Colourpoint, Rex - Coated and AOV Cat Club

The Devon Rex breed stems from a curly-coated cat found in 1960 by Beryl Cox, in Devon. She attempted to take him in, but he refused to be tamed. Beryl kept an eye on the cat, though, and noticed that he had mated with a local female cat. She found the litter in a field at the end of her garden, and one of the resulting litter also had curly fur - she named the curly kitten Kirlee, and took him home. Like the Cornish Rex, the Devon's coat is caused by a recessive gene, and inbreeding was necessary to perpetuate the breed - the Devon gene is different to that which curls the coat of the Cornish Rex, and crossing Devon and Cornish Rexes produces litters of straight-coated kittens. The two mutations must have arisen independently, despite arising so close geographically, ie in Devon and Cornwall.

Devons are fondly described as "little terrors", and "monkeys in cats' clothing" whose antics include swinging from the curtains and climbing the wallpaper! These lively and extrovert cats seem to be born comedians. They have several 'dog-like' qualities, such as a fondness for fetching toys, and can be trained to walk on a harness and lead. They are very gentle and loving cats, and hate to be bored or alone. Visitors to the house may be surprised to find that they are thoroughly investigated by a nosy Devon Rex before they have a chance to sit down. The cat will respond well to cat-loving guests and will snuggle up to them. However Rexes are not lap cats and will soon be off and attempting to get the visitor to dangle and throw its toys. Lots of things to play with and climb on should be provided for this cat, and multilevel scratching posts will be much appreciated for the opportunities they present. If you are looking for a cat that will really value your attention, and you have the time to give it the attention it deserves, then a Rex may be the cat for you.

Despite its somewhat fragile appearance, the Devon Rex is a healthy and vigorous breed. Rexes may be considered elderly at between eight and ten years old and regular check ups from this age on are advisable. Yearly blood tests may be advisable to aid early diagnosis of problems such as kidney disease which is unfortunately common in older cats. (As it is with most breeds). Most geriatric cats will benefit from appropriate adjustment to their diet, and many cats will live well into their teens.