Devon Rex | Cat Breed Information & Facts – Pictures

Devon rex cats are beautiful little kittens who like to spend hours and hours being pampered and playing, being considered as a cat-dog which follows its human wherever he goes. Its qualities and physical characteristics are known to all lovers of this breed of cats, but did you know that the parent of the delicate and slender devon rex was a wild cat?

The characteristic that best defines the Devon Rex breed is its particularity. It is difficult to find a similar breed to this one in all the feline kingdom, as well for their physical characteristics as for their behavior. Even its origin is particular, and that is that in its origin the human hand did not intervene, as it did in many other breeds.

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Devon Rex photos

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Physical characteristics

An inexperienced person, seeing a Devon Rex for the first time, could well confuse the breed with a similar Cornish Rex. In fact, the resemblance is rather superficial and each “rex” has its own characteristics.

The adult Devon Rex is a medium -sized cat, although the head seems large and the chest fairly wide. Males have an average bone density, while females can have lighter bones, which means that many males seem much larger than females.

Weight: females 3-4 kg / males 3 – 5 kg

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Distinctive features

  • The head of Devon Rex is small, bone.
  • Snub nose.
  • The eyes are large, largely spaced, placed obliquely. The color of the eyes corresponds to the color – golden green, green, yellow. The exception is the Siamese color. Siamese cats are distinguished by sky -colored eyes – surprisingly clear and blue.
  • The ears are significantly large and well apart. Acorns can be present and look like a butterfly.
  • Mustache and curly, thick, medium length.
  • The body, according to breed standards, has a type of stocky construction. The sizes are medium. With a graceful skeleton, cats and cats Devon Rex have a powerful chest and high legs, and posterior limbs are longer than the anterior.
  • The coat is short, soft, wavy, without visible guard hairs. The muzzle, back, sides and thighs are covered with hair slightly longer than the rest of the body. The total absence of wool is a drawback.
  • Color. Depending on the standards of the breed, all genetically possible colors and combinations are acceptable – the wool can be black, and gray, and white, and red, and at least spotted with purple.

Character and behavior

Now focusing on the character of the Devon Rex, it should be noted that these cats are extremely loving, enjoying the company of their loved ones. So much so, that they love being able to spend a lot of time by their side, playing, caressing or simply sleeping on their humans’ knees. They are fantastic cats in coexistence with children, other cats or even dogs, because they are very sociable and flexible.

Likewise, devon rex cats prefer indoor living, although they adapt well to various types of housing. Due to their dependent nature, they do not do well to spend too many hours alone, so they are not a good choice if we usually spend a lot of time away from home. The rex must are affectionately described as “devils” or “monkeys disguised as cats” for their pranks, like hanging on curtains or climbing up the wallpaper.

These active cats seem to be born comedians. They have characteristics similar to those of dogs, such as love for toys and their ability to learn to walk with a harness and a leash. They are very sweet and affectionate cats, who hate being bored or being alone. Visitors may be surprised to be the subject of a detailed investigation by devon rex before they can even sit down.

Health

Devon Rex cats seem to be a fairly healthy and robust breed, although this does not mean that we must be on the lookout for vaccination and deworming calendars, both internal and external. In turn, it is strongly recommended to carry out regular veterinary checks to assess and examine the general state of health of our animal.

The most common conditions in Devon Rex cats include:

  • Congenital hypertrophy. The disease can also be called hereditary bald, which causes a recessive gene.
  • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
  • Dermatitis.
  • Hip joint dysplasia.
  • Urticaria. Pigment disease, which is characterized by the formation of ulcers on the body of a cat.
  • Myopathy. A hereditary disease that manifests itself after the first 3 weeks to 6 months of the life of a cat. It is characterized by severe muscle weakness. If you do not identify the disease in time and do not contact a specialist, the animal will suffer and will not be able to live fully. In the first stage, the disease is treated easily and the condition of the cat can be stabilized.

Life expectancy

If we provide all the care that Devon Rex needs, its life expectancy is between 10 and 15 years.

Care

Toilet your cat regularly by bathing it, brushing it and cutting the claws.

The skin of certain cats may seem fatty, especially in the folds or on the legs. If this is the case, bathe your pet every few weeks.

The rest is a basic interview. Cut his claws every week and brush your teeth with a pet toothpaste approved by a veterinarian. Check your ears every week. If they look like, wipe them with a cotton swab soaked in a soft ears cleaner recommended by your veterinarian.

Important

Although Devon Rex turns much less than other breeds (because it has fewer hairs), it is not true that the breed never changes hair or that it is hypoallergenic. In fact, the protein causing allergies is in the saliva of cats.

Fun facts

  • By nature, Devon Rex are quite jumpy, so be prepared for the fact that from time to time they will seek adventure on closets, mezzanines or even your shoulders.
  • Goodwill and good disposition are the key characteristics of the breed. Any Devonian will understand with understanding that he is not the only favorite of the owner.
  • Devon Rex cats are literally “hot cats”, which is especially noticeable with tactile contact. The illusion of heated skin is created by the short hair of cats, which promotes more intense heat transfer. For this reason, animals are sensitive to cold and often freeze even with a slight drop in air temperature.
  • No matter how kindly cats are towards children, they will always prefer the company of adults to them. Consider this character trait and do not burden the animal with communication with babies.
  • These cats are extremely inquisitive and playful and do not lose these qualities with age. Eared “pensioners” love chasing teasers and a ball no less than their young counterparts.

History of the breed

The Devon Rex was first bred in 1960. The father of the Devon breed, a curly haired wild cat, lived around an abandoned tin mine near Buckfastley, a small town in South Devonshire. -western England, which borders the home of the Cornish Rex.

A curly-haired cat mated with a domestic short-haired cat. As a result, kittens appeared, which were found by a resident of the city – Beryl Cox. One of the kittens, a brownish-black male, had the same short, curly coat as his father. Beryl named this kitten Kirli (from English: curly).

At first, the kitten was believed to share the same genetic makeup as the Cornish Rex, since the Cornish originated in Devonshire, but breeding trials soon established that the kitten was unique, meaning it had a unique constitution. unique genetics due to natural genetic mutation.

The first Devon Rex was imported to the United States in 1968. In 1972, the ACFA became the first association in the United States to accept the breed for championship. The Devon Rex was adopted by TICA in 1979 (the year TICA was founded). The CFA accepted the Devon Rex for championship in 1983. Today, all North American cat associations accept the Devon Rex breed for championship.