This odd-looking breed of cat that resembles an alien from another world was originally discovered in 1960, in an old abandoned mine in the county of Devon, England. Although this stray cat was never offered a part in a sci-fi movie, this one tom with a curly coat mated with a tortoise and white cat and became the reluctant sire of these bizarre looking creatures. A lady named Beryl Cox befriended the mother cat and she also took one of her kittens, a curly-coated male, for her own pet. Naming him Kirlee, he grew up to be a very special cat indeed, carrying a new rex gene, which would soon become the basis for the Devon Rex. (The Cornish Rex had already been around for ten years or so.)
Kirlee had the appearance of a pixie from another world, and huge ears that resembled the wings of a bat. They were low-set on his head and covered with tufts of hair creating an “earmuff” effect. His coat was short, wavy and velvety to the touch, and the whiskers short and crinkly. As if this wasn’t weird enough for the eye to look upon, he also had a wrinkly forehead. After much patience and out-crossing, the breed became well established. Devon Rexes are bred almost everywhere today, but all genuine Devons must be able to trace their ancestry in an unbroken line back to good old Kirlee.
The Devon Rex is often lovingly referred to as the “feline comedian” or “a monkey in cat’s clothing.” These cats are very curious and excellent jumpers, which makes any shelf, no matter how high, fair game for play and exploration. They have an attitude and aren’t for everybody; they need adventure and much attention from their owners. They love people and are very affectionate, but they can become obsessed with toys and other objects of interests (not babies or other pets) and will play until YOU get tired. It is said that this breed loves to jump from the floor to a willing shoulder and ride there. They also love to sit in laps and being included in all types of human activity. They are great talkers, but their meow sounds more like a chirp or a twitter. Their hairs break easily and bald patches are very common and remain until the next hair growth cycle.
Is a Devon Rex for YOU? Do you have one? Please share.