Curly Coated Cats are Descended from a Single Rescue Kitten December 26 2018, 13 Comments
The newest viral cat craze is covered in curls! Meet the Selkirk Rex.
While the hardcore cat fanciers of the world might not be surprised at the sight of a cat with curls, as there are four lesser-known cat breeds that sport curly-cued coats, this fresh-permed kitten took the Internet by storm. Imagine having to brush all that curly fur! For longer haired cats or those like the Selkirk rex that need frequent grooming, it's important to have the proper grooming tools!
But the Selkirk rex breed has an interesting story hidden behind those lustrous curls: they are all descended from a single rescue kitten named Miss DePesto.
In 1987 at a little shelter in Montana, Miss DePesto started her life as the oddball of her litter of four. She was the only kitten with crinkly, curly fur. Jeri Newman, a Persian breeder, saw the special little fluffball and adopted her.
Miss DePesto, aka Pest, was named after a character from the 1980s TV show “Moonlighting” and her habit of being a bit of a "pest" for attention.
Newman was entranced by Pest's warm personality and unusual appearance, so she decided to breed her with a black Persian named Photo Finish of Deekay. She gave birth to a litter of six kittens — three of which, amazingly, had curly coats.
This discovery meant that Miss DePesto's curls were a dominant genetic trait, unlike other curly-coated cat breeds such as the Cornish rex and Devon rex.
This unique genetic mutation allows for cross-breeding without the need for selective gene breeding. There is no fear of losing the curl, writes Mother Nature Network, and this diverse gene pool is the key to breeding healthy cats.
While the Selkirk rex breed and their curly coats might be all the rage, their origin story actually highlights just how important it is to adopt from a shelter.
Folks often assume that shelter animals are unhealthy or unwanted, when, in fact, they tend to be healthier than pets bought from a store — not to mention social, loving and well-adjusted. Without a little shelter cat named Pest, and her accidentally fluffy coat, these uniquely adorable cats wouldn’t exist.
Comments
usafsam on August 01 2020 at 04:30PM
I took in a pregnant American short-haired blue tortie someone dumped in my area. She gave birth to 4 kittens and one is a golden curly tabby with a blue birthmark under his right arm. Quite a surprise and all the kittens are healthy and well behaved for the most part. They hate being without their human (me) for even an instant so when I walk thru the house I feel like the pied piper of cats. If I leave the house they greet me at the door upon return. They all like to sleep on the bed with me. They are named after Supernatural characters. The golden tabby boys are Sam and Dean and the tortie girls are Kaia and Claire. Their momma Bela is young so the shelter kitty Jody that we took in wanted to help. She had kittens at the shelter and they got adopted out and she got left behind. She missed her babies so when she heard the kittens crying she wanted in the room. Amazingly Bela let her help. Jody laid with the babies, cleaned them and I have even seen them suckle on her. Tho she is fixed and has no milk she lets them do it.
Donna R Robinson on October 11 2019 at 02:41PM
I bought a kitten from a breeder in Illinois, that was supposed to be a Blue Sphynx, or hairless cat. Turns out she has hair… CURLY hair. She is VERY soft to the touch, and has only one long, curly whisker. I bred her twice, the first time losing the kittens at 1 1/2 weeks along. The 2nd time she went full term & had a single, deformed kitten, dead at birth. So I had her spayed. Now, by symptoms she exhibits, I believe she has HCM, so it’s just as well that she did not have any living kittens. She is a very sweet kitty, but prefers to lounge about on a heated bed than to run, jump or play. This too, is a symptom of HCM. I am sad for her, but I do love her, and wish she could just be happy & healthy.
Amanda Weems on September 12 2019 at 08:20AM
Where can I get one?
Line Dion on September 11 2019 at 04:03PM
I had a shelter for a few year and yes, all my kittens adopted out where vetted and neutur / spay included with adoption fee ( I work in vet Clinic).
I am studying for my Certified Felin Master Cat groomer exam and must know the original of all breeds recognized by the CFA.
It is very interesting to learn that if it was not for some BARN CATS WITH UNUSUAL TRAITS ARRISING FROM A SPONTANEOUS GENES MUTATION – adopted out to breeders – many of our favorite cat breeds would not exist!!!
EX – American Wirehair – originated from a kitten born on a farm in Upsate New York in 1966.
EX – Corish Rex – Original foundation cat was a kitten named Kallibunker born in barn in Cornwall, England in 1980’s. The breed survived because some where exported to US breeders to develop this exquisite cat breed.
EX – Devon Rex – Fondation cat, Kirlee, discovered in a feral litter in Devonshire, Uk in 1959. Breeders outcrossed to Briish SH to widen the geen pool.
EX – As soon here – Originated wt a female cat named CURLY, found in a litter of barn cats in OREGON in 1982.
EX And my favorite – the Spnynx!!! Originated fr spontaneously mutated hairless cats found in barn litter Toronto in 1966. Canadian breeder who adopted the foundation cat Prune worked with a US breeder who also found 2 hairless cat Epidermis and Dermis to widen the gene pool and develop the breed so much loved!
So I hope that this will widen some views that yes, spaying is important because of the cat over population, but some breeding programs also have their reason to be… without them many breeds would not exist and some more rare breeds would have become extinct! After all spontaneous gene mutations are nature evolving and I am thankful for the breeders who gave their time and ressources so that variety is not loss!
Saba on August 31 2019 at 10:40PM
How do I get one?
Jorun on January 08 2019 at 05:52PM
Oh, people. Just take a deep breath. This was thirty years ago! A lot has changed since then, and it’s pretty rare for shelters not to spay there cats nowadays, but maby things were a little bit different in the eighties.
Laura kelly on December 31 2018 at 09:17PM
That would be really hard to keep mats from forming, grooming fees every other week.
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Jodi Jackman on December 30 2018 at 06:57PM
My comment is similar to a few of the other ones here. When you adopt from a shelter, that animals should be spayed or neutered. The last thing we need on this planet is more kittens! Let’s not make fodder for all the Breeders out there. :sigh:
Say NO to breeding!!!!
MRS. TRISH GEIDEL on December 30 2018 at 06:29PM
I agree, 100% with Robin’s comment !
Just because this lady, was a recognized breeder, she should still have gotten a sterilized Kitteh !
This is the first shelter, I have heard about, not adopting sterilized pets !
Robin on December 27 2018 at 01:09PM
I think they are adorable but my question is , how do you adopt and then breed them? Shelter animals are supposed to be sterilized to prevent overbreeding. Doesn’t set a very good example. Just my thoughts
Judith Dondey on December 27 2018 at 07:13AM
They are adorable! How do I get one?
Brenda on December 26 2018 at 07:48PM
So how did Pest get her curls?