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For people who like cats with a unique appearance, the Selkirk Rex is definitely a good choice. The curly haired Selkirk has a coat that looks similar to that of a poodle, although it is much thicker and plushier. This cat breed, which has both longhair and shorthair varieties, originated in the United States in the late nineteen eighties when one kitten in a litter born at an animal rescue had a very curly coat. This cat was bred to a Persian cat and produced a litter of three curly kittens and three normal kittens. The breeder named these curly haired kittens after the mountains near her home. Since there were three kittens that carried the Rex gene in the litter, this gene is dominant and outcrossing the Selkirk to other cat breeds still produces Rex kittens.

Since the Selkirk Rex is occasionally bred back to Persians to increase the genetic pool and to keep this cat breed healthy, it is no surprise that these cats need to be groomed frequently. Even shorthairs need to be groomed several times a week to avoid having their coats tangle and to remove loose hair before it ends up on your furniture cushions. These cats shed frequently. As you groom your cat, be careful not to over comb his coat, as too much grooming can straighten the hair. In addition, be especially careful of his whiskers, as they are extremely fragile and breakable.

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