The Selkirk Rex cat breed has a curly coat.
The breed began in Montana in 1987 when a curly-coated kitten named Miss DePesto was born in a shelter. Breeder Jeri Newman recognized the unusual trait and bred the kitten, helping establish the Selkirk Rex. The mutation affects the coat and whiskers, producing a soft, plush appearance with curls or waves.
Unlike the Cornish Rex and Devon Rex, the Selkirk Rex has a different genetic history and generally retains all three types of hair: guard hairs, awn hairs, and undercoat. This gives it a fuller, more plush coat than the close-lying coats of those other Rex breeds.
Selkirk Rex cats may be longhaired or shorthaired, and curliness can vary among individuals. The breed is sometimes nicknamed the “cat in sheep’s clothing” because of its woolly appearance.