- Highly active and inquisitive cat
- Friendly but independent cat
- Lean and elegant cat breed
- Requires grooming once a week
- Hypoallergenic breed
- Needs some out-door space
Personality
Devon Rex cats are fondly described as 'little terrors' and 'monkeys in cats' clothing' with antics such as swinging from the curtains and climbing the wallpaper! They are lively and extroverted cats. They have several 'dog-like' qualities, such as fondness for fetching toys, and can be trained to walk on a harness and lead. They are very gentle and loving cats and hate to be bored or alone. Visitors to the house may be surprised to find that they are thoroughly investigated by a nosy Devon Rex cat before they have a chance to sit down!
History and Origins
Country of Origin: England (county of Devon)
The Devon Rex cat breed stems from a curly-coated cat found in Devon in 1960. Like the Cornish Rex cat breed, the Devon Rex cat's coat is caused by a recessive gene, and inbreeding was necessary to perpetuate the breed. However, the Devon Rex cat gene is different to that which curls the coat of the Cornish Rex, and crossing Devon Rex cats and Cornish Rex cats produce litters of straight-coated kittens. The two mutations must have arisen independently, despite arising so close geographically, ie, in Devon and Cornwall.