Cornish Rex | Cat Breed Information & Facts – Pictures

Sweet and affectionate, the cornish rex, a cat with big ears and beautiful wavy hairs that has won thousands and thousands of hearts around the world. And it is not for less, the cats of the breed cornish rex have many advantages.

It is possible that all cat breeds are marked by at least one characteristic that distinguishes them from the others. However, this characteristic is not so obvious in all breeds. In the case of the Cornish rex, it is very easy to be able to differentiate a specimen which belongs to it, and it is that they really have a unique characteristic in everyone feline. A curly coat which we will talk about later.

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That the Cornish rex is distinguished by its wavy fur is a fact, but it is not its only striking feature. It is a medium sized cat, but quite elongated and stylized in its body. You may remember greyhounds, which makes them so eye-catching for people used to more robust cats. And it is that all the lines of the body of cornish rex are elongated, the line of the back, up to the head and the muzzle, in addition to the tail and the legs.

The males are proportionally larger than the females, with 4 – 5 kg against 3-4 kg.

• The Cornish Rex’s head is small and wedge-shaped, with pronounced cheekbones.
• The nose is Roman in shape, straight, the nose of the animal is clear, noticeable, the profile is long;
• The ears are large, they are set high, wide at the base and flared at the ends;
• The eyes are almond-shaped, with a slight upward gap from the bridge of the nose. Eye color should be rich and match the color of the animal’s coat, usually greenish-gold, yellow or green. The Sea Rex (as the Siamese colored Cornish Rex is called) has exclusively blue eyes;
• The mustache and eyebrows are long, curly.
• The wool is pure astrakhan. In the sense that the Cornish Rex’s short, silky, wavy coat is thick and deep, the description is reminiscent of an astrakhan fur coat. Waves of doodles run from the graceful head along the back, sides, etc. all the way to the end of the flexible tail. Unlike other Rexes, the Cornish Rex has thick, curly fur on the underside of its chin, chest, and belly. Bare areas are not welcome and are considered a big inconvenience.

Cornish rex cats are generally ideal companions because they have a docile, loving and attentive temperament. They are also perfect for families with children or other pets, as they get along well with dogs and other cats. These kittens are active and very playful, so they are generally not recommended for sedentary people or with little time to give them the attention they need.

Because of their character, the cornish rex cats do not tolerate loneliness well, so they are not a good choice if they have to spend long periods alone. Likewise, they adapt perfectly to indoor living, regardless of the size of our house or our apartment.

On the other hand, this cat is very intimate, preferring to live inside the house than to go explore outside, which does not mean that he does not like play and activity. The cornish rex is a very intelligent animal, which can be independent at certain times but which also requires large doses of attention, care and affection. It is undoubtedly a complex animal that must be understood in order to achieve what is expected of it.

However, it is a sociable cat in general, and suitable for living as a pet with families of all kinds. He is very good with children and gets along particularly well with them because they are often tireless adventure companions. It is also easy to make him adapt to the tranquility of a house without great fear, as long as he has moments in the day to play and release all his energy.

Another detail that marks his character is that the Cornish Rex is a cat who tends to meow excessively and insistently, all the more reason to educate him from an early age in order to control the least attractive features of his personality. His tone of voice is also quite high, a characteristic that must be taken into account before deciding that a specimen of this breed is as a pet.

The Cornish Rex is known to suffer from several hereditary health problems, namely:

• Congenital hypotrichosis, also known as hereditary alopecia;
• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), a form of inherited heart disease in certain breeds of cats like the Maine Coon. Heredity has not been proven in the Cornish Rex.

The care necessary for the cornish rex cat to be perfectly in terms of health and aesthetics is very basic. You should never forget the frequent visits to the veterinarian to check his general condition, and also to keep you informed of his vaccinations and dewormers.

Regarding the cornish rex cat’s coat and hygiene, brushing from time to time will be enough to remove the rare dead hairs or dirt that can accumulate. As we have already seen, it is not a cat that usually loses a lot of hair, so there is no need to brush it too often.

To keep it clean, it is also recommended to use wipes and pass them all over the body, and to bathe it completely only when necessary and with a specific cat shampoo. Keep in mind that in winter they will need a warm place to rest. Despite the fact that his body temperature is higher than that of other cats, he could get sick due to poor protection of his fur in very cold weather.

• The Cornish Rex has been defined as one of the rarest cats in the world. And it is that, although it is not the only breed with curly hairs, it is the only one which mixes this characteristic with others such as the shape of its body or its size. Undoubtedly, it has gained this name, although some would say that instead of being rare, it is original, and that it gives it only unique beauty.
• If there is curiosity beyond its fur and body shape, it may have a body temperature higher than the average feline. This poses no risk to his health in general, although care should be taken at high temperatures, as well as when cleaning the eyes and ears, to avoid infections due to various factors associated with heat.
• The Cornish Rex cat is a very adaptable animal, but at the same time with a personality which is not always appreciated by people. This is why it is only recommended for people who engage in their education and care, so that the relationship with all members of the family is unbeatable. Living with one of these animals is not always easy, but it’s certainly very rewarding when you find the right point to understand it.
• People allergic to cats generally have fewer symptoms when they meet a cornish rex cat, living together in case of mild allergy. This is due to its short coat and the absence of hair loss throughout the year, which is a big advantage for those who want to have a cat, but cannot do it with other breeds.

In Cornwall, July 21, 1950, the history of a new breed of cats began to be created. Due to the whim of nature, the typical British Shorthair cat has a curly-haired kitten. The handsome man with the “defect” was named Callibanker.

The owner of the farm, where the young curly hair grew up, decided that it was not worth allowing him to spread his genes: it was decided to castrate the cat. Thanks to the veterinarian who dissuaded Mrs. Ennismore from taking this step and directed her to see geneticist Dr. A.K. Judah and breeder B. Stiling-Webb. They recognized the mutation as promising, and advised the cat’s owner to try to breed a new breed.

Nina Ennismore tried to breed the Rex breed. The experiment turned out to be half successful, and in the mid-50s of the last century, all the resulting animals were euthanized, except for the cat Poldhyu. It was bought by B. Stirling-Webb, and he showed the world a new breed, recognized in England in 1967.

In parallel, two kittens, owing their origin to the farm of Nina Ennismore, went from their homeland to the United States, and the granddaughter of Callibanker Lemorne Kav gave the world the Cornish Rex, who made the breed famous.

The American and British lines evolved with some differences: as a result, the long-legged curly American Cornish Rex was recognized by the CFA in 1962.