German Rex

The German Rex is a medium-sized domestic cat recognised for its short, curly coat and gentle disposition. A recessive gene gives the fur its soft, wavy texture, and this carries through to the whiskers, which are usually curled or crimped. The body is rounded and moderately muscular, sitting between the slimmer foreign breeds and the heavier cobby types.

In temperament the German Rex is friendly, playful and even-tempered. Cats of this breed keep their liveliness well into adulthood and form close bonds with the people they live with. They lean towards being sociable rather than aloof, and many like to stay near their owners throughout the day.

Grooming is light work, since the short coat drops very little loose hair. The breed settles happily into indoor life and does not need a great deal of room, so it suits flats as readily as houses with a garden.

Who it suits

The German Rex fits owners who want an affectionate, interactive cat without much grooming work. It does best in homes where someone is around for part of the day, as the breed enjoys company and play. The steady, easy temperament also makes it a sensible match for households with children or other pets, provided the introductions are handled slowly.

The German Rex comes from Germany, with its documented start in Berlin during the early 1950s. A female cat with an unusually soft, wavy coat was found near the grounds of a hospital in the city. She became the foundation animal for the breed and passed her curly coat on to later generations.

The curl in the German Rex comes from a recessive gene. When the foundation cat was bred, kittens with the same wavy fur appeared, which confirmed that the trait could be carried forward through planned matings. Breeders set about fixing the coat type while holding on to a sound, balanced body.

The German Rex grew up alongside other rex cats that turned up in Europe around the same time. It is often set beside the Cornish Rex, which came from a separate mutation in England. Studies of the two breeds found that their curly coats rest on compatible genetics, and the two have at times been crossed within breeding programmes.

The breed is still less numerous than many mainstream cats and is kept by a fairly small circle of dedicated breeders. In South Africa recognition falls under registries such as SACC and TICA, though the breed has its deepest presence in Europe, where its standards were first set.

The German Rex has a medium build that is rounded and moderately muscular, neither slender nor heavy. The head is rounded with well-developed cheeks, medium to large ears set fairly wide, and large, round eyes. The legs are of medium length and the tail is moderately long with a rounded tip.

Its defining feature is the coat. Short, soft and silky with a clear wave, it lies close to the body. The whiskers are curled or bent rather than straight, a hallmark of the breed.

Coat and colours

The coat is the breed's most recognisable trait. It is fine and plush to the touch, with a gentle curl across the body that can be stronger on the back and flanks. With little guard hair, the fur feels velvety. The German Rex is accepted in a wide range of colours and patterns, so coat colour is not used to define the breed. The curled or crimped whiskers and eyebrows are present whatever the colour.

The German Rex is known for a warm, good-natured personality. Cats of this breed are friendly and affectionate, and they tend to seek out their owners' company rather than keep to themselves. Many like to sit close to people and follow whatever is going on in the house.

With family members the German Rex is gentle and attentive. It is usually patient with children when handling is calm and supervised. The breed takes to visitors easily and is not, as a rule, nervous around new people, though individual cats differ.

The German Rex generally gets on with other cats and with dogs that are calm and used to cats. Early, gradual introductions help. It stays playful well into adulthood and does well with interactive toys and steady attention. It is not a particularly loud cat and tends to speak at a moderate level.

Grooming

The short, fine coat of the German Rex is low-maintenance, but the delicate fur asks for a gentle hand.

• Stroke or lightly brush the coat once a week with a soft brush or your hand to lift loose hair.
• Steer clear of hard or wire brushes, which can damage the fine fur.
• Check the ears weekly and clean them when needed.
• Trim the claws every few weeks and brush the teeth regularly to keep the mouth healthy.

Exercise

The German Rex is active and playful, so a bit of daily activity keeps it content.

• Set up interactive play with wand toys or balls each day.
• Offer climbing furniture such as a cat tree to work off the cat's energy.
• Swap toys around now and then to keep play fresh.
• Put aside time for direct interaction, since the breed is people-oriented.

Environment

The German Rex settles well into indoor living and into flats. The thin coat means it can feel the cold, so warm, draught-free resting spots matter. Give it a quiet sleeping area, a scratching post, and access to windows for watching the world outside.

The German Rex needs a complete and balanced diet built around animal protein, since cats are obligate carnivores. A good-quality commercial cat food made for the cat's life stage covers the core requirements. Fresh water should always be on hand. Because the breed stays active, energy needs can run from moderate to high, but portions should still be measured to keep excess weight off.

Treats and supplements

Treats should make up only a small share of daily calories, generally no more than around 10 percent. A balanced commercial diet usually supplies the vitamins and minerals a cat needs, so supplements are not required for most healthy cats. Talk to a vet before adding any supplement, and trim portions if treats are given so the total intake stays right.

The German Rex is regarded as a generally healthy breed with no long list of breed-specific disorders. Typical lifespan is 9 to 14 years, and many cats reach the upper end of that range with good care. As with any cat, routine veterinary checks, vaccination, parasite control and dental care support a long life. The thin coat means owners should watch for cold exposure and protect skin from sunburn on exposed areas, which matters under the strong South African sun.

Preventive care

• Book annual veterinary examinations, with more frequent visits for senior cats.
• Keep vaccinations and parasite control up to date.
• Keep up dental hygiene through brushing and professional cleaning when advised.
• Watch the weight and adjust food to hold a healthy body condition.
• Provide warm resting areas given the breed's thin coat.

The German Rex is an alert, intelligent cat that bonds closely with its owners, and that makes it more open to training than many cats. It can learn to use a scratching post, answer to its name, and pick up simple tricks. Reward-based methods work best, since cats do not respond to punishment. Short, positive sessions hold the cat's interest.

Basics

1. Provide a litter tray in a quiet, easy-to-reach spot and keep it clean to support good litter habits.
2. Redirect scratching to a post by setting it near favoured spots and rewarding its use.
3. Use a clicker or a marker word with a treat to reinforce the behaviour you want.
4. Teach name recognition by rewarding the cat when it comes.
5. Build up to simple tricks such as sit or high-five in short sessions.

The German Rex reaches sexual maturity within the first year, though responsible breeders wait until a cat is fully grown before mating. The curly coat runs on a recessive gene, so a kitten needs the gene from both parents to show the wavy coat. Two German Rex parents reliably produce curly-coated kittens, while crosses with straight-coated cats produce carriers.

Gestation lasts roughly 63 to 67 days, around nine weeks. Litters are usually small to moderate in size. Queens generally raise their kittens with little help, but a warm, quiet nesting area is important, as the kittens have sparse coats and lose heat easily. Kittens are usually weaned by around eight weeks and should stay with the mother and litter until about twelve weeks to support healthy social development.

Registering a German Rex in South Africa

A gate left open for the gardener is all it takes for a homebody German Rex to go missing. Her free United Pet Club profile keeps your details one scan away, wherever she turns up. Register your cat once, free, and the record outlasts every house move.

A scanner reads your German Rex's chip in seconds; the registry decides whether the reading goes anywhere. Capture the 15-digit number in your free United Pet Club account and it goes straight to your phone. Free for life, every brand accepted, every update free. Microchip registration closes the loop.