Devon Rex

About the breed

The Devon Rex is one of the most instantly recognizable cat breeds in the world - with a look often compared to an elf or a pixie, and a personality that is among the most sociable and people-focused of any cat breed. Behind the huge, low-set ears, short muzzle and soft, wavy coat is a cat that wants to be with its person at all times - on a shoulder, in a lap, or under the blankets. Despite its delicate appearance, the Devon Rex is a sturdy, muscular and extremely playful cat, often compared to a monkey or a dog for its devotion and curiosity.

History: a chance mutation from Devon

The breed began in 1960, when Beryl Cox found a wavy-coated kitten in the village of Buckfastleigh in Devon, England, and named him Kirlee. Kirlee became the founding sire of the entire breed. Because a similar natural mutation had appeared just a few years earlier (1950) in neighboring Cornwall, giving rise to the Cornish Rex, breeders initially assumed the two cats carried the same gene, and test-mated Kirlee to Cornish Rex queens.

Two different genes, two breeds

The test matings revealed something unexpected: every kitten produced from Kirlee x Cornish Rex pairings had a straight coat. This proved that Kirlee carried a completely different, non-allelic recessive gene - the Cat Fanciers' Association's own breed history refers to it as 'Gene II', as opposed to the Cornish Rex's 'Gene I' mutation. Only when Kirlee was mated back to one of his own daughters was another curly-coated kitten produced, confirming a separate, independent breed. The Devon Rex and Cornish Rex are therefore not genetically related, even though they originated in neighboring English counties and share a superficially similar curly coat. The Devon Rex also has noticeably larger, lower-set ears, a rounder 'pixie' face, and a coat of a different texture than the Cornish Rex, so an experienced eye tells them apart easily.

Appearance: big ears and an elfin face

The Devon Rex is hard to mistake for any other breed. Its head is a modified wedge shape with prominent cheekbones, large oval eyes and a short muzzle, giving it a distinctive 'elfin' or 'pixie' expression. Its most striking feature is a pair of enormous, low-set ears, wider at the base than the facial wedge itself, with rounded tips. The coat is short, soft and wavy; unlike the Cornish Rex, which has no guard hairs at all, the Devon Rex retains all three hair types, but its guard hairs are sparse and shortened. This gives the coat a more open, 'billowing' wave, with a texture often compared to suede. Some cats show patchy thin or almost bare areas, which is considered normal for the breed.

Temperament: the original 'Velcro cat'

Few breeds are as intensely social as the Devon Rex. These cats genuinely follow their owners from room to room, wait outside the bathroom door, and happily climb onto a shoulder. The CFA describes them as cats that readily accept dogs or other animals as companions and playmates and that get along very well with children. They are highly intelligent, curious and playful, and many owners teach them to fetch objects or perform simple tricks. Because they cope poorly with being left alone for long periods, Devon Rex cats can become restless or even destructive without enough company and stimulation.

Health: hereditary myopathy

Devon Rex cats are affected by a well-documented inherited muscle disorder known as Devon Rex hereditary myopathy, or congenital myasthenic syndrome. A study published in the journal Animal Genetics (2015) identified the cause as a mutation in the COLQ gene, inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. Affected cats show generalized muscle weakness that worsens after exertion or excitement, along with a characteristic drooping head-and-neck posture. Around 2% of the Devon Rex cats tested in the study carried the mutation. The disorder was first described in Devon Rex cats specifically (and later also in Sphynx cats) - it has not been documented in the Cornish Rex, making it another genetic point of difference between the two rex breeds. A genetic test is now available, allowing breeders to screen out carriers.

Skin and coat care

Because its guard hairs are sparse and shortened, Devon Rex skin lacks the same natural 'wicking' protection against skin oils that a normal coat provides. As a result, the skin often runs oilier than average, and some cats develop mild yeast (Malassezia) overgrowth with a faint odor or redness. Most Devon Rex cats therefore need regular bathing - roughly every 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the individual - with a gentle cat shampoo, something most other breeds don't require. The coat itself needs little brushing, but regular ear cleaning is recommended, since wax tends to build up in those oversized ears.

Living space and suitability

Thanks to its small size, minimal grooming needs and adaptability, the Devon Rex makes an excellent apartment cat, provided it gets enough toys and daily attention. Its thin coat provides poor insulation, so these cats actively seek out warm spots - a radiator, a laptop, or a spot under the blankets - and many owners provide a cat sweater in winter. Their friendly, patient nature makes them a great match for children and other pets, including dogs. They are a poorer fit for people wanting an independent cat with no need for company, and for first-time owners unfamiliar with the breed's particular skin-care needs and genetics - anyone considering the breed should ask about hereditary myopathy and request genetic testing of the parents.

Pros & cons