Bringing home a Selkirk Rex kitten is the start of a 10 to 15 year relationship. With the right care, your Selkirk Rex will be a healthy, happy member of the family for years to come. This complete care guide covers everything Selkirk Rex owners need to know, from grooming and diet to vet care and creating the right home environment.

Setting up your home

Before your kitten arrives, prepare a quiet space where they can settle in. A spare bedroom, large bathroom, or any room you can dedicate for the first few days works well. Equip the space with food, water, a litter box, scratching post, a bed, and a few toys. The familiar blanket we send home from our cattery helps with the transition.

Your home should be cat-proofed before arrival. Secure dangling cords, remove toxic plants (lilies, philodendron, pothos, and many others are toxic to cats), put away small objects that could be swallowed, and check that windows have screens. Selkirk Rex are curious but not extreme climbers, so most homes do not require major modifications.

Feeding your Selkirk Rex

Selkirk Rex have a relaxed temperament that means they can gain weight quickly if overfed. Choose a high-quality cat food appropriate for the life stage (kitten, adult, senior). Both wet and dry food have merits. Many owners feed a combination, with wet food providing hydration and dry food convenient for free or measured feeding.

Feeding schedule

• Kittens (under 6 months): 3 to 4 small meals per day
• Adolescent (6 to 12 months): 2 to 3 meals per day
• Adult (1 year and older): 2 measured meals per day
• Senior (8+ years): 2 meals per day with senior formula

Fresh water should always be available. Many Selkirk Rex prefer running water and enjoy a small pet water fountain. Avoid feeding cow's milk (most cats are lactose intolerant) and human food in general.

Grooming the Selkirk Rex coat

The curly coat looks high-maintenance but actually requires less grooming than most longhair breeds. Over-brushing damages the curl pattern. Read our complete shedding and grooming guide for details. The short version:

• Shorthair: Wide-tooth comb once a week
• Longhair: Wide-tooth comb twice a week
• Bath: Every 6 to 8 weeks with cat-safe shampoo
• Nails: Trim every 2 to 3 weeks
• Ears: Check weekly for wax buildup, clean only if needed
• Teeth: Brush daily if possible, dental cleanings annually

Litter box setup

Selkirk Rex are not picky about litter, but the standard rules of cat ownership apply. Provide one litter box per cat, plus one extra. So for a single Selkirk Rex, two litter boxes work best. Use unscented clumping clay or similar litter. Scoop daily and fully change the litter weekly. Place boxes in quiet, accessible locations away from food and water bowls.

Exercise and enrichment

Selkirk Rex are moderate-energy cats. They enjoy daily play but are not the type to demand intense exercise like a Bengal or Abyssinian. Provide a cat tree for vertical space, scratching posts (multiple in different textures), interactive toys, and 10 to 15 minutes of one-on-one play time per day. Wand toys, laser pointers, and food puzzles all work well.

Vet care schedule

Establish care with a vet within 72 hours of bringing your kitten home (required by our health guarantee). After the initial visit, follow this schedule:

• Months 1-4: Vaccination boosters every 3 to 4 weeks until 16 weeks old
• 6 months: Spay or neuter if not already done
• Annually: Full physical, vaccinations as needed, dental check
• Age 8+: Twice yearly visits, blood work to catch age-related issues early

Behaviour and socialization

Selkirk Rex are exceptionally social cats who do well with families, other cats, and dogs. They are patient with children and tolerate handling well. The breed is not particularly vocal, but they communicate with quiet chirps and trills. Most Selkirk Rex are lap cats who follow their humans from room to room.

If your Selkirk Rex will be alone for long hours during the day, consider adopting two kittens or pairing with an existing cat. They are companion-oriented and do not thrive on extended isolation.

"A well-cared-for Selkirk Rex is one of the most rewarding cats to share a home with. Calm, affectionate, and uniquely beautiful."

Lifetime breeder support

Every Selkirkish family gets lifetime breeder support. Text or email us anytime with questions about grooming, behaviour, diet, health, or anything else. Eight years of breeding has taught us that the kitten is just the beginning. Browse our available Selkirk Rex kittens or read about our family-run cattery.