Devon Rex Available: Devon Rex Cats, Kittens, and information

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The Devon Rex Cat, known for its slender body, short wavy coat, large ears, and splendid temperament didn't leap onto the laps of us unsuspecting humans until 1960. The granddaddy of the Devon breed, a curly-coated, feral tomcat who lived around an abandoned mine near Devonshire, England, mated with a straight-coated calico female who produced a litter of kittens in the garden of cat lover Beryl Cox. One of the kittens, a brownish-black male that Cox named Kirlee, had the same short, curly coat as his father. Breeders think that the calico female mother and the curly-coated father must have been related, since the Devon Rex gene that governs the curly coat is recessive and must be present in both parents to produce curly-coated kittens.

At first, Kirlee and his father were thought to be related to the Cornish Rex breed. Experimental matings between Kirlee and the cats of a Cornish breeder resulted in only straight-coated offspring, which led to the conclusion that the two breeds were unrelated. The name Devon Rex was adopted for the new breed, and an official breeding program was established.

The first Devon was imported to the United States in 1968. In 1972, ACFA became the first United States association to accept the Devon Rex for showing in the championship ring. The Devon was accepted by TICA in 1979, the same year that TICA formed. The CFA recognized the Devon for Championship in 1983.  Championship Devon Rex adults and kittens may be found for sale on our Pet Classifieds section.

Through careful outcrossing, breeders have expanded the Devon Rex gene pool, and retained the integrity of the breed. While the breed has never quite caught up to the Cornish Rex in popularity, Devons have made great strides and are becoming more and more popular, as pets and show cats alike.

Personality plus is undoubtedly a major reason for the Devons’ popularity.  Devons have been compared to pixies, elves, and space aliens, because of their jumbo-sized “satellite-dish” ears, large, mischievous “window-into-the-soul” eyes, and ethereal, almost ghostly appearance. Fanciers praise the “poodle cat” (an affectionate name for the breed), as people-oriented snugglers who love nothing more than to cuddle up with you at night and wake you in the morning with hugs, kisses, and purrs of affection. Since the Devon sheds less than other breeds, you can snuggle back all you want to without covering yourself in cat hair.

The Devon’s loyalty, devotion, playfulness, courage, and intelligence are a few of the qualities that make them a great choice for the cat-obsessed fancier. Devons are shoulder perchers, lap sitters, tail waggers, and retrievers of tossed cat toys. They have a strong sense of curiosity and want to be involved in whatever you're doing, whether it's chopping vegetables for dinner or showering for a Saturday night date—and they’ll be more than happy to help you put on your makeup, as well!

The typical Devon Rex is active, mischievous, playful, and very people-oriented. They have been described as a cross between a cat, a dog and a monkey (or, famously, as "a monkey in a cat suit"). They are high jumpers and will try to occupy any space large enough to barely even contain them. With this trait, they are often found in odd nooks and crannies of a closet or a bookshelf. Devons prefer to be in high places and will extend themselves to great lengths to reach the highest spot in the room. Most Devons also have one central person to whom they devote the most of their love, and on whom they will most often lie and rub. They like to nip playfully, and their focus is on fun throughout their entire lives.

They are a very intelligent breed; the typical Devon Rex can be trained to walk on a leash, fetch or perform all manner of tricks usually associated with dogs, like jump, heel and play tag to name a few.

Another common trait is their great show of affection: they have a particular penchant for being close to the head or neck of their human companions and can often be found mounted upon one’s shoulder or nestled in the cranny between the shoulder and the neck. The Devon Rex is a faithful companion and will usually follow their loved ones from room to room, waiting for the opportunity to leap onto their arms, lap, or shoulder.

Devons, which are medium sized cats, have uncommonly large, slightly rounded ears set low on the sides of their wide heads, very large eyes, and slightly upturned noses. Unlike most cats, their whiskers are very short and often curled to such a degree that it may appear that they have no whiskers at all. Their body type is lightly built. Their long, sturdy legs are well suited for the long leaps they love, and their toes are unusually large. Devon Rex kittens come in all colors, and all eye colors.  Bear in mind, as with all other breeds, that all-white cats with blue eyes are deaf.

The Devon's coat contains all three types of cat hair (guard, awn, and down), but the guard hairs are typically fragile and stunted. The hairs break easily and therefore this breed can develop bald patches that remain until the next hair growth cycle (typically in fall and spring). Devons need very little grooming; their favorite grooming tool is your hand, applied to their heads and up and down their backs.

Margaret Fokin, of “Melo Mark Devon Rex Kittens,” was kind enough to share some of her wisdom and insights with me, after being a professional breeder for many years.  She has bred both Devons and Sphynx, but has decided to move in the direction of raising Devon kittens only.  One of the first things Margaret pointed out is that the Devon is so like a dog that they trail around behind you, instead of in front of you, which can be a great advantage to the elderly and to others who may be somewhat unsteady on their feet.  (As someone who recently tripped over my own Bengal kitten and broke a rib in my fall, I can personally testify that this is a nice feature in a cat!)

She emphasized that most Devons do not shed, though she qualified that by saying that a few of them do, but still relatively little compared to other breeds.  They love children and dogs, and are very open and friendly with strangers, unlike the Sphynx, who may tend to be a bit shyer.

When I asked about their reputation for performing acrobatic feats, she laughed and said that it’s not only in the air that one sees this spectacle, but that the Devon Rex is a contortionist even while sleeping, and may sleep with head tucked under a rear leg, or hanging off the side of the bed completely.  She said that there is a lot of laughter in a house full of Devons—that they are natural-born comedians!

To contact Margaret Fockin visit her website right here “Melo Mark Devon Rex Kittens.”

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