January 27, 2025 Back Home

What’s the Deal with the Devon Rex?

With nicknames like “elf,” “monkey in a catsuit,” and “poodle cat,” the Devon Rex cat breed is known for its distinctive appearance and fun-loving personality. And not gonna lie, this cat is about as unique looking as they come.

The Devon Rex is considered a newer cat breed, and yes, it has alien-like looks and out-of-this-world personalities. Read on for a look into their history, characteristics, and key stats. 

A Curly History

In 1960, Beryl Cox found a litter of stray kittens near an old mine in Devonshire (Devon), England. As she inspected each of the kittens, she noticed that one of them had a curly coat while the rest had normal straight coats. Cox named the curly kitten Kirlee.

Curly fur isn’t a common trait in cats. At first, it was thought that Kirlee had a natural genetic mutation like the Cornish Rex, a breed that was discovered nearby 10 years earlier. But breeding tests proved this theory wrong. 

After some investigation, Cox learned that Kirlee’s mother had a straight coat of fur, and the father had a curly coat. With the goal of producing more Kirlees, he was mated with female Cornish Rex cats. But the resulting litters produced straight, short-haired kittens. It wasn’t until Kirlee mated with completely different breeds that a litter of wavy-haired Devon Rex kittens were born.

The Rex Family 

The word “Rex” comes from Latin and means “king.” Rex is also used to describe other animals with curly coats, like rabbits. 

There are nine different types of Rex breeds, including:

Some have short hair and some have long hair, and they can have almost any kind of coat color.  

And Those Looks

The Devon Rex is an incredibly unique cat. They’re known for their wavy-to-curly coats, which come in shades of black, gray, red, white, or a combination of colors. Their big eyes are usually amber, aqua, copper, green, or hazel.

They’re considered small-to-medium size cats, averaging 6-9 pounds and 10-12 inches in height. You’ll notice they have muscular bodies with broad chests and slender necks.

The family of Rex cats all have general looks and curly hair in common, but the Devon Rex stands out because of their short muzzles. They also have large bat-like ears and small heads, giving them an adorable alien-like appearance!

Devon Rexes’ coats, eyebrows, and whiskers are curly and very fragile. It’s not uncommon to see a Devon Rex with broken or bent whiskers. Brushing will make breakage worse, so grooming requirements are minimal.

A Lively Personality

As lively and loyal cats, Devon Rexes are perfect for active families or individuals. They have high energy and an active spirit, so they need lots of play time. They’re also known to wag their tails when they are feeling happy and playful. 

Although not considered lap cats, Devon Rexes show affection through extremely loud purring, body hugs, and loyalty. Like most cats, Devon Rexes are highly curious and love being up high, so perches or cat trees are a must! 

Speaking about the Devon Rex, The Cat Fanciers’ Association says, “This is definitely a breed for someone who is comfortable being owned by a cat, not the other way around.”

Key stats about the Devon Rex

If you’re looking to adopt a Devon Rex cat, you’ll need to do a lot of homework. This is a rare cat that you’ll likely only find at a breeder. However, you can still check out your local animal shelters first — you never know who might be waiting to be adopted.