Why does the Selkirk Rex look like it just got a Perm?

The Selkirk Rex may look like a fluffy little storm cloud with whiskers, but this curly-coated cat has one of the most unusual origin stories in the cat world. In this video, we trace the history of the Selkirk Rex back to Montana in the nineteen-eighties, when one curly kitten appeared in a rescue litter and changed everything. That kitten, Miss DePesto of NoFace, was placed with Persian breeder Jeri Newman, who recognized that her unusual curls were not just adorable — they were genetic history in the making. From Miss DePesto’s first litter with a black Persian male named Photo Finish of Deekay, breeders learned that the Selkirk Rex curl was caused by a dominant gene. That made this breed different from other Rex cats, like the Cornish Rex and Devon Rex, whose curls come from different recessive genes. The Selkirk Rex became known for its plush coat, round face, sturdy body, and gentle personality — a cat with curls, charm, and a Montana-born story all its own. Join us as we explore how one unexpected kitten became the foundation of an entire breed.