Cornish Rex

About the breed

The Cornish Rex is one of two curly-coated British cat breeds that people often confuse with each other -- but the Cornish Rex and the Devon Rex are genetically distinct breeds, each arising from its own natural mutation. The Cornish Rex originated in the English county of Cornwall, where the first curly-coated kitten was born in 1950. Today it is known for an extremely fine, wavy coat with no guard hairs at all, a slim athletic build often compared in the cat fancy to a greyhound or a whippet, and an energetic, people-focused personality. It's a breed that needs a warm environment and plenty of company, but rewards owners with very low shedding and a playful, almost dog-like devotion.

Origins in Cornwall

The breed's story began on 21 July 1950 on a farm near Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, where owner Nina Ennismore's household cat Serena gave birth to a cream-coloured male kitten with tight, close curls -- she named him Kallibunker. A veterinarian referred her to geneticist A. C. Jude, who confirmed a genuine natural mutation. When Kallibunker was bred back to his mother, more curly-coated kittens resulted, proving the trait was recessive. Familiar with similar mutations in Rex rabbits and mice, Ennismore named the new breed after them. In 1956, California breeder Frances Blancheri imported the first cats from England to the US, and the Cat Fanciers' Association registered the breed in 1962, granting it championship status in 1964.

Why it's not a Devon Rex

Cornish Rex and Devon Rex cats are frequently mixed up because both originated in England and both have curly coats, but they result from two independent natural mutations in different genes. In the Cornish Rex, the cause is a 4-base-pair deletion in the LPAR6 gene that creates a premature stop codon, so the cat has no guard hairs at all -- only a soft, curly undercoat remains, making its coat the softest of all the rex breeds. In the Devon Rex, the mutation is in the KRT71 gene instead, and the coat retains some sparse guard hairs, giving it a coarser, less evenly waved texture. Because the two genes are separate and non-allelic, crossing a Cornish Rex with a Devon Rex typically does not produce curly kittens -- the offspring are usually born straight-coated. The breeds also differ in appearance: the Cornish Rex has an egg-shaped head with large upright ears and a lean, greyhound-like body, while the Devon Rex has a broader chest, a lower-slung build, and a distinctive three-curve facial profile with 'jug-handle' ears.

Appearance and coat

The Cornish Rex is a medium-sized cat, slender and muscular, with long thin legs, an arched back, an egg-shaped head, large upright ears and a long, thin, whip-like tail -- earning it the nickname 'the greyhound of cats' in the fancy. Its short coat lies close to the body in tiny, even waves (the so-called Marcel wave) and feels remarkably soft and silky to the touch, since without guard hairs it resembles velvet or rabbit fur. Even the whiskers are curly. The breed is recognised in dozens of colours and patterns.

Temperament and energy

The Cornish Rex is considered one of the most energetic and athletic cat breeds -- constantly looking for something to do, fond of jumping, climbing and fetching toys, and retaining kitten-like curiosity and playfulness throughout its life. It is intensely attached to people, sometimes described as a 'Velcro cat' because it likes to sit in laps or on shoulders and follow its owner around the home. Because of this attachment, it copes poorly with long stretches of solitude or quiet, empty homes -- it needs company, play and daily stimulation, or it will find its own entertainment, quite possibly on the kitchen counter or among the papers on a desk.

Grooming and special needs

The short, undercoat-only coat needs only occasional combing, but because there are no guard hairs to absorb skin oils, Cornish Rex cats get greasy faster and need periodic bathing. The thin coat also leaves the skin more exposed to sun (sunburn is possible) and cold -- the cat chills easily and needs a warm indoor environment, a heated bed, or even a sweater in winter or in cooler rooms. The large, uncovered ears also need regular cleaning. Lacking a true insulating undercoat layer of its own, the breed is not suited to living outdoors or in unheated spaces.

Health

CFA and several veterinary sources describe the Cornish Rex as a sturdy, vigorous breed without a widely documented hereditary disease specific to it. A recent study on the prevalence of hip dysplasia and patellar luxation in pedigree cats singles out the Devon Rex, Siamese, British Shorthair and Abyssinian as breeds with elevated risk, but does not list the Cornish Rex among them -- data is too limited for a firm conclusion, so routine veterinary check-ups are the general recommendation. The main practical concern remains sensitivity to cold and sun due to the thin coat, rather than an inherited disease.

Suitability for family and home

The Cornish Rex is friendly toward children and generally gets along well with other pets, including dogs, thanks to its sociable, playful nature. It can do well in an apartment since it is small and can satisfy its need for movement even in a smaller space -- but only with enough attention, play and a warm environment; it is not suited to a home where it is left alone most of the day. It can be a good choice for first-time owners because of its low coat-care needs, but it does require schedule adjustments, attention to room temperature and a lot of playtime, so we rate its suitability for beginners as conditional.

Pros & cons