Devon Rex

Federations: LOOF, CFA, ACF, ACFA, TICA, FIFé, WCF

Coexistence is important that you have with your new friend. Before considering the acquisition of a cat of the breed "Devon Rex" you know certain factors. You must take into account their character, their need for exercise, their interaction with other pets, their care and if you have small children, their level of tolerance towards them.

The Devon Rex appeared in 1960 and originated in Buckfastleigh, Devon, England, where a colony of stray cats lived in a mine. One of them had curly hair and was mated with a straight-haired tortoiseshell cat adopted by Mrs. Beryl Cox.. One of the kittens she gave birth to had curly brown-black hair and was named Kirlee..

The Sra. Cox knew that a new breed of cat was being developed in neighboring Cornwall., the Cornish Rex. Thinking you had one of these new cats on your hands, contacted one of the breeders of Cornish Rex, the Sr. Brian Sterling-Webb. He was obviously interested and bought Kirlee for 25 pounds at that time.

But, several crosses between Kirlee females and Cornish Rex they only produced straight-haired kittens. At the same time, the differences in the coat (more kinky in the Devon, silky in the Cornish), in the ears (low implantation in the Devon, high implantation in the Cornish) and in the whiskers (curly in the Cornish, short or without mustaches on the Devon) confirmed that the genes responsible for this coat characteristic were different from those of the Cornish Rex.

The genetic mutation of Cornish Rex it was called “Gen 1”, and of the Devon Rex “Gen 2”. It was also around this time that the breed's name was coined, a reference to its origin in Devon and its fur similar to that of the Astrex rabbit, like the Cornish Rex.

The Sr. Brian Sterling-Webb began working on the conservation of Gen 2 and crossed Kirlee with many domestic and purebred cats to consolidate the breed's gene pool, following the model applied to Cornish Rex. All the Devon Rex current are descendants of Kirlee, that had a tragic ending in 1970 when he died in a car accident.

Nonetheless, his numerous offspring had aroused the interest of other breeders, like Mrs. Agnes Watts or Mrs. Madge Shrouder, that contributed to the development of the breed. In 1967, the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) was the first feline organization to officially recognize the breed, and the International Feline Federation (ICF) did the same the following year.

In 1968, only 8 years after Kirlee's birth, the first Devon Rex crossed the Atlantic and the race began its conquest of the Americas. In 1972, the American Cat Fan Association (CFA) allowed the registration of their representatives, before obtaining final recognition eleven years later, in 1983, giving them the right to participate in feline exhibitions organized under their auspices. In 1979, became one of the breeds recognized by the International Cat Association (TICA) since its foundation.

Today, this cat is found all over the world and, although it is not one of the most popular breeds, it is quite popular in general. in your country of origin, ranks tenth (of about 40) in the GCCF ranking of records, with more than 300 specimens registered every year. This figure supposes, However, a clear decrease compared to the first years of the 21st century, when more than 600 kittens a year.

In United States, it also ranks 10th in terms of the number of annual registrations in the CFA. In France, it is much less common: with only 150 to 200 individuals registered each year in the Livre Officiel des Origines Félines (LOOF), it hardly represents the 0,5% of the French feline population. On the other hand, the trend is rather upward, as the number of annual registrations was rather between 100 and 150 during the first decade of the century.

The Devon Rex is a breed of cat with an original appearance, that has earned him several nicknames, as “Gato Gremlin”, “Elf Cat” or “Alien Cat”.

Medium-sized, has a graceful but muscular body, seated on long legs and finished with a fine, tapered tail.

It is in the head where the first peculiarities appear: sideways, the flat skull is prolonged with a rounded forehead and a distinct break in the nose, while in front, strong cheekbones and powerful muzzle broaden the silhouette.

Oval eyes can be any color, even blue, and the whiskers are short and brittle, or even non-existent. The ears are large, long and tapered: placed low and to the sides, dan al Devon Rex its characteristic appearance of elf or face.

Its curly fur all over the body is also very particular.. Is short, fine and silky and not very dense, to the point that some individuals may have bare spots, what constitutes a defect for adults who wish to participate in feline shows.

Regardless of the cat's body, Devon Rex standard accepts all coat patterns and colors, including white marks.

Last, sexual dimorphism is moderately marked, being the male larger than the female.

• Male size: Of 27 to 30 cm.
• female size: Of 25 to 28 cm.
• Male weight: Of 3 to 4 kg
• female weight: Of 2,5 to 3,5 kg

The Devon Rex he is very close to his family and loves to spend most of his time with them. Whether perched on the cook's shoulder, on the lap of the television watcher or on the keyboard of the computer user, a Devon Rex you are never far from your loved ones, and his natural curiosity makes him often come to see what they are doing. But it is not an exclusive cat, and also enjoys the company of people who come to the house often. This closeness to people makes them an excellent therapy cat..

It is a breed of cat suitable for children, they are very sociable with them and can spend hours playing with them, as long as they know how to behave with respect and refrain from pulling their tails, for example.

He also loves the company of other pets., already be partners, dogs that don't usually chase cats, rabbits or other rodents, birds or reptiles. So, it is an ideal option for those who already have one or more animals at home.

