PREPARING AND PRESENTING YOUR SELKIRK REX FOR THE SHOW BENCH

picture copy right Alan Robinson

The Selkirk Rex has an alert and active personality with a sweet, endearing disposition that is very appealing. The coat is random and unstructured, arranged in loose curls, giving an overall soft, plushy feel……….Your preparation and presentation can make all the difference to the appearance of your Selkirk– it is well worthwhile working at it! Judges are impressed by sparkling condition – it can affect placings in classes!

HOW I GROOM SELKIRK REX

I use House of An-Ju products, obtainable from Smylee Pets (01953 8612660). I usually bath on a Wednesday or Thursday for a Saturday show.

I use Snowy Blue Shampoo to cleanse the coat and Texturizing Shampoo to add lift and body – I find them both the best products I have used. I NEVER use conditioner. The Texturising Spray is excellent in between times and if shows are just 2 weeks apart, you can use that instead of shampooing the coat again.

I have also tried John Frieda Frizz-Ease “Dream Curls” when I dry the kitten. You will need a Denman Triple Comb for grooming (you can get these in Superdrug or a Hairdressing outlet). I never use a brush – if you cannot get the Denman Triple Comb, use a wide toothed comb.

I start by having everything to hand. I shampoo my kittens using the telephone shower in the handbasin. I have a folded pad of towel to stand the kitten out on after shampooing and another smallish towel to squeeze out the immediate water. I then wrap the kitten in a large, warm bath sheet to take it to be dried.

I dilute the shampoos, as directed on the bottle, before beginning. I never wet the cat’s head or ears. First I thoroughly wet the coat and then apply the diluted Snowy Blue. I shampoo and then rinse thoroughly.

I then apply the diluted Texturizing Shampoo, wash the coat again thoroughly and then rinse and rinse and rinse again until the coat is squeaky clean.

I lift the kitten out onto the towel pad and pat out the water with the second towel. I then wrap the cat in the bath sheet and sit with the cat on my lap and towel dry (patting and blotting rather than rubbing) as far as possible. I scrunch the fur on the back towards the head to lift it away from the body. I spray carefully with the “Dream Curls”. I then scrunch dry as far as possible using the medium level and “warm” on my hairdryer (a diffuser is excellent). I dry the coat until it is damp-dry. I then let the kitten have a good shake and let it run around in a warm room. I then let it dry naturally. Every half hour or so I run my fingers through the coat and use my fingers to rake and scrunch the back fur towards the head and keep it lifted. NEVER USE A COMB AT THIS STAGE. Let the coat dry thoroughly, preferably leave it overnight.

On the Friday, comb the fur against the growth using the triple comb. Use short strokes with the comb. Take particular care with the stomach and the trousers. Spritz very lightly with a little water. Pat and scrunch, “play” with the coat with your hands and make it look good. Clean the face with a cotton wool pad that is slightly damp. Check in the ears too. Make sure the whiskers do not curl around and go into the eyes. Trim with nail scissors if necessary. If the eyes are a little watery, just blot with a soft tissue – do not rub.

At the show give the kitten a final groom, spritzing and scrunching if necessary. MAKE SURE THE COAT IS DRY BEFORE JUDGING, SO DO NOT DO THIS AT THE LAST MINUTE!!!!!

SOME FINAL TIPS:

• Start practising your grooming techniques when the kitten is young – as I dried my hair each morning I would just let some of the warm air blow over the babies when they were just 3 –4 weeks, they were soon used to it and did not panic, they liked the warmth.
• I gave my kittens their first bath at 6 weeks and then every 2 weeks until they went to their new home. They were no problem.
• Always practice before you have to go to a show, never leave things until the last minute!
• Always use a shampoo formulated with the correct PH balance for a cat’s skin to avoid excess grease or dandruff. I would never use a baby shampoo or washing up liquid on a cat’s skin.
• Never let the white on a self or bi-colour cat become yellow – something like Ring 5 Quick Clean is excellent for preventing this.
• Take a pride in your cat – a cat show is a beauty contest – if your cat looks good, it will feel good and show off so much better to the judges.

SELKIRK REX ARE STUNNING CATS THAT IMPRESS JUDGES – PREPARATION & PRESENTATION IS SO IMPORTANT - MAKE SURE YOU SHOW YOUR CAT IN PERFECT CONDITION !