The Devon Rex cat has several characteristics that are unique to its breed. Most notably, Devon Rex cats have curly or wavy coats and large ears. Like a couple other cat breeds, the Devon Rex owes its existence to a litter of stray cats that had striking characteristics that prompted the development of the cat breed.
Among a litter of stray cats in England in 1959, a kitten was born with curly hair and elfin facial features. The kitten with the curly hair was named Kirlee and became the father of this cat breed. In order to expand the gene pool, Devon Rex cats have been bred with American and British shorthair cats. Devon Rex cats are medium size. The average weight of a Devon Rex is six to nine pounds.
This cat breed is known for its playful, mischievous behavior. They love to climb and explore their environment. Devons are inquisitive and spend a lot of time investigating things in their environments. Though they enjoy actively exploring, Devon Rex cats are also people-oriented. They typically spend a significant amount of time with their owners.
Devon Rex cats often lie next to or on top of things that give off heat. This could be due to the thin coats that many Devon Rex cats have. Some people describe the personality of Devon Rex cats as dog-like since they like to retrieve their toys and tend to wag their tails when happy or excited.
Devon Rex cats have small heads accented by exceptionally large, wide ears that are placed low, close to the sides of the head. The large, oval-shaped eyes are described as expressive and inquisitive. The eyes can be any color. The body of the Devon Rex is muscular and slender with long, thin legs. The long neck and tail add to the sleek lines of the Devon Rex cats’ body type.
The coat of the Devon Rex cat can range from shaggy curls or a thin covering of wavy hair. The density of the coat can change over the cat’s lifetime. There are no restrictions on the coloring of a Devon Rex cat’s coat. Devon Rex cats do shed, but they have a reputation of being tolerable to people with allergies.
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