Cats are one of the most attractive and cutest animals. They are not just pets but can turn into your most loyal friends and housemates.According to The International Cat Association (TICA), there are 71 cat breeds. These include Ragdoll,Persians, Bengal, Maine Coon, American Shorthair, Abyssinian, British Shorthair, Cornish Rex, Sphynx Cat and many others.
Each breed has different physical and personality traits. For example, Persian cats are fluffy with plump cheeks, Maine Coon cats have pointed ears, oval-shaped eyes and a woolly tail. On the other hand, Cornish Rex cats have a slender body and face with large ears and prominent eyes.You can choose your favourite cat breed and train it into an obedient pet.
This article will focus on Devon Rex Cat Breed. So, if you are planning to buy a Devon Rex Cat, this article is going to be super useful for you.Let’s start then!
HISTORY OF A DEVON REX CAT BREED
The origin of a Devon Rex Cat breed dates back to 1960. The first Devon was born in Devonshire, England.A person named “Beryl Cox” discovered it and named it “Kirlee”. Its curly, soft hair made it resemble the Cornish Rex cat breed. As a result, Beryl thought that it belongs to the same cat breed and handed it over to the Cornish Rex breeders.
The breeders coupled the cat with the Cornish Rex breed but the kittens born didn’t have wave-like hairs (a characteristic feature of Cornish Rex Breed).Finally, they decided to separate the two breeds and named this newly discovered cat breed “Devon Rex”.
Federation International Feline (FIFe) officially declared Devon Rex as a breed in 1967.
PROFILE OF A DEVON REX CAT BREED
Below is a list of physical and personality characteristics of a Devon Rex Cats. These traits can help you differentiate a Devon Rex from other cat breeds.
1. PHYSICAL TRAITS
The eye-catching Devon Rex cats, also known as “Poodle cats” are very much like a Cornish Rex cat. They have a Pixie-look.Long, narrow neck,high cheekbones, erect ears and slender body are the distinguishing features of a Devon Rex cat. It has bright, prominent eyes with a mischievous look.Its soft and wavy coat along with a thin, long tail further contributes to its beauty. Moreover, you may at first glance think that Devon Rex cats don’t have whiskers because their whiskers are often very tiny and curled.
· SKIN COLOURS AND PATTERNS
You will find a great variety in the skin colours and patterns of Devon Rex cats. The colours normally range from White, Cream and Fawn to Red, Cinnamon, Brown, Blue and Black. Some other colours include Chocolate, Grey, Orange-brown, Chestnut, Lavender and Platinum. The skin patterns usually include bi-colours, tri-colours, shaded regions, tabby, smoky and deep-coloured markings on the whole body. However, you may also find some uni-coloured Devon Rex cats. Overall, each skin colour and pattern have their appeal and uniqueness.
· HAIR
Normally, cats have three hair categories, namely;down hairs, awn hairs and guard hairs. The down hairs are smooth and silky forming an underlay covering on the cats’ body which provides them insulation from cold. The awn hairs are the middle layer between the down hairs and the guard hairs.They are short and bristly. The guard hairs form the outermost covering on the cats’ bodies.They are long and rough.
On this basis, Devon Rex cats are different from their fellow cats belonging to different breeds. This means that they have a small number of guard hairs. Their hairs are thick, heavy and have a wavy look. They are fine, soft and gentle to touch.
· PAWS AND LEGS
They have long, lean, muscular legs. Their paws are oval-shaped and small in size.
· COAT
Devon Rexes have a thick, dense coat that protects their body from cold weather. The number of furs is lesser on the top-half body, including chest, head, abdomen and neck. The coat is fine and smooth to the touch. The waves and curls are most prominent on the tail and the body. The furs on the head, ears, neck, abdomen, chest and paws are very small in size.
· EARS
Ears are erect, wide at the base, forming an oval shape. They are covered evenly with soft, feathery furs.
· EYE-COLOUR
As in the case of skin, there are also many varieties in the eye colour of the Devon Rex Cats. These colours include Aqua, Blue, Orange, Green, Yellow, Golden, Brown and Amber colours.
· BODY
Devon Rex cats have muscular and hard bodies. They have a wide chest. The front legs are a little smaller than the rear ones. From head to tail, the body follows a slim and slender shape.
· AVERAGE HEIGHT AND WEIGHT
The average height of Devon Rex cats is somewhere around 10 to 12 inches. They are neither too large nor too small in size. Their weight lies between 6 and 9 pounds. Their average body length ranges from 15 to 18 inches.
2. PERSONALITY
Devon Rex cats are not only considered to have a Pixie-look but also Pixie-character. Their reason is their naughty, trouble-causing nature. However, Devon Rex is the most loyal cat breed. A Devon will be willing to spend every moment with you.It may also assist you in your routine chores. It’s playful and very active. Devon Rex cats love heights and are often found lying and sleeping in heightened places. They have good jumping skills and they will never miss a moment to leap on your shoulders. They are brave and daring. The curiosity levels are also super high in a Devon.
· INTELLIGENCE AND ENERGY LEVELS
The intelligence and energy levels of the Devon Rex cat breed is amazing. Their degree of intelligence, as well as energy,can be rated 5 out of 5. A Devon Rex can quickly learn a variety of tricks which makes it an easy-to-train cat breed. It is rarely found lying around and sleeping continuously. A Devon is always ready to engage in energetic activities and games.
