Devon Rex cat - description, character and features of an intelligent short-haired cat (135 photos)

Key facts

Devon Rex is a short-haired cat breed that came to us from England. They have a kind, gentle character and no less attractive appearance. The description of the Devon Rex breed states that the average weight of animals is from 2.5 kg to 4.5 kg. The Devon Rex cat is usually larger and more massive than a cat.

The main characteristic of the Devon Rex is its short, curly fur of various shades. It makes animals hypoallergenic, and most allergy sufferers get this particular breed.

They are often compared to sphinxes and called a “hot” breed. All this is not without reason: although their body temperature is no different from that of other cats, thanks to their special coat, Devon Rex cats seem warmer.

Many owners notice an interesting feature: their pets have strange eating habits. Very often they may develop a craving for some product that is not typical for cats (chocolate, honey, cucumbers, etc.).

The first kitten born with the Devon Rex gene, Curly, died under the wheels of a car. But, fortunately, offspring were already born then, and the Devon Rex did not cease to exist.

The Devon Rex is compared to a dog. All this is not without reason: the breed is very attached to its owner and practically does not leave his side while he is at home. Very often you can see how a pet of this breed approaches its owner and begins to rub its cheek against the owner’s cheek. Well, isn't this wonderful?

The life expectancy of the Devon Rex is enviable: among the representatives of the breed there are often long-livers aged 17-18 years.

Mr. Cat advises: choosing a name for your pet

You need to choose an unusual nickname that reflects the character, behavior, and appearance of the animal.

Suitable names for females:

• Giselle;
• Fly;
• Athena;
• Grace;
• Mystery;
• Dixie.

Interesting nicknames for cats:

• Batman;
• Elf;
• Yakhont;
• Drake;
• Alf.

You can use your imagination and choose a more suitable name for your pet. Only the owner knows the distinctive features of the pet and can, based on them, give a unique nickname. The cat will get used to it quickly.

History of the origin of the Devon Rex

The whole story began in Devon in the 1960s. One day Beryl Cox picked up a cat from the street, which soon gave birth to offspring. Among the kittens, there was one boy with a rather unusual appearance, somewhat similar to the Cornish Rex breed, which was already gaining popularity. He was seen to have curly fur.

The owner thought that this was the same breed and went to the breeder, who also mistook Kirley (the name of that kitten) for the Cornish Rex breed. The head of the nursery decided to start crossing Kirley with her cats, but nothing worked out for her; ordinary kittens were born without signs of a Cornish Rex.

After numerous failed attempts, it was decided that the cat had a completely different gene. Beryl Cox began crossing Kirley first with his mother and then with his sisters.

Unfortunately, Kirley died when he was run over by a car. By that time, the first offspring had already been born, and the Devon Rex lineage was continued.

At first, this breed was jokingly called “elves,” hinting at the mysterious county in which the first kitten appeared.

Until the 1970s, the Devon Rex cat was classified as one breed along with the Cornish Rex, simply divided into two branches. It wasn't until 1979 that the PCA recognized elves as a separate breed.

What does a Devon Rex look like?

“Elves” have an unusual, attractive and memorable appearance. No matter who looks at them, the image of a Devon Rex will stay in a person’s head for a long time. It should also be noted that their appearance is quite paradoxical. Despite their tiny size, Devon Rex dogs have good strength and a powerful body. From the photo of the Devon Rex it is immediately clear that the breed belongs to the category of exotic.

Muzzle

According to standards, the head of a Devon Rex should resemble the shape of a maple leaf (many people compare it to a heart), be slightly elongated in width, and also have a small shape.

Ears are one of the main distinguishing features of this breed. They are very large, deep-set and elongated. They are often compared to butterflies. There may be tassels at the ends. They are also quite abundantly covered with hair, especially at the base.

Large, round eyes are set wide and slightly oblique. It is thanks to them that Devon Rexes have a little mystery. The color matches the coat color. For example: the Siamese has blue eyes. Eye color is distinguished by its saturation and brightness.

Body type

The “chest” of the Devon Rex is very powerful, which sounds paradoxical if you look at their thin, slender and graceful body. The body of male cats may be larger than that of females. The breed has wide bones and a rounded profile. The body itself is medium in size, even small.

