Selkirk Rex Shorthair

The shorthair Selkirk Rex carries the same curl mutation, but its coat is shorter, dense and plush, resembling sheep's wool, with soft waves or curls. The coat is best combed gently and not too often. The breed comes from the United States, and males typically weigh around 4 to 6.5 kilograms, with a large, muscular body. The shorthair variety is convenient for owners who find a long coat too much work. The temperament is calm, friendly and patient. Even the whiskers are often bent or curled. The coat changes with age and season, so its appearance can vary. Life expectancy is typically around 12 to 16 years.

Selkirk Rex Shorthair: how old in human years?

3–6.5 kgWeight
12–16 yrsLife expectancy

Burmilla

FIFe category: Category III — Shorthair
Recognition: Recognised
FIFe: SRS
Country of origin: United States

Energy level

3/5
Playfulness

4/5
Family friendly

5/5
Grooming need

2/5

At a glance

Weight

Males 4–6.5 kg

Females 3–5 kg

Life expectancy

12–16 yrs

Coat

curly (short)

Temperament & Family Life

Selkirk Rex Shorthair: average score for sociability and trainability is high.

Family friendly 5/5
Good with children 5/5
Good with dogs 5/5
Friendly with strangers 3/5
Intelligence 3/5
Trainability 3/5

Activity & Living Space

Selkirk Rex Shorthair: average score for activity and living space is moderate.

Energy level 3/5
Playfulness 4/5
Hunting instinct 2/5
Apartment friendly 4/5

Personality & Communication

Selkirk Rex Shorthair: average score for personality and communication is moderate.

Affection 5/5
Independence 3/5
Vocality 2/5

Grooming & Shedding

Selkirk Rex Shorthair: grooming and shedding demands are low.

Shedding 2/5
Grooming need 2/5

The 1–5 trait scores are editorial estimates, not measurements. Every cat is an individual, so treat them as a general guide.

Living with the Selkirk Rex Shorthair

Children, a dog and a house that never sits still: a Selkirk Rex Shorthair takes all of it philosophically. It is patient, gentle and happy to be held, but never clingy; when the game is over it simply settles against you on the sofa and dozes off.

It has energy, just a middling amount: a short hunt after a paper ball or a feather wand, then rest again. It is no great climber, so in a flat a mid-height cat tree will do, along with a scratching post it will actually use if you put it where it likes to stretch.

It is not much of a talker, and when it wants something it asks quietly. It will manage a whole day on its own but would rather spend it with someone, so a friendly second cat would suit it. Outdoors alone it is not safe and does not ask to be: a window overlooking the yard does the job of a walk.

Grooming and coat

The first thing visitors notice is not the eyes but the curls: the short, dense coat twists into plush little loops, and even the whiskers are curly. They are rather brittle, so a snapped whisker on the pillow is no disaster. A Selkirk Rex Shorthair sheds little and needs no frequent brushing: once a week, run a soft brush or simply a damp hand over it to gather loose hair without straightening the curls.

Stroking it, you will feel if the skin is rough or flaky anywhere. Curly hairs grow inside the ears and collect wax, so look into them every week, and wipe the corners of the eyes with a damp cotton pad when needed. Show reddened skin, a bad smell from the ears or watery eyes to a vet.

How to do it:

By age:

Health and possible conditions

A shorter coat changes nothing underneath: a Selkirk Rex Shorthair lives twelve to sixteen years, and the same inherited kidney, retina and heart conditions are known in it as in its longhaired relative. That is no reason to turn the cat down, only a reason to ask: before you take a kitten, ask the breeder about the parents' health testing. Leave the rest to a vet at regular check-ups.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own cat's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.

Polycystic kidney disease

Fluid-filled sacs, or cysts, can form in the kidneys, grow over the years and get in the way of the kidneys cleaning the blood. A cat can look well for a long time, so while yours is young, take note of how much it drinks and how many trips it makes to the litter box, and you will have something to compare with later. Before you take a kitten, ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.
Progressive retinal atrophy

An inherited disease of the retina: the eye's light-sensing cells die off and the cat sees less and less. A Selkirk Rex Shorthair would rather sit on the floor than leap across wardrobes, so failing sight shows up in small things, such as no longer following a toy in a dim room, or pupils that look unusually wide. If you notice anything like this, see a vet.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

When the heart muscle thickens, the heart beats less and less effectively. A calm cat will not complain, so watch for it tiring sooner in play or breathing faster even at rest, and show it to a vet. Sudden weakness in the back legs or laboured breathing means it needs a vet immediately.

Cheapest cat food per kg

This list is the same on every cat breed page. Shops do not label cat food by breed, so it simply shows the cheapest cat food we track per kilogram. Check the label for your cat's age and health needs. Prices are updated daily.

≈ 69 g of dry food a day, from €3,94 a month For a neutered, normally active 4,6 kg cat. Calculate for your cat