The presence of these animals can be very beneficial for the cat's balance, since its attachment to the family and its great sociability make it a feline breed that does not tolerate loneliness. But, if they get bored alone at home, they are likely to behave destructively. Having said that, Although the presence of one or more companions can help you pass the time and have fun when your master is away, not a breed adapted to an often absent master.

On the other hand, is relatively flexible and able to cope with a change of environment, for example when you go on vacation with your cat. They can even become an excellent travel companion..

Quite curious and active, to the Devon Rex he likes to explore his territory: his climbing abilities allow him to reach the highest shelves, while its slim and flexible body allows it to slide under the lowest furniture. He also likes to play with his owner, chasing a ball or looking for a thrown object. These activities are more than enough for him, so it is a breed of cat that lives very well in a flat.

They are smart and can learn a few tricks if their owner is patient enough to teach them.. They can also be stimulated intellectually with the help of various puzzles for cats., especially the ones that offer a food reward.

This is another feature of Devon Rex: He is a greedy cat and is constantly looking for something to eat. They are always on the lookout for something to eat, and they will sit at the table with the rest of the family, taking what they can from the plates at every opportunity. It also, once the meal is finished, if his master leaves any food available, is an invitation to a feast that will never be missed, although this may be detrimental to your health.

It also, their sparse fur retains little heat. Many people who caress a Devon Rex have the feeling that it is warmer than other cats, but this is only an impression due to the low density of its fur, since it has exactly the same body temperature as other breeds. But, how they can't trust their fur to keep warm, they usually look for sources of heat. It is common to find them sleeping on the radiator or curled up under the duvet, especially if its owner is also in bed.

Last, the Devon Rex not especially loud, but you can attract the attention of your family with a meow-gurro if you want to let them know something, for example, that your bowl is empty.

The Devon Rex It is an easy-care breed of cats: a brief brushing every week is enough to keep his coat beautiful. But, brushing should be gentle and preferably by hand, so as not to damage the fragile fur.

Although most dogs don't need more than one bath a year, some may have excess sebum on the skin, especially on the legs. In this case, it may be helpful to bathe them once a month to prevent dirt buildup, that could cause an infection.

The Devon Rex it is a breed of cat hypoallergenic, but, contrary to popular belief, young. Having said that, as the hair is fine and the shedding is constant throughout the year, the phenomenon is quite discreet, and at no time does it accumulate excessively in the house.

Otherwise, it's advisable, as in the case of any cat, make sure his teeth and eyes are clean every week and clean his big ears with a damp cloth, to avoid the risk of infection.

Last, if your cat does not use his scratching post enough and his claws are too long, must be trimmed with a nail clipper.

The Devon Rex she is an excellent indoor cat, since he prefers to be warm and cozy. In any case, prefers to be around his two-legged friends. Likes to leave a bit of a mess when exploring the house. Likes a cozy place to lie on the radiator or on the sunny windowsill.

Especially in winter it is not suitable for going outside, since his fine hair cannot protect himself from the cold. But, needs enough floor space to vent. A safe balcony or terrace would be ideal. Some representatives of the breed can also get used to walks on a leash.

Being a very intelligent breed, the Devon Rex always looking for new challenges and things to do. A large, sturdy scratching post and other cat toys are just what this active cat needs.. He loves to play and is extremely docile.

You can easily teach him little tricks and feats. This communicative cat loves to spend time not only with his owner, but also seeks contact with other cats of the same species. Having several cats is almost a requirement to acquire a Devon Rex.

The Devon Rex it is a fairly robust breed, which generally does not pose a significant risk of disease.

But, is more prone to certain conditions:

• Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, which causes an enlargement of certain tissues of the heart, which leads to heart problems;
• Congenital hypotrichosis, or “hereditary baldness”, which makes the affected individual's coat much less dense than normal;
• Patellar luxation, a fairly common knee problem that can interfere with walking;
• myopathy of Devon Rex, that appears between 1 and 6 months old and causes muscle degeneration. This incurable disease varies in severity and can remain stable or progress slowly.;
• Various treatable skin diseases, such as hives or Malassez dermatitis, caused by a fungus.

The most common health risk for the Devon Rex is the Obesity, that can be deadly. Thus, the owner must ensure that the dog does not eat more than it should, does not yield to his pleading gaze and leaves no easily accessible food scraps, as this could endanger your health.

Of 12 to 15 years

The Devon Rex he is a glutton who eats everything. Despite her slim appearance, the risk of obesity is very real, and a responsible owner must ensure that his partner does not gain too much weight.

To provide your cat with everything it needs to stay healthy, it is advisable to feed it with quality commercial food, respect the rations recommended by the manufacturer and do not leave large amounts of food at your disposal: unlike most breeds, not necessarily capable of self-regulation.

You should also avoid feeding him leftovers and resist his insistent requests., when your imploring gaze may suggest that you are constantly hungry. This is especially true because some of the foods their owners eat can be dangerous to cats..

If, despite the precautions taken, your cat is overweight, you should contact a vet without delay to establish a diet that will keep him healthy.

The average price of a kitten Devon Rex male is about 1.200 EUR, while a female is somewhat more expensive: a few 1.300 EUR.

But, this average price hides a very wide range of prices, since they oscillate between 800 and 2500 euros for males, and between 1000 and 2600 euros for females. These important price differences from one individual to another are mainly correlated with the fact that their physical characteristics are more or less close to the breed standard., and with the greater or lesser prestige of the lineage from which it comes.

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