The legs are thin and long, but quite powerful. The limbs are round and small.

The tail is long, elegant and thin, the hair on it is distributed everywhere, but not as densely as on other areas.

Coat and color

The Devon Rex's coat is soft. It appears this way due to the length and thickness of the hair. Thanks to this, it has a slight curl, which is very noticeable when you pet the animal. In general, the hair is distributed throughout the body, but there is slightly less hair on the belly, chest and head. She does not need special care.

The colors of the Devon Rex are not so diverse, but there are still several of them. Here are the most common ones:

• Siamese;
• tabby color;
• cinnamon;
• tortoiseshell.

There are no varieties of Devon Rex; the breed follows a single standard. The only difference is the color of the curly fur.

Distinctive features

Representatives of the breed, due to the special structure of their ears, resemble elves: large, widened at the base, low set - framing the muzzle. Some individuals have hair growing on them in tufts. Sometimes the mustache and eyebrows also curl - this enhances the “alien” appearance.

The prefix “rex” denotes the genetic mutation code responsible for the curly, curly coat. The breed is soft and thin. According to the description, the colors are varied.

The animal grows to medium size. The weight of cats does not exceed two to three kg, and males three to four kg. Externally, representatives of the breed appear fragile and weak. But this is not so: they have a muscular body and strong limbs.

Devon Rex character

The first thing to note about the Devon Rex is its playfulness. Cats of this breed are characterized by mobility, curiosity, and activity throughout their lives. Some may consider this a minus, while others may consider this a plus. In any case, this is very important to consider when purchasing a pet.

This character trait can play a cruel joke on the owner. Due to their curiosity in childhood and adulthood, Devon Rex dogs may show increased attention to wires, furniture, and wallpaper. Teaching your kitten to use a scratching post from childhood will save you from chewed objects. Therefore, it is recommended to pay as much attention as possible to your pet during the first year of life. This way you can achieve good behavior and even teach the cat some commands.

To all this should be added their love for heights, so you should take care in advance of a secluded place for your future pet at a height. From there the pet will be able to watch everything that happens in the house.

“Elves” are very attached to their owner, so before buying you should think about whether you can pay enough attention to the pet or not. This is very important: if you are away from home all the time, this can lead to bad consequences. The animal will begin to behave mischievously and aggressively, and individuals with a softer character may become ill.

It follows from this that the Devon Rex will always be near the owner. The cat will sleep with you, sit, and do chores around the house.

It's worth talking about very much. They can meow, purr and make unusual sounds very often.

Devon Rexes treat other pets very well, but you should not have two animals of this breed. They may not share the owner, which will lead to constant hostility.

“Elves” do not show aggression towards children, nor do they show great interest. They love to communicate with adults and their owner. If you teach your child the rules of handling animals, then nothing bad will happen. The Devon Rex will not mind playing any game with a small family member.

The breed also does not show much interest in strangers. Devons will not hide or act aggressively; rather, they will carefully study a new person.

Brief characteristics of the breed

• In Russia, this breed became popular not very long ago. Therefore, finding nurseries or breeders is quite difficult. But this animal is very interesting and, to some extent, even elite.
• Pets are very active, most of all they like to jump. Therefore, it is important to understand that they will constantly look for adventures and can literally destroy the entire house. They also really like to sit on their owner's shoulders.
• The character of the animal is kind and accommodating. At the same time, the Devon calmly treats other pets living in the house. There will be no negative reaction to them.
• When you touch the cat, you can feel the heat. This is explained by the fact that he has short hair, due to which the heat output is stronger. Unfortunately, due to this peculiarity, representatives of the breed react negatively to the cold and do not like it. They will freeze even in slight frosts.
• Despite the fact that Devons are good with children, they still do not really like their company. They like adults more. We must not forget about this character trait, and this must be explained to children.
• Cats are amazingly curious and love to learn new things. With age they do not lose these qualities. Even at an advanced age, they will run after toys.

Raising a Devon Rex

Devon Rexes have good intelligence, good character and show interest in everything new. All of the above is the key to good training and education of the Devon Rex.

Any pet should be taught certain rules from birth so that no one or nothing gets hurt later. Such rules include toilet training and scratching posts.

If you have the desire, you can easily teach your pet some simple commands using affection and treats.

