Devon Rex

Nature can produce some odd coincidences, and the appearance of the first Devon Rex is one such.  The Cornish Rex breed, a natural mutation, first appeared on Bodmin Moor in 1950. Just a few years later on 15th July 1959, the first Devon Rex kitten was born to a non-pedigree mother. He was Black Smoke in colour, and the only curly coated kitten in the litter, and his sire was unknown but was assumed to be a large black cat that lived in a local tin mine with ringlets hanging from his tail. This unusual kitten was adopted by Miss Beryl Cox and her friend Miss Margaret Croll of Buckfastleigh, Devon and was called “Kirlee”. Their attention was drawn to the rarity of Kirlee when they read about a curly coated kitten being exhibited at the Kensington Kitten & Neuter Cat Club show in London; the article stated that he was the only curly coated kitten in Britain. Consequently Miss Cox wrote to the breeder of the kitten to say that she also had a curly coated kitten.

As Cornwall and Devon are adjoining counties, it was assumed that Kirlee arose from the same mutation as Cornish Rex. Consequently, Kirlee was purchased by the well known judge and breeder, Mr Brian Sterling-Webb, and was mated to two Cornish Rex variant (normal coated carrying the Cornish Rex gene) queens. The resulting normal short and semi-longhaired coated kittens raised the suspicion that Kirlee was the result of a different gene. In 1961 Kirlee was mated to a full Cornish Rex queen, Broughton Purly Queen, who went on to deliver a litter of normal coated kittens. This proved that Kirlee was, indeed, the result of a separate and incompatible mutation. The two Rex mutations were then developed independently, the Cornish Rex being known as Gene 1, and the Devons as Gene 2. The Devon Rex was recognised by GCCF in 1967, and reached the United States in 1968. In 1972, the American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA) recognized the breed and it also became eligible for ACFA championship. In 1983, the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) recognized the Devon Rex for championship status.

The appearance of the Devon Rex is like no other breed; sometimes called the Pixie of the Cat Fancy. The head is formed by a short, broad wedge with high cheekbones. Their ears are large and wide at the base and set low on the head. Their eyes, which can be any colour, are large and oval shaped with what is sometimes described as an “impish expression”. A slender neck leads to a muscular body of medium length, with a broad chest and they look as though they are standing on tip toe with slim legs and small oval paws. The tail should be long and tapering. The coat, which is waved or rippled should be short, dense and soft and an even length on the body. The coat on the head and neck, over the shoulders and on the legs and paws is sometimes too short to wave. Cats have three types of hair, guard hair, awn hair and down hair; the Devon Rex coat is unusual because there is little guard hair. The whiskers and eyebrows are crinkled and may sometimes be stubbly. All colours and patterns are recognised. The coat may vary over the life of the cat, kittens may drop their coat during development, and adult coats can change seasonally. The coat looks it best at full maturity, from 18 months of age onwards.

Although not a large breed, Devon Rex have huge personalities!  They are intelligent, mischievous and highly active. They are very playful and want to be involved in everything – and they are powerful jumpers so no spot goes unexplored!  Expect to find them perching on the top of doors or climbing to some previously unexplored place.   Although they are interested in everything going on around them, Devons are very people-oriented and prefer to share their investigations with you so expect their company no matter what you are doing.  They will perch on your shoulder watching you make supper (food is another of their favourite things!), curl in your lap while you read a book and snuggle under the covers to sleep with you at night.  They are not particularly talkative but do chirp when they feel they absolutely need you to look at something that has caught their interest.  These busy little pixies work well in an active household as they thrive on company but should not be left alone for long periods as they can become destructive if they get bored.  They are great with children and get along well with other family pets. Ask any Devon Rex breeder or owner and they will tell you that generally these cats are very entertaining and funny!  They are both active and interactive, seeking you out to play and for a cuddle.  Indeed, their mischievousness and playful behaviour are all part of their charm.

Devon Rex are well-muscled cats weighing on average from 6 to 9 lbs, with males being heavier than females. Their soft, short, curly coats vary from cat to cat – the ideal show coat is an even, full coat of loose curls but individual cats will have coats ranging from a tousled mop of curls to a thin suede-like coat. Some cats may also have almost bare patches as well. The coats often vary over the life of the cat and when moulting the coat will often break off so no curl is apparent until the new coat grows back. Kittens often go through this stage. The Devon’s wavy coat is easy to maintain. Groom gently so you do not break the delicate hairs. In many cases, brushing your hand over the coat is all it needs. One of the startling things when you pick up a Devon is how warm they are to the touch – they feel like soft hot water bottles and are ideal to snuggle up to in winter. They have the same body temperature as other cats but their coat does not provide as much insulation and so they feel warmer. They also love heat and will be found basking in the windows or seeking other sources of heat like the top of the television. The lifespan of a Devon Rex is typically 12 to 16 years.

Contrary to popular opinion, Devon Rex do shed just like all other cats; however, the structure of their coat makes the shedding less obtrusive than in some other breeds. For some reason, there is a perception that the Devon Rex is hypo-allergenic but they do produce allergens like every other cat. Some people with allergies to cats are able to tolerate Devons but others are not depending on their personal allergies. If you are allergic and are considering a Devon, you should make arrangements to spend some time in the company of a Devon before acquiring one.

Devon Rex are generally a very healthy breed, but the limited gene pool in the past led to the development of an inherited muscle disease called Devon Rex myopathy or spasticity, for which there is now a reliable DNA test, and luxating patellar, where the patella (knee cap) dislocates or moves out of its normal location, appears more common in the breed.