Animal-World > Cats > Cat Mutations > Devon Rex

Devon Rex CatsPixie Cat, Alien Cat

Family: Felidae

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Felis domesticusPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Justin Brough

     The Devon Rex, also known as the "Pixie Cat", for its elf-like features, is an affectionate, active cat. It has an interesting, wavy coat made of down hairs and a few guard hairs. This cat is a great indoor cat for people who enjoy playing and spending time with their cats.

    The Devon Rex is a loving, social cat, especially with people. In general, it is friendly with dogs, other cats, and even rodents, but it enjoys being with people the most. It is active and playful, but not as much as the Cornish Rex. They are known for remaining playful even throughout their later years. They are gentle cats that are good playmates for cat-friendly children. Unlike some breeds, this breed does not need time to itself. It enjoys being around people most of the time. Devon Rexes have been described as "dog-like", due to their friendly, human-centered demeanor and various tricks that have been observed in this breed. Some have been taught to fetch slippers and walk on a leash. They have also been observed wagging their tails, but it is now believed that the wagging was serving the purpose of balancing them when they performed difficult tricks, such as walking a tightrope. Like the Cornish Rex, they enjoy being indoors and require minimal grooming. They have a soft, sweet voice, milder than the Cornish Rex's. Like the Cornish Rex, people who are allergic to cats are less likely to experience allergic reactions to the Devon Rex.

    This breed originated in Devon, England. Now, they can be found in England, the United States, Australia, and elsewhere.

Common Name(s)     Devon Rex, Pixie Cat, Alien Cat

Background     The Devon Rex line is believed to have descended from a stray tomcat that was seen around an old tin mine in Buckfastleigh in Devon. The cat appeared to have a curly coat which enticed various people to attempt to capture and breed him, but they were not successful. However, in 1960 the cat mated with another stray, a tortie-and-white, which reared a litter that included one curly-haired kitten. This kitten was named Kirlee by Miss Beryl Cox, a friend of the kittens mother. Kirlee is known as the father of the Devon Rex breed. At first, it was believed that these cats could be bred with the Cornish Rex breed, which was discovered ten years earlier. However, when they were bred together, only straight-haired kittens were produced, revealing that the two breeds were distinctive. It was also found that curly-haired kittens from the Devon Rex line could only be produced when both parents carried the recessive gene. The Devon Rex was recognized as a separate breed from the Cornish Rex in 1967, except in the United States, which waited until 1979 to distinguish the two breeds.

Description      Like the Cornish Rex, the Devon Rex is largely known for its unique wavy coat. The Devon Rex coat is comprised mostly of down hairs, but unlike the Cornish Rex, it has some guard hairs, though they are thinner than the average cat's guard hairs and vary in length. These features create a lumpier, slightly harsher coat than the Cornish Rex coat. Like the Cornish Rex, the Devon Rex also has curly eyebrows and whiskers. Interestingly, like young birds Devon Rex kittens molt their original coat, which is a very fine down coat, at around 8 weeks of age. The new coat can take from a few days to over a year to completely grow in.
    The Devon Rex is a small to medium-sized cat, weighing 6 to 9 pounds. It has a hard, muscular build and a slender body, though its chest is broad. The legs are slender, but strong. The hind legs are longer than the front legs and the front legs come out from the chest, giving it a bulldog pose. The tail is long and slender. The head is wedge-shaped with full cheeks, large, oval-shaped, large set eyes, a stop to the nose, creating a dip when seen from the profile, and extremely large, wide-set ears, giving it a "pixie" or "elfish" appearance. The lifespan for a Devon Rex is 9 to 15 years, though some have been known to reach 20 years of age.

Care and Feeding     Devon Rexes enjoy eating a lot, but they are not known for over-eating. No special diet is required.

Housing Your Cat     Like the Cornish Rex, the Devon Rex enjoys being inside. It can be a great apartment cat because it does not seem to require time outside. This breed may need additional warmth during cool weather, such as heating pads or blankets. Of course, they also like to snuggle up in their owner's lap, enjoying the added body heat.

Maintenance     This breed requires little grooming. It is advisable to wipe the coat down, especially on the ears, with a damp cloth once a week in order to remove excess dirt and oils and increase the coat's wave.

Social Behaviors     This breed enjoys being around people and other animals, though it prefers the company of humans to other animals. It is an extroverted, social breed that does not enjoy being alone. It is advisable to keep at least one playmate for your Devon Rex if the cat is going to be alone for extended periods of time in the house. Some Devon Rexes have been known to exhibit destructive behaviors, such as shredding curtains, when left with no company.

Activities     The Devon Rex is a naturally energetic, playful cat. It enjoys jumping and performing various acrobatics. It is known for being playful throughout its days, and should be provided with toys to play with.

Breeding/Reproduction     This breed has been bred with Siamese, British Burmese, Persians, and British Shorthairs. Breeders continue to breed them with other breeds, producing only straight-haired kittens in the first litter and some curly-haired kittens in the following litters, since both parents need to possess the gene in order to produce a curly-haired kitten. Litters contain 3 to 5 kittens. Like the Cornish Rex, Devon Rexes are excellent mothers.

Common Health Problems     The Devon Rex should be kept inside during cold weather and provided with additional warmth, since its thin coat is often not a sufficient insulator. In the early history of the breed, a hereditary, fatal disease known as "spasticity" was developed, due to inbreeding. However, it has been bred out of current lines. Also, muscular dystrophy and hemophilia have been seen in some Devon Rexes, but breeders have attempted to breed these diseases out.

Availability     This breed can be found from breeders on the internet or in your local area. The price of a Devon Rex ranges from about $200 to $1200.

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Latest Comments
I have a devon rex, an exact look alike! I seriously think that's my cat! Same markings and everything! The breeder we got him from had that wallpaper too, I think it's my cat! Editor's Note: Glad to know both you and your breeder like this cat, cuz we do too! And if your cat was in a Cat Show in Ridgecrest, CA it could be your cat, as that's where we took the picture. rather not b told 2008-09-22

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