are of sound temperament, free from any hereditary defects, (including those listed in the GCCF Standard of Points), and conform as closely as possible to the Standard of Points (excluding the coat description where variants are concerned).

Selkirk Rex are not compatible with either Cornish Rex, Devon Rex or LaPerms. Such matings are therefore highly undesirable. The product of such matings will be registered on the Reference Register as “no recognised breed” and cannot be considered to be variants. They cannot be used in any Rex breeding programme and should be placed on the non-active register. It is considered to be in the best interest of the Selkirk Rex breed to keep it entirely separate from other incompatible Rex mutations.

Under no circumstances should any cat with Sphynx ancestry be introduced into the Selkirk Rex breed. Selection for hairlessness contradicts the coat quality requirements for Rex cats. The product of any matings between Sphynx and Selkirk Rex will be registered on the Reference Register as “no recognised breed”. They cannot be considered to be variants nor be used in any Selkirk Rex breeding programme and should be placed on the non-active register.

Breeders shall ensure that any Selkirk Rex or Selkirk Rex Variants from which they breed, shall be registered with the GCCF in accordance with the Rules in force at the time. It is recommended that the progeny from any matings that are not required for Selkirk Rex breeding, should be placed on the Non-Active Register to avoid the introduction of the Selkirk Rex gene into other varieties of pedigree cats.

Breeds approved for use in outcrossing are: British Shorthair (including longhaired Variants), Persian and Exotic (including Variants). All other breeds are listed as non-approved. In addition, for cats bred outside the UK, American Shorthair was an approved outcross until 31.12.97 when it was discontinued.

All other breeds are listed as non-approved.

Breeders will be encouraged to take advantage of any relevant official scheme, which may be devised by the Selkirk Rex BAC to test the soundness of the Selkirk Rex breed.

Note: It is recommended where the colour of a cat is in question a DNA test, (where such a test exists), be arranged.

Registration Policy for Selkirk Rex (79L  79S)

Breeds approved for use in outcrossing are: British Shorthair (including longhaired Variants), Persian, Exotic (including Variants). Straight coated Selkirk Rex Variants are also allowed for breeding. In addition, American Shorthairs are permitted in the pedigrees of imported cats and their progeny. All other breeds are listed non-approved.

Full Register

Selkirk Rex with Full or Provisional recognition which have in their pedigrees within the preceding three generations only Selkirk Rex, Selkirk Rex Variants, British Shorthairs (including Variants), Persians or Exotics (including Variants), with the exception that the progeny of Selkirk Rex x Selkirk Rex matings shall be placed on the Supplementary Register.  American Shorthairs were an approved outcross until 31.12.97 and are permitted in the pedigrees of imported cats and their progeny.
 

Supplementary Register

Selkirk Rex with Full or Provisional recognition which have in their pedigrees within the preceding five generations only Selkirk Rex, Selkirk Rex Variants, British Shorthairs (including Variants), Persians or Exotics (including Variants). American Shorthairs were an approved outcross until 31.12.97 and are permitted in the pedigrees of imported cats and their progeny. NB. The Selkirk Rex progeny of Selkirk Rex x Selkirk Rex matings shall be placed on the Supplementary Register.

Experimental Register

Selkirk Rex with Preliminary recognition which have in their pedigrees within the preceding five generations only Selkirk Rex, Selkirk Rex Variants, British Shorthairs (including Variants), Persians or Exotics (including Variants). American Shorthairs were an approved outcross until 31.12.97 and are permitted in the pedigrees of imported cats and their progeny.

Reference Register I

1. Selkirk Rex Variants (straight coated) with one or both parents Selkirk Rex, and which have in their pedigrees within the preceding five generations only Selkirk Rex, Selkirk Rex Variants, British Shorthairs (including Variants), Persians or Exotics (including Variants), shall be registered on the Reference Register with a Selkirk Rex Variant breed number. American Shorthairs were an approved outcross until 31.12.97 and are permitted in the pedigrees of imported cats and their progeny.

2. Selkirk Rex and Selkirk Rex Variants which have within the preceding five generations any nonapproved breeds, shall be registered on the Reference Register as normal or rex coated of Selkirk type, with the exception of those cats listed below (Reference Register II)

NB: When kittens with one or both parents registered on the Reference Register are, under this Registration Policy, eligible to be registered on the Supplementary or Experimental Register it is recommended that the person registering these kittens requests such registration and encloses documentary evidence of the five generations required. If this is not done the kittens may be registered on the Reference Register.

Reference Register II

1. Any cats of Selkirk Rex appearance, either Rex or normal coated, with non-pedigree cats within the preceding five generations shall be registered as “no recognised breed” with no progression.

2. Any cats of Selkirk Rex appearance, either Rex or normal coated, with Devon Rex, Cornish Rex, LaPerm or Sphynx ancestry shall be registered as “no recognised breed” with no progression.

PKD Screening Scheme

A. Active Register

Selkirk Rex and Selkirk Rex Variants may be registered on the Active Register, at the breeder’s request, only if:
1. They have themselves been screened clear of PKF under a recognised scheme (FAB/PKD scheme in the UK). Official confirmation of the screening result is required.

2. They are from parents deemed clear because of the results from the screening of cats (as in A.1) on every line of the pedigree in previous generations. Pedigree line in this case refers to both parents, or all 4 grandparents, 8 great-grandparents, 16 great-great-grandparents and so on, or any combination of the same inclusive of both the sire’s and dam’s ancestors.

B. Genetic Register

1. Selkirk Rex and Selkirk Rex Variants which are not eligible for registration on the Active Register (because one or more lines of the pedigree have not been screened clear) shall be registered on the Genetic Register, or on the Non-Active Register if so requested by the breeder. Any such cats which are already registered on the Active Register shall be moved to the Genetic Register.

2. Selkirk Rex and Selkirk Rex Variants registered on the Genetic Register may be moved to the Active Register when they have been screened clear of PKD under a recognised scheme (FAB/PKD scheme in the UK). Official confirmation of the screening result is required.

3. Offspring of cats registered on the Genetic Register may only be registered on the Active Register if they have themselves been screened clear of PKD under a recognised scheme (FAB/PKD scheme in the UK). Official confirmation of the screening result is required.

NB: Cats registered on the Non-Active register may not be transferred to the Active Register via the Genetic Register, except at the request of the breeder and the current registered owner.

NOTE: Before the registration of any White Selkirk Rex or White Selkirk Rex Variant, a certificate of freedom from deafness for the white parent(s) must be supplied to the GCCF.
 

Revised: 03/08.

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Significant Differences between the Selkirk Rex and Other Rex Breeds

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