What is a Cornish Rex?
In 1950, the first Cornish Rex cat, so named because of the resemblance of his coat to that of a Rex rabbit, appeared in Cornwall. A generic barn cat birthed a litter that contained a kitty turning out to be very different from others. It was born with a curly coat as a result of a natural mutation. On the advice of a geneticist, he was mated with his mother when he reached maturity, resulting in a litter of two additional curly-coated kittens. The silky, short and wavy coat of the Cornish Rex is the result of a natural mutation, which is not rare in the world of cats. Large ears, wide eyes, curly whiskers, and exceptionally lengthy hind legs cap the egg-shaped head. You just know a cat with this face has a great sense of humor, and you can bet it’ll use it against you.
The coat is available in a variety of colors and patterns. White, blue, black, red, cream, brown, and lavender are solid hues. Tortoiseshell, bi-color, calico and pointed patterns are just a few of the tabby hues and patterns available. The eyes might be gold, green, or hazel depending on the coat color. The curls of the Cornish Rex are present from birth. The coat of some kittens is flat and suede like at first, but as they grow older, the coat turns wavy again. The coat is short, smooth, and silky in adulthood, usually between 18 months and three years, with no sharp guard hairs.
Cornish Rex cats’ range in size from small to medium. It appears to be a giant cat until you take it up because she stands high on her legs. When viewed from the side, the base of its body forms an upward curve that follows the upward curvature of its backbone. The Cornish Rex may appear dainty due to its narrow boning, but this cat is sporty and not at all frail.
Body and Physical Attributes
Usually. Its size is small to medium. The torso is long and thin, not tubular, and the chest is deep but not broad. The outline is made up of beautiful arches and curves that don’t appear to be flat. When the cat is standing naturally, the back is naturally arched. The waistline is formed by the underline softly curving upward from the ribcage. The hips and thighs are strong and feel weighty in comparison to the rest of the body.
The head is egg-shaped and quite small. The length is about a third of the width. A distinct whisker break, oval in shape in front and profile with a slightly curling contour. The muzzle narrows somewhat before coming to a rounded finish. Roman nose. A straight line from the tip of the nose to the chin in profile, with considerable depth and a squarish impression. The cheekbones are prominent and nicely sculpted. It has a strong, well-developed chin.
Large and full erect ears along with eye size ranging from medium to enormous, with an oval form and a slight upward tilt. The distance between your eyes should be equal to the breadth of your eyes. Color should be bright, vivid, and suitable for coating. It has a long extremely flexible tail. Guard hairs are absent, and the hair is short, exceedingly soft, silky, and devoid of guard hairs. Densely packed. A tight, consistent marcel wave that runs from the crown of the head to the tip of the tail, lying close to the body and reaching across the back, sides, and hips. Wave size and depth are subject to change. The bottom of the chin, as well as the chest and abdomen, has short, wavy fur.
The legs are thin and long. Thighs are well-muscled and disproportionately large in compared to other parts of the body. Cornish Rex stands tall on its hind legs. Paws are small and somewhat oval. Five toes in front, four behind.
Personality and Behavior
The Cornish Rex is an extremely intelligent and active cat who enjoys participating in all of your activities. It may climb to the top of the home to view its realm, stealing the food to ignite its antics, and may like to play fetch — including anything that might attract its attention or applause. It can learn almost anything you can tell it, though you may discover that it is a better teacher of you than you are of the cat. Don’t expect to get a pleasant, peaceful lap sitter when you bring the Cornish Rex home because it is always on the move. This is a cat who is not afraid to express itself. It may not be able to communicate in English, but it certainly knows how to make a point with a gaze, a gesture, or a verbal retort. The Rex is a fantastic choice for households with children, other pets, or regular visitors because of its energetic, outgoing attitude. It’s not only a great traveler, but it’s also a great therapy cat. If given adequate space to exercise, the Cornish Rex is an athletic cat who will maintain her appropriate weight. You can immediately detect if a Cornish is getting too heavy due to the coat’s tight lying texture.
The Cornish Rex is a quick and agile creature who enjoys jumping, running, and playing. She can appear inexhaustible when she’s playing. She should also do some interactive exercises.
This is a fearless cat who likes people and will accompany them around the house, eager for the chance to sit in their laps or offer them a kiss. It adores being handled, so taking it to the veterinarian or training him for therapeutic work is simple. Its voice varies from sweet to harsh, and while it is not as conversational as its Siamese progenitor, it will engage in conversation if it feels compelled to do so.
Long into old age, the Cornish Rex retains his kitten-like demeanor. It is ideally suited to a home in which it will receive the affection and frequent companionship it loves, as it never loses the desire to engage with people.
