Devon Rex

The Devon Rex is one of the most visually distinctive domestic cat breeds in existence, a small cat with enormous ears, huge luminous eyes, a triangular pixie face and a coat of soft, wavy curls that feels like warm suede against the skin.

It was developed in Devon, England, in 1960 from a curly-haired kitten named Kirlee found at Buckfastleigh, and despite superficial similarities to the Cornish Rex, which also originated in England and also has a curly coat, the Devon Rex is genetically distinct. The two breeds cannot be interbred to produce curly-coated offspring.

The Devon Rex is sometimes called the "alien cat" or "pixie cat" by breeders, and the names fit. The combination of a very short, upturned nose, enormous radar-dish ears set low on the sides of the head, and a small, impish face gives the breed a science-fiction quality that is polarizing, some potential owners find it irresistible, others find it unsettling.

Those who fall for the look almost invariably fall for the personality: the Devon Rex is among the most people-oriented, interactive and amusing cats in the pedigree world.

Origin and Discovery

The Devon Rex was discovered, not bred, it arose from a spontaneous mutation in the general cat population of Devon, England. In 1960, Beryl Cox came across a curly-coated kitten in Buckfastleigh, Devon, whom she named Kirlee.

Beryl Cox initially believed Kirlee's gene was related to the Cornish Rex, and bred him with Cornish Rex females.

A pivotal finding emerged in cat genetics from this mating: every kitten born to Kirlee paired with Cornish Rex females had a straight coat. The two curl genes were not interchangeable since they failed to complement each other.

The fact that these rex breeds have incompatible mutations demonstrated that the Devon Rex curl results from a KRT71 gene mutation producing defective keratin and the hair shaft structure change responsible for its soft wavy pattern. The Cornish Rex curl comes from a different gene mutation affecting a distinct genetic locus.

Cox then began a breeding program to preserve Kirlee's mutation, and the breed was later developed with outcrosses to other breeds.

Physical Characteristics

The Devon Rex's appearance is striking by any measure. Every feature seems exaggerated in a direction different from every other breed: the ears are enormous, the eyes are very large, the nose is short and upturned, the head is small and triangular and the body is slender and elf-like. Together these features create a look of perpetual alertness and impishness.

Characteristic	Details
Weight	2.7-4.1 kg
Build	Slender, long-legged, lightweight
Head	Small, triangular
Ears	Very large, wide-set, low on head
Eyes	Very large, oval, all colors
Nose	Short, upturned
Coat	Short, wavy, very soft, feels like suede
Coat layers	Down and awn hair; guard hairs sparse or absent

The coat is the breed's most unusual physical feature. Unlike the Cornish Rex, which has only down hairs (the softest, finest hair layer), the Devon Rex has a combination of down and awn hairs in a wavy arrangement. Guard hairs, the coarse outer coat present in most cats, are either absent or present in very reduced numbers. The result is a coat that is extraordinarily soft, that waves or curls in fine ripples across the body, and that provides less insulation than a normal cat coat.

The reduced insulation means Devon Rex cats tend to seek warmth more actively than most cats. They are famous for burrowing under bedcovers, draping themselves across warm laps and shoulders, and positioning themselves near heat sources. This thermal seeking behavior is a breed characteristic rather than illness.

The Rex Gene and Coat Structure

The KRT71 mutation that causes the Devon Rex curl affects the production of a structural protein in the hair shaft. In the normal hair shaft, multiple keratin proteins interlock to create a straight, smooth cylinder. When the KRT71 protein is defective, the hair shaft develops an irregular structure that curls as it grows, producing the characteristic Devon Rex wave.

The gene is autosomal recessive, two copies are required to produce a curly-coated cat. Cats carrying one copy of the Devon Rex gene and one copy of a normal gene will have straight coats but can produce curly-coated offspring when bred to another carrier or another Devon Rex.

Because the Devon and Cornish Rex curls are caused by different recessive genes, a cross between the two breeds produces straight-coated kittens carrying one copy of each different rex gene. These F1 crosses look like ordinary shorthaired cats. Breeding two of these straight-coated F1 hybrids together would theoretically produce some kittens with two Devon Rex genes (curly Devon coat) and some with two Cornish Rex genes (wavy Cornish coat) along with straight-coated individuals.

Temperament and Personality

The Devon Rex is widely described as the most dog-like of cat breeds, an assessment that reflects the breed's orientation toward human company, its tendency to follow owners from room to room, its habit of greeting visitors enthusiastically, and its willingness to be trained with food rewards to perform simple behaviors.

Devon Rex cats are intensely interactive. They want to be involved in whatever their owner is doing. They will sit on keyboards, drape themselves across books and magazines, position themselves between the owner and the television, and insert themselves into any activity that excludes them. This is not aggression, it is social need expressed as physical presence.

The breed is playful throughout life. Adult Devon Rex cats maintain a kitten-like enthusiasm for interactive play well into old age, and many Devon Rex owners report that their cats retain a kitten-like quality at ten or twelve years of age that is unusual in domestic cats. The intelligence supports complex play: puzzle feeders, fetch games (yes, Devon Rex cats often retrieve), and training sessions are enjoyed rather than merely tolerated.

The breed is remarkably tolerant of handling and of novel situations. Devon Rex cats generally adapt well to travel, to veterinary visits and to changes in household composition, because their security is grounded in human presence rather than in territorial stability.

For Devon Rex health detail see Devon Rex Health Problems. For care guidance see Devon Rex Care Guide.

Health Profile

The Devon Rex has several hereditary health concerns that prospective owners should understand thoroughly.

Devon Rex myopathy (hereditary myopathy of Devon Rex cats) is a serious muscle condition caused by a variant in the COLQ gene, in which affected cats develop muscle weakness, typically appearing between 3 and 23 weeks of age.

The weakness first appears in the neck and shoulder muscles, causing the head to be held in a lowered, bobbing position, progressing to generalized muscle weakness, difficulty eating and exercise intolerance. The condition is caused by an autosomal recessive mutation and is often fatal, with affected cats typically dying from laryngospasm after food obstructs the larynx. DNA testing for this mutation is available in some countries.

Health Concern	Details	Testing
Devon Rex myopathy	Hereditary muscle weakness; autosomal recessive	DNA test available
Blood type B	High prevalence in breed	Blood type before transfusion
Dental disease	Progressive with age	Regular dental care

Blood type B is significantly more common in Devon Rex cats than in most other breeds. This matters clinically because cats with type B blood that receive type A blood transfusions (the most common blood type) can have life-threatening transfusion reactions. Any Devon Rex requiring a blood transfusion should be blood-typed first.

For allergy considerations see Best Cats for Allergy Sufferers. For comparison with similar breeds see Cornish Rex and Sphynx Cat.

Grooming

The Devon Rex coat requires a different approach than most cat coats. It is fine and fragile, vigorous brushing can break the delicate wavy hair shafts, resulting in bare patches. The recommended approach is gentle, infrequent handling: a soft cloth or chamois wiped over the coat to remove loose hairs and distribute skin oils, done no more than once or twice a week.

The fragile coat can lead to occasional bare or thinly coated areas, though the CFA breed standard treats bare patches in adults as a serious fault and prefers a coat that covers the body evenly.

The large ears accumulate wax and debris more readily than smaller-eared breeds. Weekly ear inspection and gentle cleaning with a cotton ball is advisable. The absence of heavy guard hairs means less ear protection from airborne particles.