Devon Rex - Cat Breed Profile, Characteristics, Facts, and Price

Origins - How Did these Cats Originate and Come into Being?

Their history is quite similar to that of their distant relative, the Cornish Rex, as, like them, they came into being as a ‘natural accident’. It all goes back to 1960; a feral tom used to live near an abandoned tin mine near Buckfastleigh, which is a small town in Devon, England.

The county is situated in southwest England.

The curly-coated tom mated with a straight coated cat, resulting in the uniquely curly-coated kittens. These kittens were born in the garden of Beryl Cox, who was an avid cat lover. Of the litter, a kitten named Kirlee was a curly coat and haired kitten.

Kirlee was a brownish-black tom and he had the same wavy coat as his father.

The place where all this happened was nearby Cornwall, which is the birthplace of Cornish Rex cat. Due to this, at first, Cox thought that Kirlee is a Cornish Rex and, to breed the Devon Rex, she tried to breed Kirlee with Cornish Rex cats to get the same kind of litter.

However, it did not work and each time, the result was litters of straight hair.

Upon seeing this, Cox and other breeders concluded that since the Devon Rex gene is a recessive gene, the kittens must have it from both of their parents. To put it simply, Kirlee’s feral father was also the father of Kirlee’s mother. The name of the breed was adopted.

The name was decided based on Kirlee’s birthplace, Devonshire, and a hint to the rex rabbit who has the same kind of curly coat.

The first ever Devon Rex cat came to the United States in 1968 and in 1972, AFCA was the first organization to accept these cats for the championship. The Cat Fanciers’ Association welcomed the feline in 1983. Today, all the cat organizations accept Devon Rex cats for the championship.

Size and Physical Attributes of a Devon Rex Cat

The cat has a unique appearance and large eyes, huge ears, set low on the head, high cheekbones, and a short muzzle give an elfin-like look to the breed. These cats are medium in size and their frame and structure are also medium and finely made.

The cat is covered with fine-textured, soft, and wavy fur. They have down and guard hair, which gives them a distinctly loosely curled coat.

The fur is quite unique and it is unlike that of Cornish Rex. It is a result of a natural mutation and no other breed has such a coat. You can learn more about the Cornish Rex cat in a detailed breed profile and guide.

These cats are very curious and lively, and they like to know what is happening around them.

The point score for the breed is given below.

According to the Cat Fanciers’ Association, below is the accepted breed standard.

• Head - the head has a modified wedge shape, which is delineated with prominent three convex curves. The head is broad but its length is slightly more than its breadth. The face has full cheeks and a prominent whisker break.

  The nose has a strong stop and the forehead curves back to a flat skull.

• Muzzle - the muzzle is short and well developed. Besides, it also has well-pronounced whisker pads.

• Chin - the chin is strong and well-developed. The chin should be vertically in line with the nose and must not be undershot or overshot.

• Eyes - the eyes are large and wide-set. They have an oval shape and they slope slightly to the outer edges of the ears. These cats could have eyes of any color as there are no eye colors that are specific to this breed.

• Ears - their ears are one of their distinct features as they are relatively large in size and set at a very low level. They are quite wide at the base, which makes the outsides of the ears’ base go beyond the line of the wedge.

  They taper to the rounded tips and are covered with finely-textured fur. The ears could have earmuffs but it is not necessary.

• Body - the body is hard and well-muscled. It is medium in length and is quite lithe and sleek in appearance. The chest is broad and the bones are finely structured and developed. The legs are quite sturdy and the body is carried high on them.

• Legs - the hind legs are longer than the forelegs. They are slim and the paws are small and oval in shape. The paws have five toes in the front and four toes behind.

• Tail - the tail is long, tapering, and finely structured. It is covered with short and fine fur.

• Neck - the neck is medium in length and slender in structure.

The whiskers and eyebrows of these cats also curl and sometimes, they are entirely missing.

For a complete breed standard and to know more about the cat’s variations of color, visit and check the Cat Fanciers’ Association’s Devon Rex breed standard.

Personality - What is the Personality of the Devon Rex Cat?

Devon Rex is an active, alert, curious, and energetic breed. Just like their appearance, elf-like, they have the same elf-like personality also. They are very funny and having one at home means that there will be no dull moment.

Due to their large ears and eyes, these cats are often compared with elves, pixies, and aliens.

