Selkirk Rex - The Cat in Sheep's Clothing

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Grooming A Selkirk Rex

Presented by Nancy McMullen

Due to people asking me about grooming, I thought I'd write this up on how I do it. Additions and suggestions on various brands, etc. are welcome. Everyone has to "research" this type of thing using their own cat, as hair quality varies.

Bathe using a grease removing shampoo.
If it is a boy cat, bathe the tail first with DAWN (or any grease cutting dishwashing detergent-type), rinse the tail, and then lather the body with shampoo. Leave on for 5 minutes. Rinse off well. ANJOU Grease Remover Shampoo works well, if you feel you must have a "cat" shampoo. You can also mix up your own grease-removing-fungus-killing shampoo of Dawn, Hilex, tamed Iodine and water. This is hard on your hands if you do more than one cat in it. I have the recipe. Contact me at oaktree@ties2.net for a copy of the recipe.
Next, bathe with a moisturizing shampoo.
It must NOT have a conditioner in it, or your cat will come out "dirty" according to the judges. You want the fur to be fluffy at this stage. You can work in the curls later.

Human shampoos I use:

NEXUS Therappe Moisturizing shampoo $9 large bottle
SUAVE Moisturizing shampoo
NUTRA CARE Wash N Curl Shampoo

It's wise to leave this on for 5 minutes, too, after lathering the cat. If you have a cat that wears you out physically when you bathe it, these 5 minute wait periods can be helped by having a carrier with a towel in it, by your sink. Place kitty in there between the lathering and rinse stages. Sometimes it calms the cat down too.
Rinse until you and the cat can't stand it any more!
i.e. rinse until the suds aren't going down the drain anymore, and then "start" rinsing all over again. (I was told this by a Persian breeder in 1992 when I purchased my first Selkirk, a longhair, which I had never dealt with before.)
Dry.
After wrapping in a towel (I clean ears at this stage), "put the cat in the dryer". Do not use a dryer with you combing at the same time. Remember, Persian breeders have to do this to get the curls OUT of some lines of cats. I have a small cage, about the size of a medium carrier. I put towels around the sides and top to hold the air in. I set a small electric room heater on one end and it blows the warm air through the cage out the other end. Some cats take 1/2 hour and some take an hour to dry, but they won't lose their curls.
Comb the cat.
Yes, comb the cat. If you combed it before bathing, do it again now. Yes, it looks like it takes all the curl out. It should start to curl up again after 10 minutes to half an hour. I don't believe in leaving loose hair on the cat to shed on the judge.
At the showhall:
When the judging is almost ready to begin spritz the cat lightly and plump up the hair to form curls. I like EQYSS Pet rehydrater the best for this. It does not have an alcohol base. It takes about 10 minutes to dry. This is from Eqyss International of San Diego (1-800-526-SHOW). It is a natural botanical pet rehydrant spray. I bought a black bottle with pink on the front for $10.50 for 16 oz. It lasts forever. REVIVAL in Iowa also carries it. Other things to try: L'Oreal Studio Line Pumping Curls. The bottle says "styles and pumps up natural curls or permed hair". Witch Hazel can also be put into a little pump bottle and put in your grooming case.

As I said in the beginning, you should experiment with your cats - but not the day before you are going to a show. Try one thing three weeks before a show, try another two weeks before a show, see how they compare and use the best for your cat. Everyone has to "research" this type of thing using their own cat, as hair quality varies.

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