Devon Rex

The Devon Rex is a small domestic cat you can pick out by its short wavy coat, broad head with prominent cheekbones, large low-set ears and big expressive eyes. The face is often called elfin or pixie-like. Adults tend to weigh between 2.7 and 4 kg, which sits the breed at the smaller end of the cat size range.

This is a cat kept for company rather than any working job. Devon Rex cats are lively, curious and closely bonded to their people. They will follow you around the house, settle on a shoulder or a lap, and want a hand in whatever the household is doing. Plenty of them hold on to their kitten-like playfulness well into adulthood.

The wavy coat owes itself to a natural genetic mutation first identified in Devon, England, in 1960. It is short and soft, and most owners find the grooming fairly light, though the breed still sheds and is not hypoallergenic.

Who it suits

The Devon Rex is at home with owners who want an interactive, affectionate cat and can give it attention every day. It suits families with children, multi-pet households, and people who are home often or can lay on company and toys. It is a poor fit for anyone after an independent, low-contact cat, because the breed is prone to boredom or unhappiness when left on its own for long stretches.

The Devon Rex got its start in 1960 near Buckfastleigh in Devon, England. A woman named Beryl Cox took in a curly-coated kitten she called Kirlee, born to a stray cat living near a disused tin mine. Kirlee's wavy coat came of a natural genetic mutation.

At the outset the kitten was thought to share its origin with the Cornish Rex, a curly-coated cat that had shown up in neighbouring Cornwall a decade earlier. Breeders tried mating Kirlee with Cornish Rex cats, but the kittens came out with straight coats. That told them the two curls sprang from different recessive genes, and the Devon line was set up as a breed in its own right.

Kirlee stood as the foundation male, crossed with cats carrying the same recessive gene to fix the wavy coat. As the gene pool began from one cat, early breeding depended on a small number of founders. Outcrossing to other shorthaired cats widened the gene pool while holding the coat type.

The breed took championship recognition with major cat registries through the 1960s and 1970s and made its way from the United Kingdom to North America and elsewhere. In Ireland it is registered through the Irish Cat Association and through TICA, and it remains a recognised pedigree breed today.

The Devon Rex carries a distinctive head shaped like a short wedge, with full cheeks, a strong chin and a clear stop in the nose profile. The feature that catches the eye is the pair of very large ears, set low and wide, giving the face an open, alert look. The eyes are large, oval and set well apart. A slim, hard-muscled body sits on a broad chest and long legs, and the cat often holds a slightly arched, springy stance.

Coat and colours

The coat is what sets the breed apart. It is short, fine and laid in soft waves rather than tight curls, and it can feel thin or sparse over the head, neck and chest. Some Devon Rex cats carry lighter coverage on the underside and ears. The whiskers and eyebrows are often short, curled or stubbly and can break easily.

Every cat colour and pattern is accepted. That runs from solid shades such as black, white, blue and cream to tabby, tortoiseshell, calico, smoke and pointed patterns. Coat colour makes no difference to the wavy texture, which comes down to the rex gene alone.

The Devon Rex ranks among the most people-focused of the cat breeds. It looks for human company, perches on shoulders, burrows under blankets and stays near its owner through the day. Many owners call the breed dog-like in its attachment, and some Devon Rex cats learn to come when called or play fetch.

With the family the breed is warm and demonstrative. It usually gets on grand with respectful children who can match its energy and play style. Around strangers, most Devon Rex cats stay confident and curious rather than shy, though individuals vary. The breed generally tolerates and often enjoys other cats and friendly dogs, which makes it a fair choice for multi-pet homes.

The playful, mischievous side is always there. These cats climb, explore high shelves, open presses and go rooting through any food left out. Bright and active, they need toys, attention and interaction to stay content. A bored Devon Rex may turn noisy or destructive. The breed is moderately vocal, keeping to chirps and soft calls rather than loud, persistent meowing.

Grooming

• Brushing is rarely called for; hard brushing can damage the fine, wavy coat, so lift loose hair with a soft cloth or gentle stroking.
• Clean the large ears regularly, as they gather wax and oils faster than in many breeds.
• Wipe the skin or give an occasional gentle bath if the coat feels greasy, since the sparse coat takes up less skin oil.
• Trim nails every few weeks and keep an eye on the stubby whiskers and brows, which can break.
• Brush the teeth regularly and arrange dental checks.

Exercise

• Give daily interactive play with wand toys, balls and puzzle feeders to work off the breed's high energy.
• Offer climbing space such as cat trees and shelves, since the breed loves height.
• Rotate toys to keep a curious, clever cat engaged and head off boredom.

Environment

The Devon Rex is an indoor cat. Its thin coat gives little protection from the cold, so keep the home warm and free of draughts, and the cat will often make for heated spots, sunny windows and laps. Being sociable, it does best where there is company for much of the day. Provide warm bedding and safe high perches.

As an active cat, the Devon Rex does well on a complete and balanced diet built around animal protein. Choose a quality commercial cat food that meets recognised feline nutrition standards for the cat's life stage. The breed's high energy means it burns through calories quickly, but portions still want measuring to prevent overfeeding. Keep fresh water to hand at all times, and a mix of wet and dry food can help with hydration.

Treats and supplements

Treats should stay under about 10 per cent of daily calories. A balanced complete diet usually supplies every nutrient a cat needs, so supplements are not called for unless a vet recommends them for a particular condition. Keep an eye on the cat's weight at regular checkups and adjust food amounts if it gains or loses condition.

The Devon Rex is generally a healthy breed with a typical lifespan of 9 to 15 years. Because the modern population descends from a small number of founders, it carries a few inherited conditions that responsible breeders screen for. Buying from a breeder who tests breeding cats and provides health records cuts the risk of passing these on.

Preventive care

• Annual veterinary checkups, with twice-yearly visits for senior cats.
• Core vaccinations and parasite prevention as advised by a vet.
• Regular ear cleaning to prevent wax buildup and infection.
• Dental care, including brushing and professional cleaning when needed.
• Weight monitoring and a balanced diet to avoid obesity.

The Devon Rex learns quickly and enjoys interaction, so it takes to training that many cats pay no heed to. Owners often teach the breed to fetch, walk on a harness, use puzzle feeders and follow simple cues. Because attention and food are what motivate the cat, short, frequent sessions work better than long ones. Keep training positive, since cats do not respond to punishment and may withdraw or grow stressed.

Basics

1. Start with litter training, which most kittens pick up early given a clean, accessible tray.
2. Introduce a scratching post and reward its use to protect furniture.
3. Use clicker or marker training paired with small treats to teach cues such as come or sit.
4. Build towards tricks like fetch or harness walking once the basics are steady.
5. Provide daily enrichment with puzzle toys and play to channel the breed's energy.

Female Devon Rex cats usually reach sexual maturity between 5 and 10 months, though responsible breeders hold off until a queen is physically mature, often around one year, before mating. Gestation lasts about 63 to 67 days. Litters are commonly small to average, with three to four kittens being typical.

Newborn kittens lean heavily on warmth because of the breed's thin coat, so the nest has to be kept warm and free of draughts. Kittens nurse for the first weeks and begin weaning onto solid food at around four weeks, finishing by about eight weeks. Early, gentle handling helps bring out the friendly, people-focused temperament the breed is known for.

Because the breed descends from a small founder group, ethical breeding programmes track pedigrees to limit inbreeding and screen breeding cats for heart disease, the inherited muscle disorder and patellar problems. Kittens usually stay with the mother and litter until at least 12 weeks before going to new homes.

Registering a Devon Rex in Ireland

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