Grooming and Care
Brushing your hand over the Cornish Rex’s coat is usually enough to groom it. Certain Cornish Rex cats, on the other hand, have thicker or woollier coats and may require the use of a gentle bristle-brush or a delicate comb to keep them looking tidy. Groom lightly to avoid breaking the fine hairs. The best part of wearing a Cornish Rex coat is that even the hairs are so fine that they don’t show up on clothes or furniture. Unless the cat is white or acquire a lot of white on its coat, baths are rarely essential. If those cats are not bathed on a regular basis, they may develop a dingy appearance. The Cornish Rex’s characteristic ears are one of the areas it can’t clean on its own. We must assist them to ensure that they remain clean and healthy. Two cats will normally wipe each other’s ears while they are together, although that’s not always the norm.
A Cornish Rex should be kept indoors only to avoid infections shared by other cats, assaults by dogs or coyotes, and other risks that cats encounter when they venture outside, such as getting hit by a car. Maintain the litter box as clean as possible. Cornish Rex, like all cats, are highly picky about bathroom hygiene.
Although the Cornish Rex is warm to the touch, he is continually looking for warmth. If you’re cold, he’s probably cold as well. Buy him a couple of excellent sweaters to keep him warm. Cornish Rex that goes outside are also at risk of being stolen by somebody who wants such an uncommon cat but doesn’t want to pay for it. If at all possible, construct a big outdoor cage for your Cornish Rex where it may safely jump and climb. If your Cornish Rex has access to an outdoor enclosure where he can sunbathe, apply cat-safe sunscreen to his body to avoid sunburn.
Feeding a Rex Cat
A Cornish Rex eats differently from dogs and people. When it comes to nutrition, they are highly rigid, and owners must always keep this in mind. Cornish Rex, unlike people, require a large amount of meat for fat and protein. We’d develop significant health problems at a young age if we ate like the Rex. Cornish Rex is not at all like people, nor are they small dogs. Families frequently feed their Cornish Rex in the same way they eat themselves and their dogs, despite the fact that the Cornish Rex diet is far more restricted.
Carbs should not be eaten by Cornish Rex because they are unable to metabolize them. When you encounter a big domestic Cornish Rex, it’s usually because he was forced to consume a high-carbohydrate diet. They are also at danger of developing diabetes if they consume too many carbohydrates over a long period of time. The Cornish Rex’s digestive system isn’t built to handle carbs. They should be avoided at all costs.
The Cornish Rex is an energetic – and frequently ravenous – feline that requires roughly 80 kcal of high-quality food per kilograms of body weight/day. Due to its passion for food, care must be taken not to allow this breed to get obese. And please be sure to inquire about the food that the veterinarian advises. Once you’ve settled on the best meal, it’s time to give your Cornish Rex the green light. If your Cornish Rex enjoys it and doesn’t show any signs of pain later, the food is a keeper.
Health and Living Needs
It’ll have to find new locations to wander around. Because she’s a natural born jumper and a climber, the levels are fantastic. It is also a cat who “rediscovers” toys over time, so buying her a range of toys from the start might theoretically keep her busy for years. Cold air is its adversary, and it’ll require warm places to rest and sleep because its puffy fur doesn’t help it retain heat. It is mentioned that the Cornish rex is hypoallergenic, according to certain old publications. Technically, this is not the case. Because of its short, curly coat, the Cornish rex sheds less than other breeds, but those with cat allergies aren’t allergic to the cat hair itself. Cats’ saliva dries on their fur and flakes off when they move, generating the dander that most people are allergic to. As a result, while a Cornish rex may cause fewer allergic reactions in those with cat allergies, the possibility of a reaction still exists because they brush themselves.
There are almost no genetic or hereditary health issues in this breed. The breed’s only problem is hair loss, which, while not life-threatening, can be serious enough to leave some cats virtually entirely hairless. While Cornish rex cats do not have any breed-specific health issues, they are susceptible to some of the same general illnesses that affect cats of all breeds.
Cornish rex cats are ideal for persons with avant-garde tastes due to their distinct, eye-catching and striking appearance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is the annual birth rate of a Cornish Rex?
The Cat Fanciers’ Association, popularly known as CFA, documented 1,515 live births in 1995, according to the March 1997 publication of the “Cat Fanciers’ Almanac.”
- What are the major reasons for people’s affection and attraction towards this rare breed?
Many people prefer these cats since they shed much less than other kinds and require little brushing or maintenance. Others adore their Cornish Rex kittens because they are always playful. Rex cats are also very people-oriented, and they frequently follow their owners around the house, wanting to be a part of everything that is going on.
- What distinguishes the Cornish Rex coat from that of other short-haired cats, except from the fact that it is curly?
The Rex has both the middle length of fur, the awn hair, and the down hair, but the Cornish Rex has only the down hair or undercoat. In the coat makeup of a regular shorthair cat, such as the Siamese, there are three lengths of fur.
