Extraordinary, Eccentric and Lovable Cat Devon Rex

The Cat Devon Rex is not an ordinary cat: he is eccentric and very sensitive. These characteristics should make us think long and hard before adopting them: he is only suitable for those with experience with animals, endowed with great sensitivity, and who can devote a lot of time to it because the Devon Rex needs company and lots of attention. The specimens of this breed live well in cramped and well-heated spaces. They may be suitable for people allergic to their hair (because they do not lose any).

  The origins of the Cat Devon Rex

The origins of the Devon Rex cat are recent and his history rather singular: in 1960, thanks to the union of a domestic cat, owned by Beryl Cox, and a street cat, a very strange black kitten was born, similar to a Pixie, who had curly hair and big ears. Mrs. Cox, despite the kitten's strange features, kept it with her and named it Kirlee. After reading in a newspaper that a breeder named Brian Stirling-Webb was interested in a new type of cat with a wavy, very short coat called the Cornish Rex, Beryl Cox suggested Kirlee for the breeding program: mated nine queens, who gave birth to twenty-nine kittens in all.

The result was very disappointing because the newborns had normal hair, but it was precisely thanks to this that it was discovered that Kirlee and the cats had different genes; so we found the existence of another gene, the Devon Rex. The experiments continued according to two various programs. The Devon and the Cornish each specified their characteristics through numerous crosses made in a distinct way.

Initially, the CFA (Cat Fanciers' Association) accepted and considered the Rex breed without making distinctions between Devon and Cornish; in 1979, it granted them a separate registration and in 1983, it gave them access to the championships. In Europe, the first copy of Devon Rex appeared in 1979, thanks to Jerry Weaver.

 

The ideal cat

The appearance of the Cat Devon Rex is, as we have said, curious and atypical. The body, solid and muscular, is slender and of medium height, with an ample thorax. The head, small in size, is slightly longer than wide and the short muzzle is well developed, with a strong chin, prominent cheeks, and paws. The eyes are large, set well apart, lemon-shaped, and angled outward from the ear; their color is in harmony with that of the dress.

The legs, whose bone structure is moderately fine, end in small and oval feet (the hind ones seem higher compared to the front ones). The tail, of medium-fine size, is long and tapers towards the tip. He is well covered with short, wavy hair. The coat is short with a fine, wavy texture. The eyebrows and mustaches are curly, rough, and of medium size. 

Hair color

The particularity of the Devon Rex cat does not concern the color of the coat, but his texture and length: he has short and wavy hair. The tonality that characterizes the basic color is very varied: we accept all variants of color and design, including the two-tone and the Siamese (Si-Rex) point dress. 

The character of the Cat Devon Rex

The Cat Devon Rex is the exception to the rule that first impressions are always the right ones. He seems shy when in reality, he is a lively player and a tireless runner (he seems to be among the fastest felines). The best house for Devon Rex is filled with cat trees and towers to play with. This atypical cat is, moreover, very sociable: it only takes a few seconds for a bond of reciprocal sympathy to be created between him and the man.

He's an elf that suddenly jumps on your shoulders and settles there purring. The Devon Rex is singular not only because of his curious and extraordinary pace but also because of his character so out of the ordinary. He is a hugger, to the point that his dearest desire is to stay in the arms of his master (if possible under his sweater or the covers) whom he adores and whom he "covers" with purrs.

A very cheerful and curious cat, he cannot bear to be left alone; indeed, his dependence on man is total, not only because he needs affection but also because he could never survive without his care. He likes to play and can be taught, without difficulty, to retrieve thrown objects. He is always on the lookout and attentive to what is happening around him: he picks up the slightest noise thanks to his big ears! He likes to scratch the furniture so a good cat scratcher would help you to protect your furniture.

He respects the mood of man, his fellows, and animals in general, which he coexists with without any problem, thanks to the unconditional trust that characterizes his excellent character.

Hug: This poodle cat will appreciate being cuddled and will seek your body's warmth and presence.

Player: The Devon Rex will show you his feline agility abilities thanks to his slender and muscular body.

Calm: His morphology does not make him the calmest cat but, don't worry, some individuals are calmer than others, especially when it comes to getting warm under a blanket. Ask the breeder well to know the least reckless of the litter.

Clever: His clever side will encourage him to participate in your life actively and play funny tricks on you, like tricking himself into snuggling up to you in bed!

Fearful/wary of strangers: This curly cat is more likely to be curious than afraid in front of an unknown person. But still, give him time to adjust. In many situations, a nice motivation as a reward will greatly help.

Independent: He is more renowned for his presence with his humans than for his independence. He will remain a cat, free to choose to be with you or to sit on the edge of the window.

 

Behavior

Talkative: The Cat Devon Rex appreciates your presence and seeks your attention. What better way to catch your eye than to meow softly and melodiously!

Greedy/gluttonous: This breed is rather reputed to be lively, it is normal that this tomcat is a good eater. A great way to occupy him during these meals is to offer him an interactive bowl so that he eats more slowly without greed.

Need for exercise: This feline needs to play alone with toys and with you to be able to spend energy on objects awakening its hunting instinct. It is essential to be able to occupy him daily to prevent him from getting bored.

Runaway: This breed is well adapted for apartment life, but due to the lack of hair, this does not make him a good candidate for life outside.

 

Maintenance

Grooming: A light weekly brushing is enough to keep his hair shiny. It is advisable to clean his ears weekly because of the presence of a lot of earwax in your ears. It is also possible that it needs to be washed because of cats of this breed sweat. Therefore, it should be gradually accustomed to accept water as soon as possible.

Hair loss: The Cat Devon Rex hardly sheds.

Best Products for Cat Devon Rex

Cares

The Devon Rex cat is only available, happy, and lively when he knows he can trust his master. To gain his trust, you have to follow a few simple rules. He is confident by nature, but he likes hidden and welcoming places, not out of shyness but because he likes the heat; he needs a lot of security, and therefore, when we welcome him at home, we must not forget to have set up his little corner for him. Decorating your home with Petguin cat house collection is an excellent way to assert that. 

Grooming does not require special precautions because his very short hair allows him to clean himself. On the other hand, the cleanliness of its large ears deserves special attention: being almost entirely hairless, they can easily become a receptacle for dust. In winter, to avoid colds, don't forget to put a little woolen coat on him, but only in cold places and outside. In addition, if he has to participate in a beauty contest, he must be bathed two or three days before; otherwise, his hair will not adhere to his skin.

The last recommendation concerns his diet: because of a robust and excessive appetite, he is often subject to intestinal disorders; to avoid this risk, he must be given all the food he needs, but at frequent intervals and in small quantities.

Health

 Life expectancy: His life expectancy is between 12 and 16 years.

 Resistant/robust: The Cat Devon Rex will hardly appreciate drafts and the cold, so it is important to take care in winter to keep him in a well-heated home. 

Tendency to grow: Excess weight in the Cat Devon Rex will be seen very quickly. Giving him a diet adapted to his activity, offered in an interactive bowl, will help him to maintain his figure. 

Common illnesses:

The Devon Rex can have the same diseases as our domestic felines, oral problems, for example.

He can also suffer from diseases related to his breed:

Myasthenia leads to muscular dystrophy in the forelegs. As a result, the poodle cat will have its head carried lower, an abnormal gait, more visible shoulder blades, and tire quickly. Being a disease of genetic origin, there is no treatment to date.

A predisposition to dermatological problems is possible.

Breeding 

The heats in the female are pretty frequent and they can give birth to 4 to 6 kittens per litter on average. No mating with other breeds is allowed for the Devon Rex.