Devon rex
The Devon Rex is one of the more social cat breeds. They like being around people, and they need to accompany you everywhere you go in the house. A Devon rex makes a wonderful companion. They love cuddling — a fact which they’ll make known with loud purrs.
Breed Profile
Height
10-12
Inches
Weight
7-12
Pounds
Life Span
15-20
Years
Health
health
Hip dysplasia
What is it?
An inherited genetic condition, hip dysplasia is a malformation of the ball and socket of the hip joint.
Clinical signs:
Aggression and behavioral issues, limping/stiffness, swaying gait, less active, grating in the affected joint, pain, hesitation to use the litter box, trouble climbing stairs or jumping on furniture.
Treatment:
Surgery, drug therapy, weight loss, changes in the cat’s environment, glucosamine, physical therapy.
Other risks:
Complications during surgery, osteoarthritis.
Eligible vet bill
$4,000
*Hypothetical reimbursement examples illustrate reimbursement of an eligible vet bill at the noted reimbursement rate, assuming the annual deductible had already been satisfied and the annual coverage limit has not yet been met. Annual deductible, co-insurance, benefit and coverage limits, and exclusions may apply. Eligibility may vary. Visit https://www.spotpetinsurance.ca/sample-policy for full terms. For Canada enrollments only, reimbursement rate is based on the pet's age.
health
Patellar Luxation
What is it?
A luxating patella is a kneecap that slides out of place.
Clinical signs:
Popping kneecaps back in by kicking out their leg, random bouts of lameness, hopping or skipping with one leg raised.
Treatment:
In cases that are milder, arthritis medication, in severe cases, surgery.
Other risks:
Arthritis, intermittent lameness, possible knee injuries, kneecap instability.
Eligible vet bill
$4,000
*Hypothetical reimbursement examples illustrate reimbursement of an eligible vet bill at the noted reimbursement rate, assuming the annual deductible had already been satisfied and the annual coverage limit has not yet been met. Annual deductible, co-insurance, benefit and coverage limits, and exclusions may apply. Eligibility may vary. Visit https://www.spotpetinsurance.ca/sample-policy for full terms. For Canada enrollments only, reimbursement rate is based on the pet's age.
Personality
Vocal
Some days they’ll talk your ear off, while on other days, they’ll watch you silently from the highest perch they can find.
Playful
They are playful cats, and they want to entertain and be entertained.
Intelligent
The Devon rex is a very intelligent cat.
Dog-friendly
The Devon rex has been known to get along with both dogs and cats.
Lifetime Care
Coat
There are three possible types of hair they can have: down, awn, and guard.
Colors
Calico, tortoiseshell, bicolor, tabby.
Hypoallergenic
No.
Grooming
A weekly brushing should work. They don’t shed very much, and their fur doesn’t matt.
Training
If you purchase a clicker, you can teach your cat to perform tricks like sit, stay, and come.
Devon Rex: Cat Breed Information Guide
An interesting-looking cat, the Devon rex has curly hair, large ears, and very wide, large eyes, like a child pretending to be innocent. Most cats have a straight coat and smaller ears than the Devon.
The first Devon rex was born in Buckfastleigh, Devon, an area of England. Their mother was a stray cat who found a barn to give birth in. The person who found the mother cat and her kittens, Beryl Cox, noticed that one kitten had an odd-looking curly coat.
This all happened around the mid-1900s. Since then, the Devon rex has been working its way into the hearts and homes of people everywhere. Their wide, innocent eyes, combined with their large, pointed ears and wedge-like head, make them look like elves or pixies. In fact, their nicknames include the “pixie cat,” thanks to their unique appearance, and “the poodle that purrs,” thanks to their dog-like disposition.
To be a good pet parent to these beautiful kittens, you need to learn about them. At Spot Pet Insurance, we want to help you and your pet have a great life together by providing you with educational resources.
If you’re looking to adopt a Devon rex, read on to learn more about these medium-sized cats
How does the curly hair of a Devon rex come about?
It’s not often that you see a cat with curly fur. Although there are other curly-haired breeds, the Devon rex is probably one of the most unique. How did they come to have their curly fur?
The Devon rex’s coat is the result of a genetic mutation. It’s a recessive gene, so for it to appear in a cat, they need to have two of the curly-haired genes. If they have a curly-haired pairing and a different, more dominant gene, they won’t have curly fur.
Interestingly, a few years before the first Devon rex was born, another curly-haired kitten was found in Cornwall, England. Once they were old enough, this kitten was bred to produce more curly-haired kittens.
The owners of the cat from Devon and the offspring of the Cornwall cat attempted to produce even more curly-haired elven kitties by breeding the Devon and a Cornwall kitty together. However, they ended up producing only straight-haired cats.
This led to the discovery that the Devon rex and the Cornish rex cat, as they came to be known, actually had two different curly-haired genes.
Devon rex personality
Is the Devon rex a friendly cat? Or do they prefer to be alone?
The Devon rex is one of the more social cat breeds. They like being around people, and they need to accompany you everywhere you go in the house, except maybe the shower.
They may even try to help you with the things you need to do. Wherever you go, they will try to follow. Although they are okay with being alone for very short periods, a Devon rex will need a near-constant companion, whether you or another cat.
They don’t mind using you as a place to sit, so they may climb up onto your head or your shoulders to look down at the world below. Instead of sitting delicately on your lap as a Persian would, the Devon rex is most likely to rush in with a giant hug of sorts.
A Devon rex makes a wonderful companion. They are basically dogs in cat-form, and they love cuddling — a fact which they’ll make known with loud purrs.
Does the Devon rex like children?
These cats make good playmates for children. They are playful cats, and they want to entertain and be entertained.
How well do Devon rexes get along with other pets?
Even if you don’t have human children, you might have some other fur babies in your home. Will your Devon rex get along with them?
The short answer is yes. The Devon rex has been known to get along with both dogs and cats. Having another pet around will also provide your Devon rex with company when you’re out of the house.
If you’re a dog parent, we can’t guarantee that your pup will love having a cat around, but your Devon rex certainly won’t mind the dog.
Is the Devon rex a quiet cat?
The Devon rex can be loud or quiet, depending on what mood they’re in. Some days they’ll talk your ear off, while on other days, they’ll watch you silently from the highest perch they can find.
Is the Devon rex intelligent?
Most cats are pretty smart, although some can be smarter than others. The Devon rex is a very intelligent cat. They can learn how to do tricks, and since they enjoy entertaining, it’s a win-win.
You may also need to cat-proof parts of your house. They tend to get into places they aren’t supposed to.
How energetic is the Devon rex?
All cats tend to sleep a lot. It’s their way of storing up energy, so the real question is how much energy the Devon rex stores up while they sleep. They have plenty of energy, so they’ll need lots of exercise.
Is there anything I need to watch out for?
The Devon rex can be a little sneaky. They are good at getting into small spaces, so you need to check small spaces before moving things around. They also like to climb on curtains and onto any other risky spots they can find.
The Devon Rex is also a notorious food thief. If you leave it out, they will try to steal it. Plus, since they will spend most of the day around you, they will be joining you for dinner. They might even steal from your plate.
How to care for Devon rex
What is the Devon rex coat like?
There are three possible types of hair they can have: down, awn, and guard.
The first two types are short, soft, and curly or wavy coats, and there’s a lot of hair. The other type is short and wiry, and there tends to be less of this short coat.
Potential coat colors:
Devon rexes can be all sorts of colors and have many markings. Potential colors include:
Calico
Tortoiseshell
Bicolor
Tabby
Is the Devon rex a hypoallergenic cat?
No, they are not.
What kind of grooming does a Devon rex need?
A weekly brushing should work. They don’t shed very much, and their fur doesn’t matt. They will need a regular ear cleaning and teeth brushing.
How to be the best pet parent for a Devon rex
To be a great pet parent, you need to be prepared in two different kinds of ways. You need to be prepared by having the right information about your pet. You also need to be prepared to spend a lot of time and money caring for your pet.
We can help you by giving you the information you need to be a good pet parent. You can also get a Spot Pet Insurance plan to help you cover eligible vet costs of unexpected accidents or illnesses.
A Devon rex is going to need a lot of attention since they are very social. They might use you as a perch from which they look down upon the world, but that just shows how much they love you.
Basic training and behavior etiquette for your cat
If you purchase a clicker, you can teach your cat to perform tricks like sit, stay, and come.
You need to make sure your kitty doesn’t steal food that isn’t for them.
While your Devon rex is a kitten, you should make sure they’re used to having their ears, paws, and mouths checked so they behave while they are at the vet.
If you are looking for more information about your cat’s behavior, you can check out our blog for all sorts of educational posts.
What type of foods should a Devon rex never eat?
Some types of food are toxic to all cats. Your particular cat might have allergies, but we can’t really predict what those will be.
Some foods that are toxic to cats are:
Alcohol
Caffeinated drinks
Onions and related vegetables
Baby food (since it sometimes has onion powder)
Exercising tips to keep your kitty to stay fit and healthy
Your kitty will need a lot of exercise, so it’s good to have some toys they can play with. You could use the mouse on a string or a laser pointer to give them something to chase and pounce on. You could also invest in a scratching post, which may help prevent damage to the furniture.
What are the potential health issues for a Devon Rex?
It’s an unfortunate fact of life that everyone can have health problems, even our pets. They can get sick or get into accidents, but a prepared pet owner can assist their pet through every emergency.
There are also issues that your kitty can inherit from their parents. These are usually fairly rare, especially since responsible breeders will try to avoid breeding parents that have such health conditions.
Hereditary Myopathy is a disorder characterized by muscle weakness. This issue has mainly been seen in the Devon rex, but it’s also a fairly rare condition, so the likelihood of your cat having it is very small.
Patellar Luxation can happen for many reasons. It frequently occurs in bow-legged cats, cats whose tibia doesn’t attach in the right place, or cats whose grove the kneecap fits into is too shallow. The severity of Patellar Luxation can depend on the cause or how many legs it affects. It can also get more severe as time goes on. The kneecap can slip more easily the more often it luxates.
Some of the hereditary issues for the Devon rex are:
Heart disease
Hyperactive thyroid gland
Clotting disorders
Hereditary hypotrichosis
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Devon rex life stages
Tiny and adorable, with big ears, Devon rex kittens will be super energetic (and sneaky), but they’ll also sleep a lot more than an adult because when they sleep, they do their best growing. An adult Devon rex will have reached maturity, but they won’t lose their playful kitten disposition.
As they get older, your Devon rex might slow down some, but they’ll definitely purr as loud as ever.
Kitten: 0 - 12 months | Adult: 1-8 years | Senior: 8 – 20 years