· BEHAVIOUR WITH OTHER ANIMALS
A Devon Rex Cat’s friendly character is not only associated with humans but it is also a very animal-friendly cat. Normally, cats are afraid of dogs and other animals around them but a Devon Rex has an opposite nature. You can freely leave your other pets in the same room where a Devon is living.It will not only enjoy their company but will also amuse its other fellow animals through its lively character.
3. HEALTH
Devon Rex Cats usually have great health. They don’t require too much care. They are also less allergic.Despite the low rate of diseases, they may still experience some health problems. These may include patellar luxation, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and hereditary myopathy.
Among the three mentioned health problems, the second one; HCM is the most common. It is a major cardiac disease in cats. In this condition, the heart’s working efficiency is diminished due to thickened muscle walls. An echocardiogram can help identify whether a Devon Rex Cat is suffering from HCM. Also, never buy a Devon from breeders who claim to have HCM-free lines.
The shedding rate is also very low in Devon Rex cats.
4. LIFE SPAN
The average life span of a Devon Rex Breed is between 9 years to 15 years. They mostly have good health status with lower risks of diseases.
HOW TO GROOM AND TRAIN A DEVON REX CAT BREED?
Grooming and training of a Devon Rex cat breed are simple. The following points can assist you in the grooming and training of a Devon Rex cat breed: –
FOR GROOMING:
- Bathe and clean your Devon Rex cat regularly to remove all the dirt and germs from its body.
- Cut its nails regularly but following precautions.
- Use a cat toothbrush for maintaining your cat’s oral hygiene.
- Brush its hairs with a soft brush.
- Provide your Devon with healthy food and clean water.
FOR TRAINING:
- Train them to throw the litter in the dustbin. Buy a perfect-sized litter box for your home and train your Devon to trash the litter in it rather than throwing it on a floor.
- Devon Rex cats love playing with balls and fetching items. You can also train them for such energetic activities.
- Be polite with Devon Rexes.
- Focus on its obedience training.
INTERESTING FUN FACTS OF A DEVON REX CAT BREED
Some interesting fun facts of a Devon Rex Cat Breed are listed below: –
- The popular nicknames for a Devon Rex Cat are “Alien Cat” and “Poodle Cat”.
- Devon Rex cats are not hypoallergenic.
- They are great food-hunters. They can easily discover food from any corner of your home.
- They can be the best friends and entertainers for children.
- Until 1968, no one in the U.S. was aware of the breed. The Devon Rex breed gained quick popularity soon after it was imported in 1968.
- They may cuddle you to show their affection and love for you.
CONCLUSION
Cats are very decent and friendly animals. They can become your great friends once you train them efficiently. There are many breeds available in cats each with different specialities. You can go through the internet to find out which one best suits you and your family.
By reading the above article, you may have become aware of the qualities and distinguishing characteristics of a Devon Rex cat breed. The cats belonging to this breed are not only energetic but they are also very playful and jolly. They can easily develop a friendship with strangers as well as other pets. They can be an ideal pet for kids.
The slender body, long neck, prominent eyes, soft hair and long-tail differ them from other breeds.They don’t need excessive care but they need someone to play with them. You can provide them with cat-friendly toys and enjoy many activities with them. They are very intelligent and quick learners. When buying a Devon Rex, make sure to check the cat for HCM which can be diagnosed through an echocardiogram.
Take care of hygiene and cleanliness. Follow the above-mentioned points for training and grooming your cat.
POPULAR FAQS RELATED TO DEVON REX CAT BREED
Some of the most popular FAQs are listed and answered below:-
- When is a Devon Rex fully grown?
A Devon Rex reaches its full size and matures at 12 months of age. Until this time, it’s necessary to provide the Devon Rexes with a Kitten diet rather than other foods to ensure proper growth and development.
- What is the difference between Devon Rex vs Cornish Rex cat breed?
A Devon Rex cat breed has a great resemblance with the Cornish Rex cat breed but they are not the same.A Devon is considered the cousin of Cornish. The main differences between the two breeds include differences in ears, legs, coat, waist and whiskers. Devon Rex cats have large and stocky ears. Their whiskers are also smaller than Cornish Rex. The length of their legs is less than those of Cornish Rex.In addition, the latter breed has a wider chest with a thin waist circumference.
- What is the price of a Devon Rex cat breed?
Because of being an uncommon breed, a Devon Rex cat is usually very expensive. An average price of a Devon Rex kitten may range from $800 to 1200. Those willing to buy the breed may often spend as much as $1000 to $2000.
- What is the favourite food of a Devon Rex cat breed?
As mentioned earlier, Devon Rex cats are food-lovers. Their favourite foods include Small Turkeys, Chicken Cuisine, Grain-free Dry Cat food. A healthy weight formula can be a good food source if you want to maintain your cat’s healthy weight.It is also crucial to feed a kitten food before it reaches one year of age to promote healthy growth and development.
- Are our Devon Rex Cats noisy?
Unlike other cat breeds like Burmese and Siamese, Devon Rex cats are not noisy. However, they may begin producing sound when their feed time arrives.
