The Devon Rex is a rare breed of cat that is easily differentiated from others by its appearance. It has been bred with the objective of dev...
The Devon Rex is a rare breed of cat that is easily differentiated from others by its appearance. It has been bred with the objective of developing its flat skull, large protruding ears and very large eyes. Even if the first reactions to the Devon Rex cat ranged from restraint to complete disapproval, he quickly gained prestige because of his very particular appearance.
This particular cat has been recognized by the " International Feline Federation " (IFF) since 1968.
The pleasant character of the Devon Rex makes it an ideal family cat. It is also perfectly adapted to life in an apartment. Perhaps he will soon come to enrich your home as well?
Devon Rex Article Contents
- Appearance of the Devon Rex
- Character of the Devon Rex
- History and breeding of the Rex cat
- Rex Cat Food
- Taking care of the Devon Rex
- Choosing the right Devon Rex cat breeder
Appearance of the Devon Rex
The relatively short coat of this soft exotic cat is curly, even curly, and always looks like a battle. It consists of a thin layer of top coat and a large part of undercoat. The density of the coat varies according to the body areas and the season. Some consider it to be a hypoallergenic cat, but not everyone agrees on this.
The Devon Rex is a cat that loses very little hair, there is no doubt about it. Therefore, the probability that he will trigger an allergic reaction in his owners is low. A genetic mutation is responsible for the particular structure of its coat: it is the krt71 (keratin) gene.
With its large ears and large skull, the Devon Rex looks a bit like a goblin. Its long and thin tail ends in a point, and is covered with short curly hair. The hairs of the whiskers are curly, of medium length, and relatively thick.
Devon Rex stand on long slender legs, ending in small oval paws. The slight curvature of its legs in relation to the rest of its body can give the impression that the Devon Rex has "O" shaped legs.
The Devon Rex cat's coat can come in a variety of colors and patterns.
Character of the Devon Rex
The loyal, affectionate and cuddly character of the Devon Rex makes it an ideal cat for families. He is funny, cheerful, alert, playful, relaxed and sociable. He shows a pronounced curiosity towards everything that happens around him. 
The Devon Rex loves to have fun. Because of his playful nature, he also likes to learn tricks, and he learns them very quickly. In that way, his character is a little bit like that of a dog. The Devon Rex is considered to be a very loyal cat and attached to humans. The loyalty of the cats of this breed was first noticed in the little male Kirlee, which we will tell you more about in the "History and breeding" section. According to legend, Kirlee, the founding father of the Devon Rex breed, even liked to be walked on a leash. Perhaps he had observed this behavior in a dog.
For the Devon Rex, his master is "his human". If you are ever lucky enough to share your life with a cat of this breed, he will probably eat with you, sleep with you, and sit on your shoulder while you work. That's how it becomes part of your life and connects with you. It follows you everywhere, sits at your feet or on your knees, and even accompanies you in your household chores. Of course, he doesn't vacuum himself! However, your cat Rex will try to entertain you and mentally support you in your tasks by making funny noises. As you can see, this cat will always bring you the best company and entertainment of the highest level!
The Devon Rex gets along very well with children, and often builds great friendships with them. The Rex cat likes to play with his owners, with whom he establishes deep relationships. He likes to let off steam and climb his cat tree. You should therefore install one, or even several, in your home. Even if he loves to spend time with his owners, the Devon Rex is also autonomous and knows how to take care of himself very well.
History and breeding of the Rex cat
This curious breed of cat and its unusual coat were discovered in 1960 in Buckfast leigh, Devon, England, next to a disused tin mine. The English lady who found this particular looking cat was named Beryl Cox. The animal's coat was tortoiseshell on white. The appearance of this unusual cat immediately appealed to Beryl Cox, who wanted to capture it in order to breed it, but her plans did not succeed.
One day, the cat that Beryl Cox had discovered arrived pregnant on her property and gave birth to her babies in the garden. To everyone's surprise, the litter had also produced a curly-furred cat. Mrs. Cox was seduced by the little goblin-looking cat and named her Kirlee. Kirlee's head was particularly large, and her cheeks were very prominent. This black curly cat is considered the ancestor of all Devon Rex cats born thereafter.
Mrs. Cox contacted the first breeder of Cornish Rex cats, Mrs. Sterling Webb. Kirlee was mated with the daughter of a Cornish Rex cat. Their litter was awaited with great curiosity. However, nature does not always do things right, and all the kittens of the litter were born with smooth hair! So it was clear that Kirlee had a different genotype than the Cornish Rex. He was a new type of Rex cat, and his genotype was named Gen 2, while Gen 1 was the genotype of the Cornish Rex.
The gene responsible for the curly coat is a recessive gene. This means that a kitten will only be born with a curly coat if both parents have passed on the curl gene. This is why no curly kitten was born from the mating of Kirlee and a smooth-haired female.
Rex Cat Food
Make sure your Devon Rex always has enough water available. It is important that the water bowl is not directly next to the food bowl. In the wild, a cat always finds its water and food separately, to ensure that the water is not contaminated by meat. You can also use a cat fountain. These optimize the cat's behavior by constantly encouraging it to drink. They help prevent urinary tract infections and promote proper kidney function.
With age, the Devon Rex can develop gum disease and cavities. It is therefore recommended to use a feeding method that takes this predisposition into account. Dry food can help prevent these problems. It is important to take care of your cat's mouth, because dental problems can spread throughout his body and lead to serious diseases, such as kidney problems.
An adequate amount of high-quality fat is an important part of an optimal diet. Your veterinarian will be happy to provide you with information on this subject.
This should go without saying, but it is always worth mentioning, as there are owners who feed their cats dog food: dog food is not suitable for cats and should not be given to them!
Your Devon Rex will probably try to convince you to feed him very often. However, you should not listen to him, and stick to the recommended amounts. Otherwise, your cat may gain weight, which often leads to negative side effects. In addition, the slim silhouette of the Devon Rex is simply part of the charm of this particularly beautiful breed of cat. As a sporty and active animal, it also has a fast metabolism and burns calories quickly. The rapid metabolism of the Devon Rex is due to its body temperature, which is 1°C higher than that of other breeds.
Taking care of the Devon Rex
Caring for this cuddly cat is usually simple. All the Rex cat needs is a home full of love and life. In order for your Rex cat to enjoy the best possible health, you only need to consider a few aspects specific to his breed.
When brushing, you must always be careful not to accidentally pull the hair out of your cat. It is favorite to use a very soft cat brush. This way, you can brush your small feline with attention several times a week. In addition to strengthening the bond between you and your cat, brushing also ensures good blood circulation and a beautiful, healthy coat.
Since this cat does not clean his ears himself because he has no hair on them, it is advisable to clean them regularly.
It is also important to note that, because of its thin layer of hair, the Devon Rex is not sufficiently protected against the harmful effects of the sun's rays. It therefore has a tendency to get sunburned.
Choosing the right Devon Rex cat breeder
You can start by checking with shelters to see if they have taken in a Devon Rex cat in search of a loving home. You may very well come across a purebred cat by chance.
Otherwise, you can of course contact a reputable breeder. You can recognize a good breeder, among other things, by the fact that he is able to provide you with information about the cat's pedigree, which is recognized by international cat organizations.
In addition, the kitten must come from a legal, certified cattery and be a member of a cat club. Kittens from a reputable breeder also have an up-to-date vaccination certificate and are dewormed and chipped.
Whether you have adopted your cat from a shelter or a breeder, we wish you a lot of happiness and good times with these funny and loyal companions!
No comments