Viverral vs Selkirk Rex - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Both Selkirk Rex and Viverral are originated from United States. Both Selkirk Rex and Viverral are having almost same weight. Both Selkirk Rex and Viverral has almost same life span. Both Selkirk Rex and Viverral has same litter size. Selkirk Rex requires Moderate Maintenance. But Viverral requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

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United States
United States
Weight Male:
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
3 - 7 kg
6 - 16 pounds
Weight Female:
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
3 - 7 kg
6 - 16 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 17 Years
10 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
2 - 6
Other Names:
Sheep Cat
None
Colors Available:
All colors
Cream, black, tan - spots
Coat:
Long- and short coat - wavy or curled
Short and plush
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

The Selkirk Rex originated in the USA in 1987. A host of cats have been used to develop this cat breed – Persians, British Shorthairs, Himalayans, American Shorthairs, Exotic Shorthairs, and others.

There was a litter of kittens and the odd one out, one with an unusual coat – was placed with the breeder, Jeri Newman, who bred the cat with a black Persian.

Three Selkirk Rex kittens were born as well as three straight-haired kittens. The cat has been developed with either long- or short coats. The Selkirk Rex cat breed is recognized by various cat associations such as the International Cat Association, the American Cat Fanciers Association in the 1990s as well as the Cat Fanciers Association in 2000.

This is a rare cat breed and therefore not much information on it is available. It does seem that in 2002, a 5th generation Viverral was developed and this established the breed. The cat is described as a fishing cat hybrid. A breeding program was started but it is thought that the cat became extinct.

Description

The Selkirk Rex is a medium- to large-sized cat that will weigh between 3 to 6kg. He is a well-built cat of which you get a short- and long coat variety. The coat is available in all colors. The coat has a soft, woolly look to it with some curls.

With the long-haired variety, the cat has a well-plumed tail. One drawback perhaps is that the cat is a fairly heavy shedder, and perhaps wouldn’t be a good choice for those with allergies.

Temperament:

This is a lively, playful, energetic cat with a friendly temperament. Cat experts will tell you that it is the Persian and British Shorthair ancestors that have given him his placid, lovable nature. He is, however, more active than those cat breeds and loves to play.

Tolerant and affectionate, the Selkirk isn't a lap cat. Because he has a sociable nature, he dislikes being left alone for long periods of time.

The Selkirk Rex fits in well with households where there are well-behaved children and other pets. He is such a loving cat and loves to be in the company of his human companions. He isn’t demanding and likes to talk to you in a quiet voice.

The Viverral is muscular and substantial. He has a smallish head and smallish ears with a thick tail. The coat is spotted. The base color of the coat and the spots should be different. The light cream underbelly is also spotted. Large, muscular, and solid, the cat’s eyes are big and round in the smallish heald. The coat is short and plush with a spotted pattern of black, brown or tan spots. Temperament: The Viverral cat has been designed to produce friendly kittens that are curious and confident. They turn out strong and confident and are suitable as house cats. New cat owners might have success with them and they can even be friendly with children in the home, but the truth remains, they are unpredictable. Beautiful and something unique, it is not likely though that this cat breed would have wanted to be cuddled and petted by his human owners.

Characteristics

When you welcome a Selkirk Rex cat into your home, you’ll have a loving friend and companion.

They love to bask in the attention they get as they’re quite unusual with their wavy to curly coats. People are always wanting to touch it.

The Selkirk Rex cat is an active, playful cat and has a whole lot of love to offer you.

Hybrid cats such as the Viverral can look quite a bit like a wild cat and this is what first appeals to cat lovers. They want an exotic cat to brag about. However, these cats can come up with a whole lot of behavioral problems so that you wish you had never got one. One should just go along to some of the many cat shelters there are to discover how many hybrid cats land up there. They turned out to be a disappointment – their behavior wouldn’t conform to what their human family expected of them. This is the story of hybrid cats. Humans want some exotic looking animal to please their greedy natures and then when the cats don’t behave the way they should, they get rid of them. Rather, it is humans that need to change their behavior and leave wild animals alone. The Viverral can have their good side and be splendid pets but they aren’t consistent. They have a streak of unpredictability, and they also have issues with the use of a litter box. They mark their territory too and can show some aggression. Any animal with a wild side isn’t going to make the best pet, but still, some cat lovers have managed to bring out their best side.

Health Problems

The Selkirk Rex cat, if looked after well and given excellent food can live to be 15, 16, or 17 years of age. Some of these cats can suffer from hair loss. Remember, that every cat will require vaccinations and de-worming.

