Devon Rex

The Devon Rex is a relatively new breed of cat with a sparse, curly, very soft coat similar to that of the Cornish Rex. The Cornish Rex's coat is unusual because only the down layer of hair is present, the other two layers are absent. Devons, which are medium sized cats, are often called "pixie cats" or "alien cats" because of their unique appearance. Their uncommonly large ears are set low on the sides of their wide wedge-shaped heads, their eyes are large and oval-shaped, and their noses are slightly upturned.Their whisker pads are prominent with "crinkled" whiskers sprouting from them. Their body type is distinctly lightly-built, but also had and muscular. The curl in their fur is caused by a different mutation and gene than that of the Cornish Rex and German Rex, and breeding of a Devon to either of those cats results in cats without rexed (curled) fur. The typical Devon is active, mischievous, playful, and very people-oriented. They have been described as a cross between a cat, a dog and a monkey. They are high-jumpers and will try to occupy any space large enough to admit them. They're relatively easy to take care of, but they do shed, and many of those with allergies have found that they are not always hypoallergenic. The Devon Rex is a potential choice for a minority of people who are allergic to cats. While no naturally bred cat can be truly hypoallergenic, Devon Rex (and Cornish Rex) do not aggravate allergies in some people with cat allergies. Allergic people are encouraged to visit a breeder and a doctor to determine their own tolerance for the breed.

ORIGIN: The Devon Rex originated near a tin mine in Devon, with one curly-coated, Black Smoke cat - Kirlee, and is distinct from the Cornish Rex, though the coat mutation appears similar. This first cat, Kirlee, was discovered in 1960 by Miss Beryl Cox, ten years after the discovery of the Cornish Rex gene in Cornwall. Miss Cox had seen photos of Cornish Rex, and contacted Brian Stirling-Webb of the Rex 'group' to see if this cat might be valuable to the breeders working with Rex cats. Since Devonshire is very close to Cornwall, site of the mutation of the Cornish Rex, assuming that the genes were the same, Kirlee would produce rexed kittens when bred to Cornish queens. Unfortunately for the Cornish breeders, all the kittens produced were normal coated, which showed that there were two genetic mutations that caused rexing of the coat. All Devon Rex today can trace their ancestry to Kirlee. The first Devon Rex arrived in the United States in 1968, and it was accepted for championship status in CFA in 1979.

STANDARD:

Accepted colors: All

Other links: CFA TICA ACFA CCA WCF SFDH FBRL

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