The Selkirk Rex is one of the newest breeds of cats. Discovered in Montana, USA, in 1987, they have one very distinct features - their curly coats.
A new cat arrives on the scene
Those long, wavy ringlets quickly earnt them a new nickname - the sheep-cat! Check out this little dude's coat:
Today I have discovered Selkirk Rex cats and it has made my week pic.twitter.com/EuyDCPgG3W
— sarah (@SarahWallis_) August 5, 2017
These cats in sheep's clothing look like real-life teddy bears, and their personalities are just as adorable. They love nothing more than snuggling up to their favourite humans for some strokes and tickles.
Sheep cats are born with a long, wavy coat, or a shorter coat with much tighter curls. But despite all that fur, these special cats have minimal grooming requirements and do most of the work themselves.
These scruffy moggies are also referred to as 'poodle-cats', although I don't think they're too impressed with that comparison - especially not this guy:
Kitty breeder Jeri Newman spotted the original sheep-cat in an animal shelter near her home in Montana, USA. She couldn't get over its beautiful coat and knew she had to adopt this extraordinary looking cat.
She then bred the curly-haired kitty with a black Persian called 'Pest.' A few months later, six new kittens came into the world, three of whom had the distinctive sheep cat coat.
The sheep-cat earns official status
The breed gets its official name, Selkirk Rex, from the Selkirk mountains in its home state of Montana and the rex mutation — the genetic variation responsible for curly or wavy fur.
In 2012, animal specialists gave the sheep-cat official breed status, and they quickly worked their way into the homes and hearts of cat lovers all across the world.
