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These Curly Cats Who All Descended From One Shelter Kitty Are Taking Internet By Storm
Last week, the Internet got conquered by a photo of an orange kitten with curly hair. The picture was shared with the following caption: “I’ve never seen a cat with curls until now.” Well, neither have most of us, but this is no trick – the curly hair on the kitty is the real deal, and here’s why.
The breed of the cat who became Insta-famous last week is most likely the Selkirk rex – and its origins can be traced to one peculiar rescue cat named Miss DePesto.
Miss DePesto was born in a Montana shelter in 1987. She had four siblings, each of which have straight coats, but the kitty stood out due to her unusually curly hair. She was adopted by Jeri Newman, a local Persian breeder.
She bred the cat with with a black Persian and they produced a litter of six babies, all of them with curly hair. Newman realized the curly hair was a dominant genetic trait – and this is how the Selkirk rex was born.
(h/t)
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Last week, the pictures of this orange kitten with curly hair went viral
Image credits: meanpIastic
Image credits: meanpIastic
Image credits: meanpIastic
People started sharing photos of cats with curly hair, usually known as Selkirk Rex
Its origins can be traced to one peculiar rescue cat named Miss DePesto
Image credits: shumsende
The curly kitty, who was born in a Montana shelter in 1987, had 4 siblings with straight hair
Image credits: shumsende
She was adopted by a breeder who realized her curly fur was a dominant genetic feature
Image credits: shumsende
The woman bred it with a black Persian and they produced a litter of six babies, all of them with curly hair
This is how Selkirk Rex was born – the breed named after a woman’s stepfather
Image credits: Ingrid Matschke
She added ‘Rex’ to indicate that the adorable coat was curly, a feature that so many cat lovers fell in love with
Image credits: ignataliya
Positive reactions from the Internet:
Negative reactions from the Internet:
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What do you think ?
Brigitte 8 years ago
Very cute but I completely agree with the "negative" reactions from the Internet. Breeding a rescue cat??? Oh the irony.
Sandra-Nadia Lajoie-Swartz 8 years ago
Because it was in 1987... Things have changed.
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Melissa Nunya 8 years ago
They are cute. But I can't get behind the breeding. Adopt, don't shop.
floof lover 8 years ago
My family recently purchased a german shepherd puppy so that when she is older, I will have a "scary" looking dog to take with me when I run at night. They do have a lot of health issues as a breed, and as such, my parents wanted to be able to trace the family lineage to see their hip health, temperaments, etc. We wanted a young dog so that we can socialize it properly, as GSDs MUST be socialized heavily, as they are naturally slightly aggressive and so we have to train it out of them.
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Hayley Lightcap 8 years ago
I don't know why people are acting like curly haired cats are a new thing.
velocirrober 8 years ago
It is a new thing for a lot of people. Chill. Eat a Snickers.
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Elle In 8 years ago
I have a Selkirk too but with straight hairs ... she is sooo lovely, acts like a dog sometimes. jade-598e2...913b81.jpg 
Taryn Wallace 8 years ago
I agree w/ the negative reactions to an extent I don't know what the laws of shelters were in the late 80s but I really don't think this
Beks Czar 8 years ago
Yeah how did that breeder not know about the popular hashtag AdoptDon'tShop! in 1987. ::eyeroll::
Melissa Nunya 8 years ago
Encouraging adoption has been around since the 1970's and "adopt don't shop" has been around since way before hashtags existed.
Load More Replies...
Andrea Staley 8 years ago
It was 1987 policies about early spaying were different then... that said I've rescued 28 kittens from a feral colony between this summer and last...kept 2... rest were adopted to forever homes.
Emiwolfplayz 8 years ago
So if it woyld be just a simple cat u wouldn't take it. But u saw an expensive breed...and act like a holy boi. It's even an old breed not nee
Brigitte 8 years ago
Very cute but I completely agree with the "negative" reactions from the Internet. Breeding a rescue cat??? Oh the irony.
Sandra-Nadia Lajoie-Swartz 8 years ago
Because it was in 1987... Things have changed.
Load More Replies... Melissa Nunya 8 years ago
They are cute. But I can't get behind the breeding. Adopt, don't shop.
floof lover 8 years ago
My family recently purchased a german shepherd puppy so that when she is older, I will have a "scary" looking dog to take with me when I run at night. They do have a lot of health issues as a breed, and as such, my parents wanted to be able to trace the family lineage to see their hip health, temperaments, etc. We wanted a young dog so that we can socialize it properly, as GSDs MUST be socialized heavily, as they are naturally slightly aggressive and so we have to train it out of them.
Load More Replies... Hayley Lightcap 8 years ago
I don't know why people are acting like curly haired cats are a new thing.
velocirrober 8 years ago
It is a new thing for a lot of people. Chill. Eat a Snickers.
Load More Replies... Elle In 8 years ago
I have a Selkirk too but with straight hairs ... she is sooo lovely, acts like a dog sometimes. jade-598e2...913b81.jpg
Taryn Wallace 8 years ago
I agree w/ the negative reactions to an extent I don't know what the laws of shelters were in the late 80s but I really don't think this
Beks Czar 8 years ago
Yeah how did that breeder not know about the popular hashtag AdoptDon'tShop! in 1987. ::eyeroll::
Melissa Nunya 8 years ago
Encouraging adoption has been around since the 1970's and "adopt don't shop" has been around since way before hashtags existed.
Load More Replies... Andrea Staley 8 years ago
It was 1987 policies about early spaying were different then... that said I've rescued 28 kittens from a feral colony between this summer and last...kept 2... rest were adopted to forever homes.
Emiwolfplayz 8 years ago
So if it woyld be just a simple cat u wouldn't take it. But u saw an expensive breed...and act like a holy boi. It's even an old breed not nee
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