Oregon Rex

The Oregon Rex was a small domestic cat set apart by a soft, curly coat that came from a natural genetic mutation. It turned up in the United States around the middle of the twentieth century and never grew beyond a small population. No cats of the breed remain today, and those that carried the Oregon Rex mutation were eventually folded into other rex lines.

The Oregon Rex was fine-boned and light, with fur that settled into close waves rather than lying straight as it does on most cats. People who kept them talked about a cat that wanted to be near its owners and stayed busy. These cats were affectionate, playful long after kittenhood, and quick to take an interest in whatever was going on at home.

The breed was one of several rex mutations that each arose on their own in different places. The Oregon Rex carried its own recessive curl gene, separate from the genes behind the Cornish Rex and Devon Rex. That is part of why the line faded once breeders put their effort into the more numerous rex breeds.

Who it suited

The Oregon Rex suited homes that wanted a cat willing to join in and ask for attention. Being so sociable, it did best with people who were around a lot and happy to play. The fine coat gave little warmth, so the breed was better off in a warm indoor home than out in the cold.

The Oregon Rex goes back to a single curly-coated kitten born in the United States during the 1950s. As with the other rex cats, the curl came from a chance genetic mutation rather than any planned cross. That kitten and the cats descended from it made up a small breeding population.

The mutation behind the Oregon Rex was recessive and separate from the far better known Cornish Rex and Devon Rex mutations. Test matings between Oregon Rex cats and those other rex breeds threw straight-coated kittens, which proved the Oregon curl was a gene of its own.

With so few cats to work from, the breed leaned on a small handful of breeders to keep going. Interest and money went instead to the more settled rex breeds, and the Oregon Rex was never widely registered or spread around.

The distinct Oregon Rex line is usually said to have ended by the early 1970s, with the last carriers of the gene crossed into other rex programmes. Today the breed lives on chiefly as a record of one of the independent rex mutations that showed up across the twentieth century.

The Oregon Rex was a small, lightly built cat. Its standout feature was a short, soft coat that curled or waved close against the body, right down to the whiskers, which were often crinkled. The body was slim and the legs were fine, so the cat looked delicate all over.

The head was moderate in size with large ears sitting on a fine-boned frame. There was little of the thick undercoat you see on straight-haired cats, so both the curl and the outline of the cat were easy to make out.

Coat and colours

The coat was the trait people noticed first. It was thin and curled rather than straight, which made the cat feel soft and warm under the hand and showed off the shape of the body. Coat colour was not tied to any one pattern, so cats came in a variety of colours. The sparse coat gave little cover against the cold, so these cats needed warm surroundings.

The Oregon Rex was an affectionate, sociable cat that went looking for human company. Owners spoke of cats that trailed them around the house, liked being picked up and handled, and kept up their play well past kittenhood. The breed was curious and clever, taking an interest in the goings-on at home and soon working out what earned a bit of attention.

With the family the breed was warm and hands-on. With strangers it was usually friendly, in line with its sociable streak, though it varied from cat to cat. Around other pets the Oregon Rex generally got on well when the other animals were calm and brought in slowly.

All that activity and attachment meant these cats did not cope well left on their own for long stretches. They wanted company, whether a person or another suitable animal, and did better for regular play and contact.

Looking after the Oregon Rex came down to its thin, curly coat and its need for company. The coat dropped little hair but was delicate, so grooming stayed light and gentle. Because the coat gave so little insulation, warmth and life indoors counted for more than they do with most cats.

Grooming

• Stroke or wipe the coat gently with a soft cloth or your hand to lift loose hair
• Steer clear of stiff brushes that could damage the fine, curly fur
• Check the ears often and clean them when needed, since large ears can gather wax
• Trim the claws every few weeks
• Keep up routine dental care to support overall health

Exercise

• Offer daily interactive play with wand toys or chase toys
• Set up scratching posts and perches to use the cat's energy and curiosity
• Rotate the toys to keep a clever cat interested
• Put aside regular time for handling and attention

Environment

The Oregon Rex was an indoor cat suited to warm homes free of draughts. Heated resting spots and soft bedding helped it stay comfortable, since its sparse coat held little body heat. A house with people about for much of the day suited the breed's sociable nature.

As an obligate carnivore, the Oregon Rex needed a diet built around animal protein. A complete and balanced commercial cat food, or a vet-formulated alternative, covered its core needs. How much it ate depended on its weight, age and activity level, and fresh water was always on offer.

Treats and supplements

Treats are best kept to a small share of the day's kilojoules so the cat does not put on weight. A cat on a complete diet usually needs no supplements. Anything extra, such as a supplement for skin or joints, is worth running past a vet first.

The Oregon Rex generally lived 12 to 15 years with good care. Because the breed only ever existed in very small numbers and is no longer kept as a line, there is not much detailed health data to draw on. The one steady practical worry was the thin coat, which left the cat sensitive to cold and exposure.

Apart from that, the Oregon Rex had the same general health needs as any other domestic cat, including dental care, keeping the weight in check, and regular trips to the vet.

Preventive care

• Book annual veterinary checkups
• Keep vaccinations and parasite control up to date
• Keep up dental hygiene with brushing or vet cleanings
• Watch the weight and adjust the food as needed
• Keep the cat warm and indoors to protect the skin and coat

The Oregon Rex was a clever, curious cat that took well to gentle training. Its strong attachment to people gave it a reason to join in, and its playful streak made games a good way to teach it. Short, upbeat sessions worked better than long or forced ones.

Basics

1. Set up reliable litter tray habits from kittenhood with a clean, easy-to-reach tray
2. Provide a scratching post and reward the cat for using it
3. Teach simple cues such as coming when called, using treats and a calm voice
4. Bring in a carrier early so travel and vet visits are less of an ordeal
5. Steer energy into interactive toys to head off unwanted scratching or climbing

The curly coat of the Oregon Rex was controlled by a recessive gene, so a kitten had to inherit the gene from both parents to show the curl. Cats with a single copy had straight coats but could still pass the trait along. That pattern, together with a very small founding population, made the breed hard to keep going.

Cats reach sexual maturity at a few months of age, and females carry a litter for roughly two months. Litters of small domestic cats usually run to a few kittens. Queens raise and nurse their young for several weeks before the kittens are weaned, and kittens are best left with the mother and littermates through their early socialisation.

Because the recessive curl gene was separate from the Cornish Rex and Devon Rex genes, crossing an Oregon Rex with those breeds threw straight-coated kittens. The narrow gene pool and the small number of breeders meant the line could not hold on, and the breed died out as a distinct population.

Oregon Rex registration and microchipping in Australia

An Oregon Rex does not need to roam to go missing; one open window does it. Her free United Pet Club profile keeps your details, her photo, and her chip number together where a vet or shelter can find them. Cat registration never costs a cent, now or later.

If she's already chipped, the register entry is the missing half; the vet's part ended with the needle. Register the microchip free for life with United Pet Club: any brand qualifies, address changes cost nothing, and the record answers scans from any clinic or shelter in the country. Create your free account and knock both jobs over tonight.