Looking as if it has just turned from the hairdressing salon with a rather old-fashioned permanent wave, the Rex cat is named after the Rex rabbit, which also has a curly coat.
History
Although crinkly-coated kittens are recorded to have appeared in both Europe and the US after World War II, the breed was not taken seriously until 1950, when a litter of farm kittens in Cornwall, England, included a lively cream male with wavy fur that was mated back to its mother and found to breed true. In 1966 another, similar, kitten appeared in Devon, which, when crossed with the Cornish type produced cats with straight fur – proving that the Cornish and Devon coats were caused by different genes and that the two cats should be developed separately. Rex cats were recognized in Britain in 1967, and are now accepted for showing all over the world.
Temperament
Both the Cornish and Devon Rex are affectionate and playful.
Varieties
All coat color and patters, apart from bicolored, are recognized for the Rex. Those cats with Siamese-type points are known as Si-Rex.
Chocolare Tortoiseshell Cornish Rex
A Foreign-type cat, the Cornish is characterized by curly, very short, fine fur that is less coarse than the Devon. It has few, if any, guard hairs, so that its coat usually consists solely of down and awn hairs.
Picture: Chocolare Tortoiseshell Cornish Rex
Body
Long and slender with a naturally arched back.
Coat
The curly fur is silky, short, and close-lying, with no guard hairs. The color should be a mixture of chocolate, red, and cream patches. Fur should be particularly curly on the back and tail.
Tail
Long and slender, tapering toward the end and extremely flexible.
Legs
- Very long, straight and slender.
- Cat stands high on its legs.
Feet
The paws are dainty and slightly oval. The color of the pads should harmonize with that of the coat.
- Brown paw pads.
Head
Wedge-shaped with a long nose. The color of the nose pad should harmonize with that of the coat.
- Brown nose pad.
- Curly whiskers.
Eyes
Medium in size and oval-shaped. The color of the eyes should harmonize with that of the coat.
Ears
Large and slightly rounded, set high on the head.
Facial Characteristics
Chocolate Tortoiseshell Cornish Rex.
Picture: Blue Cornish Rex
Blue Cornish Rex
The Blue’s coat has a distinct sheen.
White Devon Rex
Also Foreign in build the Devon has a unique “pixie” face that differentiates it from the Cornish. Its fur is also different in feel, containing all three types of hair that make up the coats of other cats. The Devon’s habit of apparently wagging its tail when particularly happy has earned it the nickname “poodle cat”.
Picture: White Devon Rex
Body
Medium in size, slender, hard and muscular. Slender neck and broad chest.
Coat
The fur is very short, fine, wavy, and soft, although slightly coarser than the Cornish. The color should be pure white, without any markings.
Tail
Long, fine, and tapering, well covered with fur.
Legs
Long and slim.
Feet
The paws are small and oval. The color of the pads should harmonize with that of the coat, brown paw pads.
Head
A modified wedge in shape, with full cheeks and a short nose, contributing to the cat’s elfin appearance. Pronounced cheek bones, curly whiskers tend to be brittle with pink nose pad.
Eyes
Large, oval-shaped, and set wide apart. The color should harmonize with that of the coat.
Ears
Very large, set low on the head, with rounded tips. They may be tufted.
Facial Characteristics
White Devon Rex.
Picture: Brown tsyaratabby Devon Rex
Brown tabby Devon Rex
Tabby markings accentuate the waves of the coat.
History
Although crinkly-coated kittens are recorded to have appeared in both Europe and the US after World War II, the breed was not taken seriously until 1950, when a litter of farm kittens in Cornwall, England, included a lively cream male with wavy fur that was mated back to its mother and found to breed true. In 1966 another, similar, kitten appeared in Devon, which, when crossed with the Cornish type produced cats with straight fur – proving that the Cornish and Devon coats were caused by different genes and that the two cats should be developed separately. Rex cats were recognized in Britain in 1967, and are now accepted for showing all over the world.
Temperament
Both the Cornish and Devon Rex are affectionate and playful.
Varieties
All coat color and patters, apart from bicolored, are recognized for the Rex. Those cats with Siamese-type points are known as Si-Rex.
Chocolare Tortoiseshell Cornish Rex
A Foreign-type cat, the Cornish is characterized by curly, very short, fine fur that is less coarse than the Devon. It has few, if any, guard hairs, so that its coat usually consists solely of down and awn hairs.
Picture: Chocolare Tortoiseshell Cornish RexBody
Long and slender with a naturally arched back.
Coat
The curly fur is silky, short, and close-lying, with no guard hairs. The color should be a mixture of chocolate, red, and cream patches. Fur should be particularly curly on the back and tail.
Tail
Long and slender, tapering toward the end and extremely flexible.
Legs
- Very long, straight and slender.
- Cat stands high on its legs.
Feet
The paws are dainty and slightly oval. The color of the pads should harmonize with that of the coat.
- Brown paw pads.
HeadWedge-shaped with a long nose. The color of the nose pad should harmonize with that of the coat.
- Brown nose pad.
- Curly whiskers.
Eyes
Medium in size and oval-shaped. The color of the eyes should harmonize with that of the coat.
Ears
Large and slightly rounded, set high on the head.
Facial Characteristics
Chocolate Tortoiseshell Cornish Rex.
Picture: Blue Cornish RexBlue Cornish Rex
The Blue’s coat has a distinct sheen.
White Devon Rex
Also Foreign in build the Devon has a unique “pixie” face that differentiates it from the Cornish. Its fur is also different in feel, containing all three types of hair that make up the coats of other cats. The Devon’s habit of apparently wagging its tail when particularly happy has earned it the nickname “poodle cat”.
Picture: White Devon RexBody
Medium in size, slender, hard and muscular. Slender neck and broad chest.
Coat
The fur is very short, fine, wavy, and soft, although slightly coarser than the Cornish. The color should be pure white, without any markings.
Tail
Long, fine, and tapering, well covered with fur.
Legs
Long and slim.
Feet
The paws are small and oval. The color of the pads should harmonize with that of the coat, brown paw pads.
HeadA modified wedge in shape, with full cheeks and a short nose, contributing to the cat’s elfin appearance. Pronounced cheek bones, curly whiskers tend to be brittle with pink nose pad.
Eyes
Large, oval-shaped, and set wide apart. The color should harmonize with that of the coat.
Ears
Very large, set low on the head, with rounded tips. They may be tufted.
Facial Characteristics
White Devon Rex.
Picture: Brown tsyaratabby Devon RexBrown tabby Devon Rex
Tabby markings accentuate the waves of the coat.
