Tabata De La Fontaine Mamoine

Short haired curly tortie point female (BIS & BIV).

View pedigree here... Click this text (*Large image - may take some time to download).

Arrived in the UK on the 07.09.03 - I would like to thank Marie Noel (DE LA FONTAINE MAMOINE) for entrusting me with her lovely little girl. We hope she will form the start of our foundation stock of new Selkirk's. Marie lives, breeds and shows Selkirk's on the continent (And has shown Tabata - who gained BIS and BIV at show). Just as I was looking for the perfect cat Marie found me - When she advertised Tabata on my Kittenlist site. We hope to gain a mutual friendship though the understanding and advancement of the breed. Of course, special thanks need to go to the originator of the breed 'Jeri Newman' of the 'Newlamb Cattery' (Who discovered and perfected it - having the foresight to recognise something special - a new breed in one single cat). 

About the Selkirk Rex.....What can I say about this wonderful breed of cats - It's quite unique! A breed of cat that has the ability to have both long and short curly hair and long and short straight hair (The straight haired offspring being variants. However, they are still a Selkirk and invaluable as part of a breeding programme). They come in all colours and can be out crossed to BSH, BSH variants,  Persian, Exotic and Persian & Exotic variants. They are a dominant gene which will work in a similar way to all other dominant genes. *This rex coat gene however does not carry.  It behaves similarly to the bi-colour gene in other breeds. Basically, if you can see it you have it! They also have curly kittens when a curly coat is mated to a straight coated cat. Where this little gem excels over some of the other rex cats is in the coat itself.  Unlike some of the other rex cats, that only have one or two hair thickness, these have the full compliment of three - giving reign to their lovely dense curly coats. No need to turn up the central heating!

I first saw a picture of these lovely cats in a multi cat book (Long ago when I first thought about starting to breed. I was at that time also considering Persians as a breed and trying to decide which I was most in love with). The internet was not available then and I hadn't a clue where to start looking (Particularly as these were a little known breed still in their infancy). The 'Pets Passport ' was still only a dream then - only just in the pipeline. So I disregarded the idea of Selkirk's (Because of the difficulties associated with importing them). I had also mentioned Selkirk's to other breeders and they looked at me as if I had gone mad! 'A cat that looked like an open type Persian with a curly coat?!' They spent most of their time trying to get their Persian coats as long and straight as possible (For the show ring I was told).

Last year, with the introduction of the 'Pets passport' scheme, I decided to start looking again and, to my absolute delight, found that they had already reached Europe. I decided not to go looking for the first long coated cat that I could find rather a cat that had a full history of Selkirk. I discovered an enchanting little girl with a short curly coat - I've affectionately named her Lambogenii (as she looks like the perfect little lamb). Her Grandfather (Sire) is a Grand International Champion & her grandfather (Dam) is an international champion - and Tabata took BIS and BIV (Her sister is doing equally well in the show ring!). This pedigree has been out crossed to Chartreux, Exotic & Persians. *The Chartreux has shared the same status in France as our British Shorthair (However, the Chartreux has not been recognised by the GCCF - Therefore, any first generation matings that I do to Tabata will not be sold for showing. The breed  has gained preliminary show status (with the gccf) so qualifies for merit awards. *Please note that we, as breeders, have found that homozygous are excellent cats for breeding - however, the permitted outcrossses are producing the type that we are working towards for the show ring. By the time the breed has received full show status (at gccf) the Chartreux will have been removed beyond 5th generation on the pedigree. *Please note that Tabata was shown with TICA and her kittens will also qualify for show status, with TICA, in the UK.

I hope this outline goes someway to giving everybody a brief idea on this exciting new breed coming into the U.K. It will, I believe, be worked with by other breeders - that will be as dedicated to the breed as I am. I hope to integrate Selkirk's with my Persians (The other long standing passion of mine). I will always be working for the betterment and advancement of both breeds.

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