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Cats

Devon Rex Cat Breed Information And Personality

Devon Rex
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Do you wish to have a unique, fun-loving cat breed?

A slender cat but shimmering with its wavy coat, Devon rex will delight you with its large, mischievous eyes in a small, charming face. You will wonder about its relaxed and social attitude, which is very rare in tabbies.

A British cat, it got its name from its birthplace Devonshire, England. The Devon rex will shower its love and attention on you and have a place in your heart. It is an ideal and independent cat for working people.

This breed is energetic and playful, enjoys hide-and-seek and fetching games with you. It is a curious learner as well and is capable to learn complicated tricks. Silly in its antics, it is one of the most popular breeds in the United States of America.

So, if you want to have a cat that follows you everywhere and be at your side, the Devon rex is a perfect fit. It also won’t make your home filled with fur.

Let’s know more about this fun-filling breed!

Devon Rex Breed Characteristics Sheet

  • Origin: United Kingdom
  • Size: Medium
  • Purebred: Yes
  • Lifespan: 10 to 15 years
  • Height: 12 to 18 inches
  • Weight: 8 to 10 lbs (males); 5 to 8 lbs (females)
  • Coat Appearance: Soft, Curly, Short, Silky
  • Coat Colors: Red, Black, White, Blue, Cream, Fawn, Chocolate, Lavender
  • Temperament: Curious, Active, Intelligent, Social, Mischievous
  • Good With Children: Yes
  • Intelligence Level: High
  • Good With Pets: Yes
  • Hypoallergenic: No
  • Grooming: Minimal
  • Shedding: Less
  • Need For Exercise: High
  • Easy To Train: Yes
  • Good For First Time Owners: Yes
  • Health Issues:
  • Litter Size: 5 kittens (average)
  • Average Price: $600 to $1000

Devon Rex Cat Infographic

Devon Rex Cat Infographic

Devon Rex Origin

The development of this breed was an accident. A lady named “Beryl Cox” owned a white female cat.

Cox’s cat produced a brownish-black male cat in 1959 after mating with a stray tomcat with a curly coat in Buckfastleigh, Devon, England.

Miss Cox named the brownish-black male cat as “Kirlee.” She thought Kirlee had the same gene of Cornish Rex.

But, Kirlee has a curly coat and whiskers instead of the tight, uniform waves of the Cornish Rex. Kirlee’s appearance was also quite distinct from the Cornish Rex.

It is believed that Kirlee has been the progenitor of the Devon Rex. This cat got its name from the Kirlee’s birthplace Devonshire and also for its curly coat, which resembled the “rex” rabbit.

Devon Rex was first imported to the United States in 1968. The Cat Fanciers Association recognized this breed in 1979.

Devon Rex Size And Lifespan

The Devon Rex is a medium-sized cat. That is, it is neither too fatty nor too thin. This breed weighs for about 5 to 10 pounds. Male cats are usually heavier than females.

Male cats weigh about 8 to 10 pounds and the females weigh between 5 and 8 pounds.

The Devon Rex is generally healthy. But, it may be prone to a few inherited health issues. So, it lives for about 10 to 15 years.

Devon Rex Appearance And Coat Color

The Devon Rex is unique and one of the most eye-catching cat breeds. It has an unusual appearance with its triangular head and large eyes. Its nose appears right below the eyes and the ears are too large, which are set low on the head.

This breed’s ears resemble the butterfly ears. Its distinct facial feature and the butterfly ears make the breed a look like that of an elf. Its cheekbones are high with a short muzzle. The neck and body are thin.

The devon rex has other names as “poodle of the cat world” due to its appearance and personality. Its coat is soft and curly and it lacks fur in some areas where she can lick herself. The coat is fragile with thin, delicate hairs.

This breed has thick fur on its back and sides of the body, legs, tail, face, and ears. But, the coat may be shorter on the neck, chest, top of the head, and belly. This cat’s whiskers may be short or tightly curled. Some cats don’t have whiskers at all.

Devon Rex Coat Color

The Devon rex comes in any variety of possible colors and patterns. It comes mostly in solid white, blue, cinnamon, chocolate, lavender and red.

