More pix at source.
Posted on 11/07/2012 10:15:42 PM PST by Slings and Arrows
In 1987, a mutant kitten was born in Montana with hair like a poodle. Named Miss DePesto, this kitten grew up and birthed curly kittens of her own. As the curly cat family tree grew, Miss DePesto's descendants eventually became recognized as a new breed: the Selkirk Rex.
Now, 25 years and about nine kitty generations later, researchers at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Austria, have confirmed that these felines are genetically distinct from previously known breeds, making Selkirk Rex the fourth curly-haired cat breed known.
The genetic quirk that makes a Selkirk Rex's hair kink is a dominant trait. This makes the trait easy for breeders to retain even while crossing breeding to maintain genetic diversity. Selkirk Rex is usually crossed with Persians or British Shorthairs, making it a particularly laid back cat.
And while the Selkirk Rex is one of four curly-haired cat breeds, it easily has the best hair. Devon Rex and Cornish Rex are breeds with curly, downy, super-short hair, prone to balding, while the unimaginatively named LaPerm breed has curly hair of average length hair -- but not nearly as plush and thick as Selkirk Rex. Miss DePesto would be proud.
Check out some of these good looking mutant kitties below.
More pix at source.
Wow,I hope my wife doesnt see this.We have 5 cats already.
I write this from my couch, lying on my side, with my own cat between my chest and computer.
She says “this is just wrong.”
:)
Addictive, aren’t they?
My three agree, but they’re prejudiced.
Kewel.
“I like ’em curly.”
So are these the Shirley Temple of the feline family?
They are so cute and dont bark.Likin it.
CURLY TOP!
I recently became the staff to a new little persian lady who has not one patch of naything but black fluffy fur. She is very vocal, has taken over as if she was born here, and deamdns closeness. I have no idea from where she arrived but she loves to roam the fields and bring back ‘treats’ she catches around the huge rolls of hay and along fence rows. I was wondering about trimming her fur in the Spring, if she stays around through the winter. I may trim her to look like a poodle cut! She has massive, soft paws and a wowish burst of fur on either side of her head, so the trimming would be pretty easy. (Hope she doesn’t read this and figure out what mischief I’m contemplating. ... Don’t laugh, she is one of the smartest cats I’ve ever known and she sits in a cahir behind me while I skate the Internet. She loves the videos at ICanHazCheeseburger.com
They wouldn't vote for a white cat?
I call her Middy, BTW, short for Midnight Cat.
D00d!
Figures Billy Jeff would be attracted to...never mind.
I hope so - that would make them good Republicans.
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