A couple of years ago, a shelter in Bozeman, Montana warmly welcomed a stray cat someone found living in a sewer.
The poor kitty, named Jenny, was in rough shape – barely able to stand, her fur all matted, and she was so malnourished you could see how skinny she was.
After a vet check, they found out she was pregnant too. The staff at the shelter feared she might not survive her pregnancy, but Jenny soon proved them wrong.
After several weeks, she went from a tired stray to a lively, happy cat, putting on weight and generally feeling much better.
And when the time came, she endured the delivery like a brave mama, giving birth to five adorable kittens. All five were in great health, but one stood out from her littermates.
As time passed and the kittens grew, the difference between the kitten and her siblings only became more apparent.
Unlike her littermates, who had straight fur like their mother, this kitten sported a coarse, curly coat, as if styled with a curling brush.
Puzzled by her unique appearance, the shelter staff grew concerned about her health. They wondered if it might be a genetic mutation or an unknown disease.
Could it impact her quality of life?
Was it contagious?
After conducting tests, the vet reassured everyone that the kitten was healthy, and her unusual coat did not affect her well-being.
Unable to determine the origin of the kitten’s curly coat, the shelter staff reached out to Jeri Newman, a local Persian cat breeder.
It took Jeri one look to fall head over heels for the kitten.
Passionate about feline genetics, she decided to adopt the little cat, whom she named Miss DePesto of NoFace, to study her unusual fur more closely.
Jeri planned to eventually crossbreed Miss DePesto with a Persian male from her cattery to determine if the curly coat pattern was a dominant trait.
Several months after adopting her, Miss DePesto gave birth to a litter of six kittens.
All were in great health, and three exhibited curly coats while the other three had straight coats – a distribution that Jeri described as “perfect numbers for a simple dominant gene!”
Pleased with these results, Jeri continued to crossbreed Miss DePesto and her offspring with other breeds like Persians, Exotics, and British Shorthairs.
These efforts ultimately led to the creation of a new breed known as the Selkirk Rex.
The Selkirk Rex is often affectionately nicknamed ‘the sheep cat’ due to its fur that adorably resembles a sheep’s coat.
Known for their calm and friendly demeanor, these cats are gentle, non-confrontational, and get along well with both people and other animals. They make perfect companions, ideal for both cuddling and playing.
Thanks to Jeri’s efforts, cat lovers worldwide have a new breed to cherish. I don’t know about you, but I’m already crazy about these fluffs! Might even consider getting one myself.
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