Devon Rex
Among many other cats, the Devon Rex is a breed of cat that was first founded in England during the 1960s. They are most commonly known for their odd, striking appearance with a curly, soft and short coat. It is sometimes confused with the Cornish Rex as they are similar in appearance.
Appearance of the Devon Rex
The slight curl in the coat of the Devon Rex is caused by a different mutation and gene that that of the Cornish Rex. They are medium sized cats, sometimes referred to as pixie cats or aliens because of their unique appearance. They have large eyes which are set low on the sides of their head with slightly upturned noses. It may appear that they have no whiskers at all because they are much shorter than other cat breeds and are usually curled to an extent that they are almost invisible. Their legs are long and sturdy which makes them great leapers with unusually large toes and ears.
Devon Rex cats are low maintenance.
Behavior of the Devon Rex
Typically a Devon Rex is playful, active, and a little mischievous. They love to be around people and have been described as a cross between a cat, a dog, and a monkey. They can jump high due to their long legs and will occupy any space large enough for them to fit in. Because of this behavior they have often times been found in odd nooks and crannies. They like being in the highest spot in any room so if you can't find your Devon Rex anywhere look up. Although they are very much people-oriented cats, they will devote themselves to one person. A typical Devon Rex can be trained to walk, fetch, and even perform tricks that are generally associated with canines like jumping, heel, and playing tag.
History of the Devon Rex
Miss Cox of Devonshire England was the first to find that a stray cat she had taken in had given birth to an odd looking curly haired kitten in 1959. She named the sire Kirlee and doted upon the curly haired cat. Kirlee is the founding father of the Devon Rex today. The breed was originally thought to be linked with the Cornish Rex, however test mating proved against this hypothesis. Cats generally have three types of hair; guard hair, awn hair, and down hair. The Devon Rex was unusual because there was little guard hair found on this cat breed at all.
Maintenance and Grooming
Devon Rex cats are extremely low maintenance. They are your basic wash and wear companions, besides the occasional cleaning of their large ears. You can shampoo them and towel dry them just as quickly. A quick nail trimming is necessary every so often as well, but despite those few things they are probably one of the easiest cat breeds to maintain. Although they have less hair than most cat breeds they do shed. They have gained a reputation of being a "hypo-allergenic" cat breed but this can vary according to individual people and their allergies. Most allergies are not actually a result of the cat hair; it is a result of a protein produced in the glands of the skin, saliva, and urine. When a cat cleans its fur the saliva dries and is transformed into dust which people breathe. So depending on the person, they may or may not be allergic to the Devon Rex.
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