Devon Rex

What is a Devon Rex?

A small cat of 2.5-4.5kg with a soft wavy coat, huge low-set ears, high cheekbones and enormous eyes. The coat mutation is recessive and distinct from the Cornish Rex - the two do not interbreed to produce curly kittens, which is how they were shown to be different genes.

They behave less like cats than almost any other breed: they ride on shoulders, they follow you from room to room, and they want to be under the duvet.

History and origins

Traced to a single curly-coated kitten called Kirlee, born in Buckfastleigh, Devon, in 1959 to a stray living near a disused tin mine. Beryl Cox recognised the mutation and the breed was built from him. The GCCF granted championship status in 1967.

Appearance and size

25-30cm, fine-boned and light but muscular. The coat is short, soft and wavy, thinnest on the chest and belly, and some individuals have bare patches - this is normal for the breed and not a disease. Every colour and pattern. Whiskers are short and often crinkled or broken.

Temperament and personality

Constant. A Devon Rex is on your shoulder, in your bag, in the sink, and helping. They are described as monkeys, and it is accurate. They are also profoundly affectionate and will sleep pressed against you all night for warmth.

They are poor at being alone, and most breeders will ask about your household before homing one.

Intelligence and trainability

Very high. Fetch, tricks, harness walking, opening doors, turning taps on. They need enrichment and they will invent their own if you do not supply it.

Children and other pets

Excellent. Sociable, tolerant and rarely scratchy. They get on with dogs and with other cats, and a second cat is genuinely worth considering.

Health problems

• Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome (CMS). A hereditary muscle-weakness disease specific to this breed. There is a definitive DNA test and both parents must be clear. This is the question to ask first.
• HCM. Echocardiogram screening of breeding cats, annually.
• Pyruvate kinase deficiency - DNA test.
• Blood type B is common in the breed, which causes neonatal isoerythrolysis if a type B queen is mated to a type A tom. Responsible breeders blood-type.
• Patellar luxation occurs.
• Skin. The coat does not distribute skin oil the way a normal coat does, so ears and nail beds get greasy and the skin can develop yeast overgrowth. Regular gentle cleaning is part of ownership.
• Hypotrichosis - some lines lose coat with age; harmless but worth knowing.

Daily care routine

Wipe the ears and nail beds weekly, more if they get greasy. Keep the house warm and provide fleece beds and hides - a Devon with almost no coat gets genuinely cold. Two play sessions.

Grooming and coat care

Do not brush a Devon Rex with a normal brush; the coat is fragile and breaks. A gentle rub with a soft cloth or a damp hand is all it needs. Bath occasionally if the skin gets greasy, with a mild cat shampoo.

Exercise needs

High and interactive. Climbing space, wand toys, puzzle feeders, and ideally a companion.

Feeding and diet

High-quality wet-led food, £25-£40 a month. They burn more energy than their size suggests keeping warm, and they eat with enthusiasm.

Price

£700-£1,400 from a registered breeder with the CMS clear and annual echo screening. Setup £220-£380; ongoing £40-£75 a month plus a slightly warmer house.

Buying advice

Ask for the CMS DNA certificates by name for both parents, the PK Deficiency result, and the date and outcome of the most recent echocardiogram. Ask about blood typing.

They are often described as hypoallergenic. They are not. The allergen is a protein in saliva and skin, not hair, and a Devon Rex grooms itself like any cat. They shed less, which helps some people and not others. Spend an hour with an adult before you commit.