Your guide to finding and caring for a Selkirk Rex in Maryville
Your Selkirk Rex is waiting
While we don't have enough cats near Maryville, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
The Selkirk Rex began with a single curly-coated kitten born in Montana in the late 1980s, in a litter from a shelter cat. The kitten, Miss DePesto, later had a litter with a black Persian, which showed that the curls came from a dominant gene. Later crosses with Persians, Exotics and British and American Shorthairs built a sturdy, round-faced cat with loose, random curls.
Selkirks come in shorthair and longhair versions and in nearly every color. Many are relaxed, patient and cuddly, happier on a lap than on top of the refrigerator. Their thick, plush coat sheds and is not hypoallergenic, and light, careful combing keeps the curls from frizzing out.
Having a Selkirk Rex in Maryville
A Selkirk Rex pairs a teddy-bear look with a mellow, people-friendly personality. Its curly coat needs a light but specific grooming touch, and its Persian and shorthair ancestry brings a few inherited risks worth asking about before adopting.
Selkirk Rex cats tend to be laid-back, tolerant and affectionate, often content to lounge nearby or curl up on a lap. Many accept gentle children and other pets well and are moderately playful without being demanding. They are usually quiet cats. As with any adopted cat, early socialization and past experiences shape how a cat behaves.
Most Selkirks have moderate energy and enjoy short daily play sessions with wand toys, balls or puzzle feeders. They often prefer floor-level games to high climbing. Regular play keeps their solid, muscular bodies from gaining weight, which matters for a breed that is happy to relax. Rotating toys helps keep less active cats interested.
The Selkirk Rex has no well-documented breed-specific diseases, but its outcross ancestry means polycystic kidney disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and hip dysplasia can appear. Some round-faced cats have runny eyes, and curly ear hair can trap wax. Have a veterinarian screen for inherited problems, keep ears clean and schedule regular veterinary checkups, including heart and kidney checks.
A Selkirk Rex adapts well to apartments and houses, since it tends to be calm and enjoys staying close to its people. It needs scratching posts, comfortable resting spots and a few low perches more than tall climbing towers. Indoor living keeps the curly coat clean and the cat safe from traffic and disease.
| Expense | Typical cost | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Adoption fee | $100, one time | $100 in year one |
| Food | $25 to $50 per month | $300 to $600 |
| Pet insurance | $25 to $50 per month | $300 to $600 |
| Routine vet care | $150 to $350 per year | $150 to $350 |
| Other* | $500 to $1,250 per year | $500 to $1,250 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,250 to $2,800 | |
| First-year total (with adoption fee) | $1,350 to $2,900 | |
Adoption fee is the fee on Selkirk Rex listings in Maryville on GetBuddy today. Other costs are national averages for Selkirk Rexes; we don't have costs specific to Maryville yet.
* Litter, flea prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys, scratchers and supplies, and gentle combing and occasional baths for the curly coat.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below currently have Selkirk Rexes available.
Here are the rescues & shelters in the Maryville area where you can find Selkirk Rexes and other cats available for adoption.
1005 East Broadway, Maryville
Maryville
233 Currie Avenue, Maryville
Maryville
1611 E Broadway, Maryville
426 Home Avenue, Maryville
Yes, Selkirk Rex cats shed. Unlike some rex breeds with sparse coats, they have a thick, plush coat with all three hair types, so they shed about as much as many other cats, with heavier periods in spring and fall. Gentle combing once or twice a month, or more for longhairs, removes loose hair without straightening the curls.
No, Selkirk Rex cats are not hypoallergenic. Their dense, curly coat sheds, and the main cat allergen, Fel d 1, comes from saliva and skin rather than hair type. Some people assume all rex cats are allergy-friendly, but the Selkirk's full coat can carry plenty of dander. Spend time with the specific cat before adopting if allergies are a concern.
A Selkirk Rex is a medium to large curly-coated cat breed that began in Montana in the late 1980s. It has a round head, a sturdy, muscular body and loose, random curls in either a short or long coat, plus curly whiskers. Many Selkirks are relaxed, affectionate and patient, often described as living teddy bears.
You can adopt a Selkirk Rex through general cat shelters, purebred cat rescues and breed-specific rescue groups, which occasionally list these uncommon cats. Searching adoption websites by breed and setting alerts helps. Expect an application and an adoption fee commonly around $50 to $200, which often includes spay or neuter surgery, vaccines and a microchip.
Selkirk Rex cats commonly live about 12 to 16 years, and many indoor cats live longer. The breed has no well-documented breed-specific diseases, though conditions inherited from its Persian and shorthair outcrosses, such as kidney or heart disease, can shorten life. A healthy weight, indoor living and regular checkups with blood work help Selkirks age well.
Selkirk Rex cats come from Montana in the United States. The breed traces to a curly kitten born in 1986 or 1987 to a shelter cat and named Miss DePesto. She had a litter with a black Persian, and the breed was then developed using Persians, Exotics and British and American Shorthairs. CFA granted championship status in 2000.
Yes, Selkirk Rex cats are fairly rare. The breed is only a few decades old and was developed from a single foundation cat, so far fewer exist than long-established breeds such as Persians or Maine Coons. They appear in shelters only occasionally, but purebred cat rescues and breed-specific rescues sometimes list Selkirks needing homes.
It is generally best not to put coconut oil on a Selkirk Rex unless your veterinarian recommends it. Oils can make the curly coat greasy and heavy, attract dirt and cause stomach upset when the cat licks them off while grooming. For dry skin or a dull coat, ask your vet about safer cat-specific options, diet or bathing products.
No, Selkirk Rex cats do not have short legs. They have medium-length, substantial legs that suit their sturdy, muscular bodies, and their dense curly coats can make them look stockier than they are. Short legs are characteristic of the Munchkin breed. A Selkirk with unusually short or bowed legs should be evaluated by a veterinarian.
We have 1 rescue with Selkirk Rexes available: Blount County Humane Society. You can see every rescue with Selkirk Rexes available in the list above these questions.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Maryville.
