Los devon rex cats are precious little kittens who love to spend hours and hours receiving cuddles and games, being considered as a cat -dog that follows his human wherever he goes. Its qualities and physical characteristics are known by all lovers of this breed of cats, but did you know that the progenitor of the delicate and slender Devon Rex was a wild cat? Do you want to know all the details about this breed? Well, read on!, because in this article on our site we talk about it, so we tell you everything about the devon rex, we mention its characteristics, temperament, care and possible he alth problems.
Origin of the devon rex cat
The devon rex emerged in the 1960s as a result of the crossbreeding of a wild cat named Kirlee, who lived in a colony near a mine in the town of Devon, hence the name of the breed. They were called "devon rex" because, like rex rabbits and cornish rex, they have curly fur, which also makes them one of the considered hypoallergenic cats.
At first, due to the similarities between their coats, it was thought that Devon Rex and Cornish Rex cats were variants of the same breed, which was ruled out after verifying on numerous occasions that the offspring from of the crosses between both types of cats always had smooth hair. In this way, the researchers were able to conclude that, finally, they were two totally different breeds of cats, although aesthetically similar.
Already in 1972, the American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA) established a standard for the breed devon rex, although The Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) did not do the same until more than 10 years later, specifically in 1983.
Features of the devon rex
Cats of the Devon Rex breed have a slender body and a fragile appearance, thin and long limbs and an arched back. These characteristics of the devon rex make them look truly regal and elegant Likewise, they are medium in size, weighing between 2, 5 and 4 kilos, although the most specimens weigh around 3 kg.
The head of the devon rex is small and triangular, with enormous almond-shaped eyes of bright and intense colors, which give them a very expressive look, and triangular ears equally disproportionate for the size of his face. At first glance, as we said, the Devon Rex may seem very similar to the Cornish Rex, however, when we look closely we can see that the Devon are finer and more stylized cats and have different facial features.
The fur of these felines is short and curly or wavy, extremely soft and silky to the touch. As for colors, all shades and patterns in their fur are accepted.
Devon Rex Cat Character
Focusing now on the character of the devon rex, it should be noted that these felines are extremely affectionate, loving the company of their loved ones. So much so, that they love being able to spend a lot of time by their side, playing, being caressed or simply sleeping on their humans' laps.
They are fantastic cats when living with children, other cats or even dogs, as they are very sociable and flexible. Likewise, Devon Rex cats prefer to live indoors, although they adapt well to various types of housing.
Due to their dependent nature, they do not like spending too many hours alone, so they are not a good choice if we usually spend a lot of time away from home.
Devon rex cat care
Devon rex cats are a breed whose maintenance is quite simple. Interestingly, brushing its coat is not recommended as its hair is quite fragile and brittle, although some sporadic brushing is necessary to keep its coat clean and shiny. Therefore, within the care of the Devon Rex, it is recommended to use special gloves to comb them instead of brushes. They also need regular baths, as their hair is somewhat greasy, so we must properly choose the shampoo to use for their baths.
It is advisable to provide the Devon Rex with a balanced diet and plenty of attention and affection, as well as cleaning their ears frequently, in which sometimes accumulates too much earwax that can be harmful. On the other hand, we must not forget the environmental enrichment, which will allow us to keep the cat properly stimulated, both physically and mentally.
Devon rex cat he alth
Devon Rex cats seem to be a fairly he althy and robust breed, although this does not mean that we do not have to be aware of Comply with both internal and external vaccination and deworming schedules. At the same time, regular veterinary check-ups are strongly recommended to evaluate and review the general state of he alth of our pet.
Despite the above and, therefore, there are no characteristic Devon rex diseases, it is true that they are cats prone to ear infections due to what we have already pointed out in the previous section. Also, if they don't get the exercise they need or their diet isn't right, they can become overweight or obese
If we offer all the care that the devon rex needs, its life expectancy is between 10 and 15 years.
