Videos Devonshire Rex Breed Information
Alternative names -
Pixie cat, Alien cat, ET
Country of origin -
England
Breed standards -
AACE CFA(*) ACFA CCA ACF ACF(*) FIFe(*)
The Devon Rex is a breed of cat that emerged in England
during the 1960s.Known for their odd,
striking appearance and playful, companionable nature, the Devon is
a favourite among pet owners. They are often featured in the
magazine Cat Fancy. A
very rare and select breed, the average Devon Rex sells for $500 to
$750 USD.
1. Breed History and Information
1. 1. Discovery and Relations
The Devon Rex is a relatively new breed of cat with a
sparse, curly, very soft coat similar to that of the Cornish Rex.
The first Devon was discovered in Buckfastleigh, Devon, UK in 1960 amongst a litter of feral kittens
near a disused tin mine. The breed was initially thought to be
linked with the Cornish Rex; however, test mating proved otherwise.
Cats have three types of hair: guard hair, awn hair, and down hair.
The Devon Rex's coat is unusual because there is no guard hair
(see Cornish Rex and Sphynx for more information on
hair-deficient genetics in cats).
1. 2. Appearance
The curl in Devon Rex fur is caused by a different mutation and
gene than that of the Cornish Rex and
German Rex, and breeding of a Devon
with either of those cats results in cats without rexed (curled)
fur. Devons, which are medium sized cats, are often called
"pixie cats" or "alien cats" because of their
unique appearance. Their uncommonly large ears are set low on the sides of their wide heads, their eyes are large,
and their noses are slightly upturned.
Unlike most cats their whiskers are very short and often curled to
such an extent that it may appear as if they have no whiskers.
Their body type is distinctly lightly-built. Their long, sturdy
legs are well suited for long leaps, and their toes are unusually
large. Devon Rex cats come in all colours. The ears are large and
slightly rounded.
1. 3. Behaviour
The typical Devon is active, mischievous, playful, and very
people-oriented. They have been described as a cross between a cat,
a dog and a monkey.
They are high-jumpers and will try to occupy any space large enough
to admit them. With this trait, they are often found in odd nooks
and crannies of a closet, shelf, or laundry basket.
Devons prefer to be in high places and will go to great lengths to
get to the highest spot in a room. They are relatively easy to take
care of. Most Devons also have one central person to whom they
devote their love, and on whom they will most often lie and rub.
They like to playfully nip, and love to play throughout their
lives.
They are a very intelligent breed; the typical Devon Rex can be
trained to walk on a lead, fetch or perform all manner of tricks
usually associated with canines, like jump, heel and tag to name a
few.
Another common trait is their show of affection: they have a
particular penchant for being close to the head or neck of their
human companions and can often be found mounted upon ones shoulder
or nestled into the cranny created by the neck and shoulder when
one is prone.
1. 4. Role In Allergy Control
The Devon Rex breed is often marketed as a cat with which
someone with cat-related allergies can easily co-exist. It is true
that their missing layer of hair and very low amounts of shedding
help toward this, but they are not hypoallergenic. However, they are easier
for someone on the right allergy medication to own.
Copyright (c) 2008 Kitt Killion Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".
Taken or modified, in whole or part, from Wikipedia.org
