Dog people can often name approximately one million dog breeds, but if you ask them to name five cat breeds, you’ll often get, “uh… orange?” It’s honestly hilarious, but at the same time, they’re really missing out!
On Sunday, April 21st, one woman was seen showing off her crazy curly-coated cat, and she had even the most anti-cat people stopping to stare. You just have to see him:
@selkirkrex_norwayNO* Colorful Company Savanna Sunset ❤️#catsoftiktok #selkirkrex
Like many others, I had never seen one of these cats before. Now that @selkirkrex_norway has opened my eyes, though, I think I need five of them.
Related: Cat Explores Under the House During a Renovation and Ends Up in Hilarious ‘Outfit’
The cat in this video is a Selkirk Rex Longhair. He belongs to a cattery in Norway, where they breed and sell these beautiful kitties – and when they’re not breeding and selling, they’re attending cat shows. A Selkirk Rex Longhair is a highly desirable cat, even if they do look a little bit “scrungly,” and they sell for anywhere from $1,000 to $3,500. Factors like sex, genetics, and the “quality” of the breeder can greatly impact the price.
These cats are about the size of your typical house cat, just with a long, curly coat. The coat is passed on through genetics: the curly coat is caused by what’s known as an “incomplete dominant” gene. That means that the animal needs two copies of the gene for a super curly coat, while one copy produces a looser curl. Selkirk Rexes are also available in a “straight hair” variety, which means that the gene is not present in the kitten. In this case, both parents would have only one copy of the curly coat gene.
Why do ‘fluffy’ animals cost more?
There are all kinds of pets that can have a mysteriously curly coat, from cats to dogs and even Guinea pigs. You’ll notice that these animals tend to be more expensive, and the reason is simple: they’re rare. To produce a fluffy animal requires a lot of expensive genetic testing and very thoughtful breeding. Each parent animal is tested for the gene, and then you can purchase animals with a certain genetic makeup.
For example, one cattery sells their kittens in three groups:
- Homozygous: the kitten has two copies of the curly gene.
- Heterozygous: the kitten has one copy of the gene.
- Straight-haired: the kitten does not have the gene.
This information is important for breeding purposes: if you’re ever thinking about breeding and selling Selkirk Rexes of your own, you’d know that your litter would have a shot at having a curly coat. Who wouldn’t want a curly kitty? Look at this guy!
