 Devon
Rex Cat Breed Profile
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Devon Rex Breeders
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Hypoallergenic Cat
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Breed profile courtesy of Mel. Photos courtesy of
Exoticatz Bengals
Devon Rex History
The
Devon Rex didn't settle into the unsuspecting laps of humans until 1960. The father
of the Devon Rex breed, a feral, curly-coated tom, lived around an abandoned tin
mine near Devonshire, England. He mated with a straight-coated calico female
that produced a litter of kittens in the garden of cat fancier Beryl Cox. One of
the kittens, a brownish-black male that Cox named Kirlee, had the same short,
curly coat as his father. Breeders think that the calico female and the
curly-coated male must have been related, since the Devon Rex gene that governs
the curly coat is recessive and must be present in both parents to manifest in
the offspring.
At
first, Kirlee was thought to be related to the Cornish Rex. Subsequent matings
between Kirlee and the cats of Cornish Rex breeder, Brian Stirling-Webb, resulted in
only straight-coated offspring and it became clear that although Kirlee had
curly hair, a new Rex gene had been discovered. Cox and Webb concluded that the
two breeds were unrelated. The name Devon Rex was adopted for the new breed,
and a breeding program was established. To this day, Devon Rex breeders have
maintained the original look of the Devon Rex; all Devon Rex should be able to
trace their ancestry back to Kirlee, the first Devon Rex.
appearance
of the Devon REX
The Devon Rex
is a breed of unique appearance.
Its
large eyes, short muzzle, prominent cheekbones, curly whiskers and huge, low-set
ears create a characteristic elfin look.
The Devon Rex is a
fine to medium build, small cat. Females weigh an average of 2-3 kilos when full
grown, and males range from 3-4 kilos. Although it may look fragile, the Devon
Rex
is a sturdy, agile and very muscular breed.
Another
striking feature of the Devon Rex is its coat, which varies greatly between
individuals. Devon Rex have a short, rippling coat, which is either fairly loose
with a slight wave in the fur, or tight with a definite kink. The coat is
velvety soft, being mainly "down" fur -although there are a few guard hairs,
which break the smoothness (these guard hairs are also softer than those found
in other cats).
Devon Rex
kitten coats usually thin out (moult) one or more times during kittenhood.
Generally a Devon Rex kitten born with a nice, curly coat will maintain a curly coat as an
adult.
COLOURS
AND COAT PATTERNS OF THE DEVON REX
The Devon Rex
distinctive soft, wavy coat comes in a variety of patterns and in colours,
including pointed (si-rex), solid, shaded, tortoiseshell, calico, bi-colour,
harlequin and smoke colours as well as the tabby pattern.
The Devon Rex
is recognised and accepted for competition in all colours and patterns.
SPECIAL
CARE AND CONSIDERATIONS OF THE DEVON REX
The Devon Rex is a low maintenance, wash-and-wear
companion! Occasionally the Devon Rex's large
ears require cleaning, but otherwise a quick shampoo and towel dry (or even a
wipe-down with a damp cloth) and a nail-trim is all the grooming most Devon Rex require.
Even though
their body temperature is the same as other cats, many Devon Rex are surprisingly
warm to the touch due to a lighter, less insulating coat. Not surprisingly,
Devon Rex tend to be ‘heat seekers,’ so extra heat sources may be useful in winter.
Due to their
rarity and outgoing nature, Devon Rex are best kept indoors.
Devon Rex Personality
The character
of the Devon Rex is remarkable! Devon Rex are alert and active, and shows a lively
interest in their surroundings. They love to be with their humans, and enjoy
playing fetch or other games. They are also extremely agile cats with an
inquisitive nature and will explore every corner of their homes.
Devons Rex like
dogs, follow their humans from room to room, inviting themselves along for every
activity - preferably perched on a shoulder, lap, or wherever they can be
closest to their people. Never wishing to left-out of any activity, Devon Rex owners
find the breed very intelligent, obsessively affectionate, loyal and fun-loving.
The Devon Rex is a
cat with attitude and purrsonality plus – a breed that is definitely not for the
faint hearted!
DEVON
REX HYPOALLERGENIC
CAT?
Despite
popular myth, Devon Rex do shed (as does anything with hair), although their unique
coat may make the shed hair less obtrusive than that of many cats. Devon Rex have
also gained a dubious reputation as being "hypo-allergenic," but this varies
according to an individual's personal allergies. While some people with animal
allergies tolerate Devon Rex very well, anyone with allergy issues should arrange
to handle a Devon Rex before considering acquiring one.
More Reading:
Hypoallergenic Cat
Breeds
Devon Rex Breeders
Devon Rex Photos
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