Their thick, curly coats have earned them the nickname 'cats in sheep's clothing'.
Now the Selkirk Rex has been declared as a breed of its own by scientists, nine generations after it first appeared.
And every Selkirk Rex in the world can be traced back to one mother - Miss DePesto.
The kitten stood out from the rest of the litter for her unusual curly coat when she was born to a feral cat in Montana in 1987.
Her curls were the result of a spontaneous gene mutation that only affected her.
---
The curls are caused by a dominant gene, so the felines can be cross-bred with other cats and keep its signature fur.
---
Researchers at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna say that the Selkirk Rex is genetically distinct from other breeds and is the fourth type of curly-haired cat.
---