Devon Rex Health

Possible diseases

At birth, kittens may be intolerant to their mother's milk, so breeders need to monitor the condition of their babies very closely to immediately prevent deterioration in their health.

Devons also experience muscle weakness during childhood. If there are signs of myopathy (this is the name of this disease), then, unfortunately, this will remain until the end of life. Now, fortunately, such cases are very rare.

List of diseases that can occur in adult animals:

• hypertrophic cardiomyopathy;
• dermatitis;
• joint problems.

It is recommended to visit your veterinarian regularly to identify any emerging disease in the early stages and not risk the health of your Devon Rex.

Reproductive health

The onset of estrus in a Devon female can occur quite early - at 6 months. Further, estrus will be repeated several times a year. If estrus occurs more than 3-4 times a year and there are no plans to breed a girl, it is better to sterilize so as not to exhaust the animal’s body.

Mating is possible in the second or third heat, but the choice of a partner should be approached responsibly. The fact is that cats of this breed have two types of blood: A and B. If you cross two different types, then the kittens may experience a Rh conflict during the feeding period, and they will die. Therefore, before mating, you need to visit the veterinarian in advance and donate blood to determine its type.

Rh conflict is possible even if the mother and father of the offspring have the same blood type - one of them may display a recessive gene that is inherited by one kitten or the entire litter. In this case, the kittens are given to a cat with a suitable blood type or artificially fed during the first days of life.

Breeding rules

When breeding Devon Rex, blood type is taken into account:

• A – dominant, characteristic of all cats of eastern origin (Orientals, Siamese), Maine Coons, Russian Blues and Norwegian Forest cats;
• B – recessive in relation to A, often found in representatives of British breeds;
• AB is rare and poorly studied, close to type A.

40-50% of Devon Rexes are born with type B, and the rest are type A. When crossing AA and BB types, the offspring receives 1 dominant and 1 recessive gene. The first representatives will have type A, acting as carriers of type B. Carriage of type B blood can only appear in subsequent generations.

When crossing BB and BB or BB and AB, the offspring will always be type B.

The danger of incorrect mating is reflected during feeding. If a type B cat is crossed with a type A cat, the resulting kittens will be incompatible with the mother's antibodies. Maternal antibodies do not penetrate the placenta, but are released along with colostrum in the first 16-20 hours and cause the death of the offspring.

To avoid unwanted consequences, it is recommended:

1. Go through typing. A special procedure is aimed at determining blood type and preventing unwanted matings. In this case, type B cats or animals with the same combination are used for mating.
2. Avoid feeding in the first 20 hours after the kittens are born. Babies can be placed on a type A cat or temporarily switched to artificial feeding.

Please note that when breeding type A animals, there is still a risk of having a type B kitten due to the carriage of a recessive gene in one of the parents. The most optimal and less expensive way is to temporarily refuse breast milk.

Features of feeding and diet

Devon Rex should be fed only with professional food - you should not buy economy-class food, this will harm the pet. Also, you shouldn’t think about eating “from the table”, since choosing a good diet is quite difficult.

If you still decide to prepare food for your pet yourself, then the diet must include: meat, lean fish, cereals, vegetables, dairy products (with a reduced percentage of fat).

You should remove from the diet: chocolate, fruits, milk, liver, spicy and spicy foods, legumes, potatoes, baked goods.

It is better to give meat and minced meat not boiled, but scalded, in pieces of 100-150 grams. Occasionally it is worth pampering your pet with lightly salted cheese or eggs.

Before creating a diet, you should consult with a veterinarian and, based on your pet’s health, create an individual menu or choose the most suitable food.

Care and maintenance.

Caring for the coat of a Devon Rex is no different from caring for the coat of any other cat. Pets should be combed as needed - mainly during mild shedding.

For any animal in the house you need to have separate bowls. If you feed your cat store-bought food, then you should allocate three bowls: for dry food, for canned food and for water. The depth should be average, since the Devon Rex is small. Bowls should be washed as needed.

A scratching post is a necessary element in the life of any cat. Experienced owners advise purchasing vertical scratching posts “for growth” so as not to change them every few months.

It is not a fact that the pet will sleep in the place allocated to it. You can buy ready-made structures at a pet store, where the sleeping place and scratching post are located on several tiers. There the cat will periodically doze off, but at night it will most likely come to its owner to sleep, and it will be simply impossible to kick it out.

