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These Curly Cats Who All Descended From One Shelter Kitty Are Taking Internet By Storm
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These Curly Cats Who All Descended From One Shelter Kitty Are Taking Internet By Storm

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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

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    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

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    She was adopted by a breeder who realized her curly fur was a dominant genetic feature

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    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:

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    Negative reactions from the Internet:

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    Dominyka Jurkštaitė

    Dominyka Jurkštaitė

    Author, Community member

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    I'm a Panda bear and maybe should live in a zoo, eat leaves of bamboo, but I'd like to spend my time just posting for you!

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    Dominyka Jurkštaitė

    Dominyka Jurkštaitė

    Author, Community member

    I'm a Panda bear and maybe should live in a zoo, eat leaves of bamboo, but I'd like to spend my time just posting for you!

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    Brigitte
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Very cute but I completely agree with the "negative" reactions from the Internet. Breeding a rescue cat??? Oh the irony.

    Melissa Nunya
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They are cute. But I can't get behind the breeding. Adopt, don't shop.

    floof lover
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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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    Brigitte
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Very cute but I completely agree with the "negative" reactions from the Internet. Breeding a rescue cat??? Oh the irony.

    Melissa Nunya
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They are cute. But I can't get behind the breeding. Adopt, don't shop.

    floof lover
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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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