Poodle cats are new breed, researchers say

The cats' signature curly fur is caused by a dominant trait, and their ancestry can be traced back to a single cat from Montana.

By

Laura Moss

Mon, Nov 19 2012 at 6:31 PM

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Pets, Science

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

In 1987, a feral cat in Montana gave birth to a litter of five kittens, but one of them looked a little different from the others.

The female kitten had thick curly hair that breeders had never seen before, and she caught the eye of Persian breeder Jeri Newman. Newman adopted the kitten and dubbed her “Miss DePesto” after the curly-haired character in the television show “Moonlighting.”

Now, 25 years and nine generations of curly furred cats later, researchers at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna have confirmed that the felines are a genetically distinct breed.

Known as Selkirk Rex, the breed is the fourth type of curly haired cat, but it’s distinct from other Rex breeds. Unlike the Devon Rex and Cornish Rex, this breed’s hair is of normal length and isn’t prone to balding, and it differs from the LaPerm breed because its coat is thicker.

Sometimes called "a cat in sheep’s clothing," the Selkirk Rex’s signature fur is caused by a genetic quirk. Because the kinky hair is a dominant trait, it’s easy for breeders to retain the curls while crossbreeding to maintain genetic diversity.

Selkirk Rex cats are often crossed with Persians or British shorthairs, making them laid-back, playful animals.

There are longhair and shorthair varieties of the breed, and their fur can come in a variety of colors. Because of their extremely dense coats, the animals shed a great deal and, unlike other Rex breeds, the Selkirk Rex isn’t recommended for people who might be allergic to cats.

Although science has only recently confirmed the breed, the Selkirk Rex has been an accepted cat breed by the International Cat Association since 1992, the American Cat Fanciers Association since 1998 and the Cat Fanciers' Association since 2000.

Today, the ancestry of all Selkirk Rex cats can be traced back to Miss DePesto.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Comments: 10

LPL Feb 06 2013 at 4:54 PM

For people interested in seeing more of the curly laperm breed there is a photo blog at http://lapermcats.wordpress.com

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Starre Vartan Dec 10 2012 at 11:27 AM

I love cats, so I would never buy one from a breeder; so many homeless animals are killed every year - even purebred kittens - because they are 'imperfect' or 'too small'. When I got my cat, I literally put 'female, kitten, long grey hair' into the search engine at Petfinder and had a cute grey long-haired 6-week-old kitten three days later!

That being said, WHY would anyone breed a cat that produces MORE fur than normal? A mess, not to mention furball central.

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Tarrant Dec 10 2012 at 11:40 AM

I can't imagine getting a cat from a breeder either. When we were wandering the shelters near here looking for our new dog, we saw many a heartwarming cat in need of a home.

Fortunately for us, we have some cat allergies here or we would have likely ended up with a dog and quite a few great cats.

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Medb Riley Nov 23 2012 at 8:32 PM

Don't breed cats! There are already too many homeless, hungry cats in the world. To breed them and sell them is an atrocity. They are NOT a commodity to be exploited for money. They are not trophies. They are not accessories. They are sentient beings who deserve kindness and respect.