Origin
United Kingdom
Lifespan
9–15 years
Weight
2–5 kg
Group
Rex / Curly
Personality
Colors & Patterns
Various Colors · Tabby · Pointed · Solid · Bicolor
Devon Rex
About This Breed
The Devon Rex is a breed of intelligent, short-haired cat that emerged in England during the late 1950s. It is known for its slender body, wavy coat, and large ears. They are sometimes called 'pixie cats' or 'alien cats' due to their large eyes and elf-like appearance. Devon Rex cats are very playful and mischievous, retaining their kitten-like personality throughout life. They love being with people and are known to perch on their owner's shoulder.
Characteristics
Scores describe general breed tendencies, not an individual animal. A higher score means more of the named trait or need; it does not always mean better.
Life with a Devon Rex
Origin
| Origin | United Kingdom |
| Group | Rex / Curly |
For the breed’s history, see the reference sources and Wikipedia link below.
Size and coat
| Weight | 2–5 kg |
| Lifespan | 9–15 years |
| Colors & Patterns | Various Colors · Tabby · Pointed · Solid · Bicolor |
These are approximate adult ranges. Individual animals may be smaller or larger.
Temperament
| Personality | Active · Social · Playful · Naughty · Affectionate |
Usually active. Make time for play, exercise, and activities that keep it interested.
Often seeks company and attention. Allow time together and help it get used to short periods alone.
Coat care
Usually needs relatively little coat care. Brush as needed for its coat and shedding.
Usually sheds relatively little. Low shedding does not mean an animal cannot cause allergies.
Living together
Often adjusts to changes fairly well, though a gradual introduction still helps.
Often gets along with children, but an adult should still supervise their time together.
Often gets along with other pets. Introduce them gradually rather than assuming they will be friends.
Health and lifespan
A lifespan range is not a prediction for an individual animal. Breed scores cannot diagnose illness or replace a veterinary assessment.
Offer places to climb, hide, scratch, and rest. Try different toys to see what your cat enjoys.
More from breed and care sources
Excerpts from the linked sources. Read the original for full details.
About the Breed
If you could cross a cat and an elf, you’d most likely have a Devon Rex. It’s virtually impossible to discuss these charming, wavy-haired wonders without using the words “elfin” or “pixie.” So striking and unusual that at first glance, people wonder if they are truly looking at a cat. Devon Rex are adorably cute, delightfully silly, and pure fun from beginning to end. Intensely loyal and loving, they become deeply attached to their owners and dislike being left alone for long periods. This is definitely a breed for someone who is comfortable being owned by a cat, not the other way around.
Breed History
In 1959, a single curly-haired male kitten turned up in a litter born in a garden in Devon, England. The kitten’s unusual appearance, amusing antics and loving nature earned him a home with Beryl Cox, who named him Kirlee. At first, Kirlee was considered to be another example of the Cornish Rex mutation. Test breedings proved this theory to be completely incorrect. So, Kirlee was bred to his own offspring to produce more wavy-coated kittens—a very different look from the tighter curl of the Cornish Rex coat. The development of the breed moved forward as Kirlee’s progeny were out-crossed with several other breeds over the years. Is it any wonder that Devons offer one of the broadest variety of colors and patterns of any breed known today?
Character & Temperament
Part court jester, part soulmate, Devons seek to be all things to all people and are always eager to please. Very intelligent cats, they learn to respond to their names, follow their people everywhere in the house, and often snuggle up next to them in bed. Fascinated by their owners’ every activity, they will often seek to provide their own special type of assistance; don’t be surprised if your Devon tries to join you in the shower or falls into the bathtub with you. Devons have a robust appetite and some may have exotic tastes; fruit and vegetables may be as appealing as chicken or fish. They are talkative but not noisy; their conversation consists of soft chirps, trills, and peeps along with contented purrs. Every guest to the home is a potential new friend who must be made welcome. They readily accept dogs or other animals as companions, playmates or pillows, and get along very well with children, tolerating dress-up or tea-party games with equanimity.
Physical Appearance
With large expressive eyes, large ears set low on the side of their head, wide cheekbones and a mischievous expression, the head of a Devon Rex captures your attention immediately, even before you feel the gentle waves and tissue-soft texture of the curly coat. Eyebrows and whiskers are also curly but fragile, and may break off, leaving only bent stubs. Small- to medium-sized cats, their bodies have a surprising heft and muscularity that may seem at odds with their elfin appearance. The chest is broad, the neck slender, and the front legs are often held in a “bulldog” stance. Typical adult weights range from six to nine pounds; males may be somewhat larger.
Grooming
Unlike the Cornish Rex, which has no outer guard hairs in its coat, Devons have some guard hairs that are very sparse, short, and rexed. This creates a coat that has an open wave and varies in density, texture, and length, but may also be somewhat fragile, leading to occasional bare or “sueded” areas. While all cats shed, Devons certainly shed less than most; they are easy-care, wash-and-wear cats that may be well tolerated by those sensitive to cats. Contrary to popular belief, though, they are not hypoallergenic.
Life at home
Having ranked among CFA’s top ten breeds for several years, Devon Rex have recently been named the most popular of all shorthaired breeds (based on CFA registration statistics). With their varied genetic background, you would expect to find few health concerns; nevertheless, genetic testing is essential for breeders because of the high incidence of blood type B in the gene pool. If an “A” male is bred to a “B” female, parental blood type incompatibilities can result in the death of the kittens unless they can be initially hand-raised.
Breed Overview
Have you heard of the curly-coated rex cats? Surprisingly, each feline in the rex cat breed family, which includes the Cornish Rex, Devon Rex, and Selkirk Rex, is unrelated. "Each rex is a completely different breed that developed independently from different spontaneous mutations," says all-breed cat judge Teresa Keiger. While every cat’s personality is different, the Devon Rex stands out among the rex breeds as a particularly people-oriented and friendly feline companion. Originating in England, the Devon Rex flaunts high cheekbones and large, flaring ears set atop a small, curl-covered frame.
Care Guide
Devon Rex cats are fairly small cats, with an average weight of 6–9 pounds. They’re often called the Poodle of the cat world. One look and you’ll see the resemblance: Their hair grows in silky curls and rippling waves, an effect called “rexing.” "Devon Rex love to be with their people," Keiger says. And while you're away, they wouldn't mind another furry companion to keep them entertained. Like their curled canine companions, Devon Rex cats are also low-shedding. And while they are considered to be a hypoallergenic cat breed, cat dander and saliva also cause us to itch and sneeze, so there’s really no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic feline.