Kidney Disease:

Chronic kidney failure usually develops over a number of months. Chronic kidney failure in cats is a progressive illness but if you get your cat to the vet it can be managed. The vet will want a sample of your cat's urine and possibly a blood test.

The development of hybrid cats began as a scientific effort in the 1970s. Hybrid pets can be aggressive and also solitary. Hybrid cats are an unnatural breeding. They are cat species that weren’t meant to mate in the first place. Breeders tell stories of premature births and also aborted pregnancies. Some of the more common illnesses among hybrid cats include digestive issues. Also, vaccinations used to protect our domestic cats from disease have not been approved for use in hybrid animals. A hybrid cat has a wild side to him. These cats were bred to look like a wild cat, and although they are healthy, they can also have some health issues. Ensuring the cat has a proper diet will contribute more to better health. As mentioned, some of these cats can battle with the likes of chronic diarrhea and irritable bowel disease and also battle with intestinal parasite issues.

Caring The Pet

Your Selkirk Rex will need to have his fur brushed. You don’t want to brush him too hard every week as this can cause the curls to frizz. Rather use a spray bottle with some cat conditioner and lightly spray the curls and use your fingers to ‘comb’ his hair.

Provide your cat with well-balanced meals. Your Selkirk Rex is a carnivore and you have to ensure that his food is made up of meat. The best commercially manufactured cat foods know how to correctly balance your cat’s food so that it gets the perfect blend of vitamins and minerals. Always choose a good brand of cat food that will meet your cat's nutritional needs. If you’re unsure, you can always ask your vet for suggestions about good quality food that will help towards ensuring good health for your cat.

The cheaper, unknown brands may not have the best ingredients to keep your cat happy and healthy. Remember to read the labels as a growing kitten will require different food to a senior cat.

Provide your Selkirk Rex with a litter box, scratching post, and a climbing tree.

Your kitten will need to be vaccinated to protect him from some of the life-threatening diseases cats can get. Most of the vets these days recommend a combined vaccine, starting at about 8 weeks of age. These vaccines will protect your kitten from Feline Leukaemia Virus, Feline Parovirus, and cat flu.

These are different cats to your regular domestic cat, and they will require different care. One of the things you need to do for a cat like this is provide it with an outdoor enclosure. Because of their wild side, they are longing to be outdoors and you may find it difficult integrating such a cat into your home. The Viverral needs plenty of exercise but you can’t just let them roam freely outdoors. Yes, you can train them to walk with a leash but you need to allow him outside in the enclosure. You can include a shallow paddling pool for him too. These are active, intelligent cats and you will need to invest in some interactive toys for him to keep him amused. You will need to supply this cat with a scratching post and a climbing tree. This is because as a cat, he is a natural climber and scratcher and he will need these in his life. Ensure your feline pet has a nice warm, dry place to sleep.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Selkirk Rex vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  2. Selkirk Rex vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  3. Selkirk Rex vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  4. Selkirk Rex vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  5. Selkirk Rex vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  6. Selkirk Rex vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  7. Selkirk Rex vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  8. Selkirk Rex vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  9. Selkirk Rex vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  10. Selkirk Rex vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  11. Selkirk Rex vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  12. Selkirk Rex vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  13. Selkirk Rex vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  14. Selkirk Rex vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  15. Selkirk Rex vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
  16. Selkirk Rex vs Australian Mist - Breed Comparison
  17. Selkirk Rex vs Balinese - Breed Comparison
  18. Selkirk Rex vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  19. Selkirk Rex vs Bicolor - Breed Comparison
  20. Selkirk Rex vs Birman - Breed Comparison
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  22. Selkirk Rex vs Bombay - Breed Comparison
  23. Selkirk Rex vs Brazilian Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  24. Selkirk Rex vs Bristol - Breed Comparison
  25. Selkirk Rex vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison
  26. Viverral vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  27. Viverral vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  28. Viverral vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  29. Viverral vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  30. Viverral vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  31. Viverral vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  32. Viverral vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  33. Viverral vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  34. Viverral vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  35. Viverral vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  36. Viverral vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  37. Viverral vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  38. Viverral vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  39. Viverral vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  40. Viverral vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
  41. Viverral vs Australian Mist - Breed Comparison
  42. Viverral vs Balinese - Breed Comparison
  43. Viverral vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  44. Viverral vs Bicolor - Breed Comparison
  45. Viverral vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  46. Viverral vs Blue Russian - Breed Comparison
  47. Viverral vs Bombay - Breed Comparison
  48. Viverral vs Brazilian Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  49. Viverral vs Bristol - Breed Comparison
  50. Viverral vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison