So, if you’re looking for a brilliant cat, and perhaps one that might “freak out” the neighbors, boy, do we have the “perfect” cat breed for you! Its name is the Devon Rex cat breed. And while we here at IndulgeYourPet consider these curious little guys quite handsome, we know some people out there may disagree!
Heck…
There may even be some folks who find them a bit “scary” looking! And we must confess, even though we see these guys pretty attractive, we’re also a bit “freaked out” by them, too… on occasion, which is one more reason why we love them so MUCH! But just because you happen to think these cats look “cool” doesn’t mean that you should run out to your nearest Devon Rex cat breeder and immediately adopt the first Devon Rex kitten you see because there are certain things you should know about the Devon Rex cat breed before you can determine if this breed is going to be the “right” breed for you.
After all…
The last thing you want is to choose a cat that “looks alone.” This is why we here at IndulgeYourPet have taken the time to write this article so that, hopefully, once you read it, you’ll be more informed as to whether or not a Devon Rex is “right” for you.
So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.
Devon Cat Breed Fast Facts
Country of Origin: England
Size: Medium
Weight: 7 to 9 pounds
Eyes: Large and oval (colors may vary)
Shape of Head: Small “wedged” shaped
Life Span: 9 to 15 years
Origin of the Devon Cat Breed
While the Devon Rex cat breed has an appearance that “seems” to be “ancient,” truth be told, this isn’t all that “old” of a cat breed at all. The Devon Rex cat breed only dates back to the late and early 1960s when a local field cat with curly hair happened to have a rendezvous with a domesticated Tortoiseshell house cat belonging to the cat “enthusiast” named Beryl Cox.
Two months later, The resulting litter produced some very interesting looking kittens, many of which seemed very similar to their “cousin breed,” the Cornish Rex; however, there was one particular kitten that Beryl named Kirlee that looked a bit “different.”
Kirlee…
Didn’t exactly look like a Cornish Rex. Kirlee’s coat was wavy but more tousled, and his whiskers were utterly different from a Cornish Rex’s. Though both breeds have large ears, Kirlee’s were low on his head, and a Cornish Rex’s ears are high up on their heads. These differences inspired Beryl to continue to breed Kirlee so that she could selectively emphasize these differences, which over time became many of the “hallmarks” of the Devon Rex cat breed.
Today, modern Devon Rex cats can come in various colors due to the efforts of Beryl Cox and others like here, which is why folks who love this breed have plenty of options to choose from when deciding what “kind” of Devon Rex cat they want to own.
Physical Characteristics
When describing precisely what a Devon Rex cat looks like, it helps to mention that it has been given a few “nicknames” over the years. Nicknames including:
- The Pixie Cat which sounds lovely and cute.
- The Poodle Cat also says nice.
- And the Alien Cat, which probably isn’t the most flattering of names, might be the most descriptive.
Now, regardless of what nickname you prefer or whether or not you like using a handle to describe these little guys, what is clear is that a Devon Rex will have a set of oversized ears, huge eyes, and a tiny head accented by high cheekbones.
They’re also going…
To have very soft fur that is extremely wavy. Considering there are several other “Rex” cat breeds out there that will have very similar facial features, the Devon Rex’s fur should be regarded as the most distinguishable feature of the Devon Rex because it is the “best” way to identify a Devon Rex as opposed to a Cornish Rex or a Selkirk Rex. This fur will always be silky and short but can come in various colors: white, black, blue, red, cream, fawn, chocolate, and lavender.
Personality and Temperament
Now, even though most folks who see a Devon Rex cat for the first time mainly want to sit and stare at them for a while, it’s important to point out that these guys, while undoubtedly interesting to look at, are quite a bit of fun to play with as well! Mainly because the Devon Rex breed is inquisitive. They’re like babies seeing the world for the first time with wide, bright eyes. They like to explore, and they’re very playful and outgoing. They warm up to anyone they meet and love those they already know—including other pets!
They’re also an…
Brilliant cat breed that loves to learn. They’re up to any challenge, willing and able to learn tricks, and love to play with toys that make them think. But be sure you reward them with plenty of love and treats, as that is their favorite part about learning and playing.
And if you do…
They’ll gladly tell you they’re pleased, as they often communicate with their soft purr. They also love to be the center of attention and will be happy to spend all day sitting on your lap or perched right up on your shoulder. This is because they like to stay close to their favorite people but welcome strangers just the same. And while they may not be the “most active” of all cat breeds, they will still be “active enough” for most folks looking for a cat that isn’t just going to sit on the couch all day.
But it would be best if you were warned…
These guys like to EAT! And they will eat practically anything, so make sure you’re monitoring their diet and don’t let them trick you into feeding them too much; otherwise, you’ll have a very “overweight” cat lounging on your shoulder all day!
Potential Health Concerns
Unfortunately, like many pedigree cat breeds, the Devon Rex breed is prone to be at an increased risk for some hereditary severe medical conditions. Conditions such as:
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) HCM is cats’ most common heart disease. This disease causes the heart muscle to thicken. If you want to be sure that your cat doesn’t have HCM, they can be tested—this screening is known as an echocardiogram.
- Muscle function may also be affected, known as hereditary myopathy. Hereditary myopathy signs can be seen in cats as young as 4-7 weeks or 12-14 weeks.
- A feature of this disease is passive ventroflexion of the head and neck. It’s very noticeable if you see a picture. Sometimes, this causes cats to have difficulty swallowing their food or move less because they get tired if they stride for too long.
- Patellar luxation is a problem that causes a cat’s knee to pop out of place. This, in turn, can cause a kitten to walk with a limp.
A Devon Rex can also get sunburns due to their lack of hair! If you want to prevent a cat from getting sunburns, limit the time they spend outdoors. They like to nap outside in the sun because it warms them up, but you can specify that time. Between 10 am and 4 pm, they should stay inside.
Which brings us to…
The last topic that we want to discuss today about the Devon Rex cat breed is, if you do decide that you want to purchase a Devon Rex kitten or, better yet, adopt a Devon Rex rescue cat, please take a moment and also consider purchasing a pet insurance policy on them as well. This is because the last thing that you want to have happen is for you to encounter a medical emergency whereby you are suddenly facing all sorts of medical bills that may force you to consider euthanizing your animal simply because you don’t have the money to pay for the care your pet needs.
Now, will a pet insurance policy be suitable for everyone?
No, of course not, but until you fully understand what these “types” of insurance policies will and won’t cover and how much they cost, how will you ever know if they could be “right” for you?
For more information about who we “feel” currently offers the “best” pet insurance policies in the industry, check out our Top 10 Best Pet Insurance Companies article.
