A funny little creature with a lamb’s wool coat and bat ears

In 1960 in Devon, England, Ms. Beryl Cox found a curly-coated male cat in a a litter of feral cats living in an abandoned mine. This male was bred with a tricolor female, who gave birth to a curly-coated male that Ms. Cox named Kirlee. Kirlee was then bred with Cornish Rex cats. The resulting kittens had very straight hair, indicating that the two genes responsible for these two mutations, that of the Devon Rex and that of the Cornish Rex, were different and recessive. In an effort to pin down the mutant Devon Rex gene, Kirlee was extensively inbred. Unfortunately, this led to the appearance, in some lines, of a fatal hereditary disease known as “spasticity.” But the breed has been closely monitored, and American and French breeders have worked together to breed healthy individuals with carefully planned pedigrees.
The Devon Rex was officially recognized by the F.I.Fe. in 1967.

In the United States, the breed was not distinguished from the Cornish Rex until after 1979. It is recognized by the C.F.A. and by T.I.C.A., which published a standard in 1988.

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Characteristics

The Devon Rex is a lively, playful, acrobatic cat but is a bit less active than the Cornish Rex. Naturally cheerful and independent, Devon Rexes are friendly toward other cats and towards dogs. They hate being left alone. Very affectionate and sensitive, they are pleasant companions with soft, quiet voices. They are well-suited to apartment life, as they are susceptible to cold. Kittens develop quickly. The coat does not attain its adult appearance until about 6 months.
Daily brushing is enough to maintain the Devon’s coat. Devon’s hardly shed at all. They must be bathed regularly, since they sweet and their ears produce a great deal of wax.

The pedigree should be examined closely in order to avoid the risk of spasticity.