They are also known as ‘poodle cats’ and the people having them at home know how playful and cheerful these felines are. Unlike the usual cat-like personality, these felines love to be around people as following their favorite person around the house is their favorite activity.

Having short fur, these cats make ideal snuggle partners, and they do not mind the hugs at all.

Something that sets these cats apart from other breeds is their loyalty, devotion, courageous personality, intelligence, and playful nature. These cats love to perch on their owners’ shoulders and sit in their laps.

They are more like lap-cats and like dogs, they also like to play fetch and retrieve tossed away balls and toys.

They are very curious and they want to know everything about what you are doing. They do not like to run around a lot but they love to learn new tricks, play with interactive toys, and be by your side all the time.

They love to sample everything you cook in the house and being a foodie, he could put on weight really quick. However, to make sure that he stays healthy and with you for a longer time, keep an eye on his food intake and do not let him snack every now and then.

He likes to sleep in warm places, under the covers, preferably, and would welcome you every day from work.

Health Concerns - How Healthy is a Devon Rex Cat?

All cat breeds are prone to health issues and diseases. This includes both pedigreed and mixed-breed cats. Devon Rex cats are also usually healthy but they are prone to a number of diseases.

This does not mean that you Devon Rex will get all or any of these diseases for sure but knowing about them will help you decide whether you want one of these felines or not.

Below are some of such diseases.

• Congenital Hypotrichosis - this is also known as hereditary baldness, which is a result of the recessive gene. These cats usually have a very fine and smooth coat but if any of these cats have less hair than usual, then those are considered to be hypotricotic.
• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy - it is a kind of heart condition that could be inherited in some cats. Maine Coon is one of such breeds but the hereditary factor is yet to be confirmed for the Devon Rex cats.
• Malassezia Dermatitis - it is a single-celled yeast that is responsible for several ear infections, itchiness, and greasy skin in cats. The condition could be treated with antifungal medication and treatment.
• Hip Dysplasia - the condition happens when the hind leg of the cat does not fit properly with the hip joint and causes movement issues in him. It is a painful condition and in many cats, it could be rectified through surgery.
• Urticaria Pigmentosa - it is a skin-related problem in which the body is covered with sores that are crusty and painful. It could be treated with fatty acids and medication like prednisolone.
• Devon Rex Myopathy - it is also known as spasticity and it is an inherited condition that is visible once the cat is between 3 weeks and 6 months of age. Due to the condition, the cat gets tired easily and his muscles are weak. There is no treatment for the condition yet.

Keeping a close check on your cat’s health will be helpful in bettering his overall health condition and keeping him out of trouble.

Care and Grooming - How to Care for Your Devon Rex Cat?

The Devon Rex’s curly and short coat is easy to manage and handle. When grooming, be gentle as the hair is soft and could break easily. Many times, you will not need a brush, you can just finger brush your cat’s fur and this is all that it needs.

These cats do not shed a lot and even when they do, you will not see much of the fur sitting on your clothes, bedding, and furniture. These cats need occasional baths and unless your cat is white in color, they do not get dirty easily and quickly.

After the bath, their coat dries rather quickly. To bathe him, get a high-quality cat shampoo, and do not use your own shampoo for it.

Brush your cat’s teeth every week to prevent periodontal disease. If possible, brush your cat’s teeth daily but the weekly sessions will also work just fine. Clean the eyes of your cat daily with a damp cloth and use a separate cloth, or the separate side of the cloth, to clean each eye.

Check the ears carefully and make sure that they are clean and free from any kind of redness, bad odor, and infection. If dirty, clean them with a cotton ball and a mixture of 50:50 warm water and apple cider vinegar. Do not use cotton swabs as they could damage the cat’s inside ears.

Like all cats, these felines are also very particular about their bathroom hygiene. Clean the litter box regularly and keep it clean and free from any bad smell.

Blame it on their short fur, these cats are nearly always cold. Buy him a nice cat sweater or keep him warped in a blanket when it is cold outside. Do not let your feline roam around in the neighborhood and mingle with stray cats.

This will keep him protected against diseases, fights, and possible theft. Build him a nice and big house so that he could sunbathe outdoors with the entire family.

Other than being unique and unusual, these cats are very affectionate and they make great emotional support cat. They do really well with kids and cat-friendly dogs. Similarly, they make a great choice for emotional support animals also.

To bring one home as your ESA, fill the online questionnaire and get a valid ESA letter first.

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