Ear and eye care is carried out infrequently, but regularly (about once a week). You can easily purchase special wipes at a pet store - they are ideal and will not cause inflammation. Do not use alcohol, oils or other products under any circumstances; all this will only harm your pet.

Devons also need to have their claws trimmed. To do this, buy special rounded scissors at a pet store; regular scissors will not work - they peel off the nail plates. You need to cut carefully, not going further than 5-6 millimeters from the tip of the claw. The space under the claws also needs to be cleaned - this is where the Devon Rex accumulates a large amount of dirt and grease. In fact, the process is quite simple; you just need to get used to it from childhood. “Manicure” and cleaning of the claw space should be done once every 10-15 days.

Dental care should not be overlooked - without it, the pet is at risk of developing plaque, caries, etc. Once a week, using a bandage wrapped around your finger or a pet brush with zoopaste, you need to carefully walk over the Devon Rex’s teeth. Instead, you can use special chewing treats designed for cleaning teeth.

If you buy a pet from a good breeder, then by the time of purchase the kitten will already be litter box trained. Of course, in a new home, it will be more difficult for the animal to adapt to a new place to go to the toilet. To do this, the breeder will definitely give you the filler that he used while the pet was with him, and this will make the habituation process easier.

In general, caring for and maintaining a Devon Rex is not considered difficult or troublesome. The main thing is to accustom the kitten to hygiene procedures from an early age.

Characteristic diseases

Among the diseases that occur in Devon Rex, the following can be noted:

1. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This is a hereditary heart disease that affects some family lines. It occurs at any age, but is more common in adults.
2. Airway obstruction. An insidious disease that can be fatal. Measures are being taken to combat it.
3. Hereditary myopathy. This disease leads to muscular dystrophy. Initially, the pathology affects the muscles of the neck, and with age it spreads to other muscles.
4. Dislocation of the kneecap. Often found in Devon Rex dogs, the disease is hereditary. May progress to osteoarthritis.
5. Dysplasia. Pathology of the hip joint.

Tips for choosing a kitten.

Buying a kitten secondhand means putting yourself at risk, especially if the price is too low. A good cattery should have 7-8 years of experience and a large database of kittens sold. Particular attention should be paid to the price: the lower it is, the less conscientious the breeder was towards his pupils. Often these Devon Rex kittens have diseases that appear at a later age, as well as a poor pedigree.

Next, you need to decide on the class of pet you need. If you want a pet, then a pet class is suitable. If for exhibitions, you need the most expensive show class. And if you want to start breeding this breed, then the choice will fall on the breeding class.

If you have your sights set on a show-class kitten, then you should know a few points in which the animal will not be able to receive a high rating or will be disqualified. Animals with too coarse fur, disproportionate ears and head, or a short tail may receive a low score. Disqualification also awaits pets with a crooked tail, bald spots, strabismus, polydactyly and too long hair.

It is worth noting that when purchasing a pet, no one will guarantee a successful exhibition career. The main thing you need is to pay attention to the condition of the animal, and also ask to see its parents.

Be sure to pay attention to the conditions in which the animals are kept. The area must be clean and tidy. Observe the kitten itself - its behavior can say a lot. Since Devon Rexes are quite active animals, the future pet should not be lethargic and bored. It should not have a painful appearance or external defects.

Once you have decided on a kitten, ask to see the breeder's veterinary passport. The animal must have all vaccinations according to age; it is not necessary to have a brand. If the cattery takes care of its kittens, they will already be litter box and scratching post trained by the time you take them home. The age of purchase of a kitten must be at least 3 months.

How much does a Devon Rex cost?

The average price of a Devon Rex in the Russian Federation is from 25,000 to 35,000 rubles. Firstly, it all depends on the class of the animal being purchased. If you choose a breed class (for breeding), then the price will start from 30,000-35,000 rubles. The price for a show-class kitten starts at least 30 thousand rubles. If you just need a pet, then the price will be about 25,000 rubles, but if the kitten has minor external defects that do not affect its health, then the price will be slightly lower.

All kittens whose cost is significantly less than 20 thousand most likely have health problems or not a very good pedigree.

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