The coat may come in the smoke pattern, which is a white undercoat tipped with a specific color. This breed will also come in tortoiseshell and pointed patterns.

Devon Rex Personality

You can say this breed as “a dog lover’s cat.” Though a feline, its characteristics is similar to canines, right from wagging the tail to cuddling its owner. An alert, active and mischievous cat, the Devon Rex loves people and welcomes their attention to it.

So, it is a cat that loves to be loved. It plays many roles. The Devon cat is a

  • Family pet – The Devon rex is outgoing and playful by nature. These qualities make it a good pet for your family and tireless playmate for children. It also gets along well with other pets.
  • Fun-loving companion – This breed has dog-like qualities in it. It is a loyal and fun-loving companion and will follow you around your home, jump on your lap or sit at your feet. Its favorite resting place is your shoulder while you read or work.
  • A curious learner – It has interests to learn everything about going around it.
  • An entertainer – These cats have a good sense of humor and mischief. They will entertain you by climbing the curtains, hanging around the dining table and begging for scraps.
  • A good traveler – This breed is adaptable to any kind of environment. So, it accompanies you well during traveling.
  • Ideal pet for working families – This cat won’t be destructive when you leave it alone. It will keep itself busy when it is alone and will love to be in your arms after your arrival. So, it is an ideal pet for working people.
  • A Purring tabby – This breed can utter extremely loud purrs when content.

How To Train A Devon Rex?

The Devon Rex is a wise cat with pleasing personality. It will do anything for its people to stay close to them. So, you can easily train this tabby and your life with a trained cat will be more enjoyable.

Basic training methods such as obedience training, leash training, etc. will help this tabby.

1. Obedience training

It is the best kind of training for any cat breed. This training will avoid unruly behaviors in your cat.

2. Leash Training

You can train your cat to walk on a leash.

  • Use a lightweight leash to begin leash training for your cat.
  • Ensure that the leash acclimatizes well to your tabby.
  • If your cat feels discomfort with the leash, stop using it for a few days and start using it again after some time.
  • Always stay close to this cat as it communicates its opinions occasionally in a quiet voice.

3. Reward-based training

Treats are a token of encouragement for your tabby. So, praise him with treats such as kibbles if the cat performs any activity well.

Training Tips

  • Be firm and consistent while you train it.
  • Keep the training sessions short.
  • Be gentle and soft during the training sessions.

Devon Rex Exercise

An active and energetic cat, the Devon rex needs a lot of stimulation for physical and mental health. They love to learn various tricks to please their owners. So, you can train this breed to walk on a leash, fetch or retrieve toys.

1. Fetching ball

Train your cat to retrieve the ball. Throw a cat ball to your tabby and see whether it can bring it back to you. The Devon rex will love these sessions as they think these sessions as a fun time.

2. Tricks and Puzzle toys

Teach tricks to these cats and they love to learn them. Puzzle and interactive toys will be a delight for its brain.

The Devon cats love to be in the warmest spots (behind the sofa or refrigerator) of your home. So, keep tabbing on them.

Devon Rex Food

Devons are food lovers. This cat will try to seat at the dining table with the family people, makes sure that food preparation is just for him.

But, its love for food will make it gain more pounds. So, you should monitor your cat’s food intake carefully. Generally, tabbies require taurine, fatty acids, vitamins A and B, and animal protein.

Also, foods rich in protein and antioxidants will help the Devon rex cats to be healthy.

What to feed?

You can feed the following veggies, fruits and meat to your tabby. These foods are safe for your cat to consume.

  • Asparagus
  • Blueberries
  • Carrots
  • Cooked chicken
  • Cucumber
  • Deli meat
  • Egg white (cooked)
  • Fish
  • Green beans
  • Oatmeal
  • Pumpkin
  • Turkey (cooked with no seasonings)

What not to feed?

It is not advisable to feed the following food items to your cat.

How much to feed?

As Devons have the tendency to eat more, you should know the feeding amount and the feeding schedule. Generally, 2 to 3 cups of food are enough for this tabby.

But, kittens need different foods during the growth stages. Also, its feeding schedule will vary depending on the diet.

  • Six-month-old kittens – Feed your Devon rex kitten thrice a day until it becomes 6 months of age.
  • Six- to nine-month-old kittens – Feeding twice a day is enough for 6- to 9-month old kittens. But, you have to feed a calcium supplement if you have chosen a raw food diet for it.
  • Nine-month-old kittens – You can feed an adult diet to your kitten when it reaches 9 months of age.

Tips

  • These cats need fat content in their diet. So, you can include little butter in your cat’s diet.
  • Always provide clean, fresh water to kittens. Water is essential when you are feeding dried food to it.
  • You can feed raw liver to it, but don’t feed more than twice a week as it may lead to diarrhea in your felines. Also, feed it in limited portions as large quantities may cause vitamin A poisoning.

Devon Rex Shedding And Grooming

The Devon rex cats are “wash-and-wear” companions. That is, they don’t shed much and the fur isn’t much noticeable on the furniture and clothing. Besides, it’s fine, thin hairs won’t form matt and its coat is fragile. So, it is quite easy to maintain this tabby.

But, rough brushing may cause damage to your cat’s fur by breaking it down completely. So, don’t brush their coat. Yet, these cats need basic care.

  • Groom its coat gently with chamois leather so that their delicate hairs won’t break. Brushing its coat with your hand is enough in most cases.
  • Bath the cat when the coat is dirty. Its coat will dry quickly after bathing. Its skin folds in the paws may develop a greasy feel. In such cases, bath this cat at least twice in a month.
  • Brush its teeth regularly with a vet-approved pet toothpaste at least weekly once to maintain good dental health and fresh breath. You can also provide dental chew treats to control plaque.
  • Check the ears weekly once for dirt or infection. Wipe them using a cotton ball moistened with the vet-recommended ear cleanser. Don’t use cotton swabs as they will cause damage to the interior of the ear.
  • Wipe the corners of the eyes regularly with a soft, damp cloth to remove any discharge. Use separate cloths for each eye to avoid the risk of infection.
  • These cats always need a warm place. So, cover its coat with a sweater during cold climates to retain heat.
  • Trim its nails weekly once.
  • Keep the litter box clean.

Make the grooming experience wonderful for your tabby by making it as a regular part of kitten care.

Devon Rex Names

Devon Rex Male Names

  1. Anton
  2. Billy
  3. Cheese
  4. Furball
  5. Juno
  6. Kitkat
  7. Bean
  8. Pawster
  9. Tom
  10. William

Devon Rex Female Names

  1. Apple
  2. Brita
  3. Cadbury
  4. Catamaria
  5. Dimple
  6. Mince
  7. Molly
  8. Puffy
  9. Snow
  10. Valencia

Devon Rex Health Problems

These cats are generally healthy. But, it may be prone to hereditary issues such as patellar luxation, hereditary myopathy, and heart problems including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

  • Patellar luxation – It is a hereditary health issue. The kneecap of your tabby will dislocate, causing lameness in felines in severe cases. The vets may recommend surgery in severe cases.
  • Hereditary myopathy – It is an autosomal recessive trait in Devon rex Cats. Your tabby will feel weakness in its muscles, which is due to the defect in the transmission of signals from nerves to the muscles. Affected cats are unable to walk and exercise.
  • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – It is the common heart disease in felines. The heart muscle will thicken and it is diagnosed using an echocardiogram.

Devon Rex Price And Breeders

These cats are quite expensive. They cost around $600 to $1000 on average. But, you can adopt it at a cheaper rate. The adoption cost for this cat will come around $75 to $150.

Devon rex breeders in the United States of America

  • Autumn Rain Rex Cats
    Ogden, IL 61859
    autumnrainrex@gmail.com
  • Pettipas Cattery
    info@devoncat.com
  • Jennelrex Cattery
    Tel: (717) 484-2756
    jennelrex@ptd.net
  • Sadle Roc Devons
    Tel: (817) 526-1699
    jervis@saddlerockdevons.com

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