Devon Rex Breeder Directory

More Breed Information

Devon Rex are the pixies of the cat fancy with their impish looks and mischievous personalities. The Devon Rex have large low set ears and big impish eyes set in a head with a short muzzle and high cheekbones. It is a small to medium sized cat with a muscular body covered with a short, velvety soft coat that ripples with waves. They are often described as resembling the Gremlins from the film Star Wars while the waif-like tousled curls of their coats are reminiscent of Little Orphan Annie's tousled mop.

Temperament

Devon Rex are intelligent, mischievous and highly active. They are very playful and want to be involved in everything - and they are powerful jumpers no spot goes unexplored! Expect to find them perching on the top of doors or climbing to some previously unexplored spot. Although they are interested in everything going on around them, Devons are very people-oriented and prefer to share their investigations with you so expect their company no matter what you are doing.

Health

Genetic problems common in the general cat population became concentrated in the Traditional Devon Rex. Also a neurological condition causing muscle spasticity appeared only in Devons. Secondly a parental blood incompatibility resulted in the death of kittens. Many were found to carry Type A blood, when other carried Type B blood. When an A male was bred to a B female, the mother’s milk would contain antibodies against the kittens’ own blood, causing the death of kittens. Breeding Devons are now blood typed. If a bad breeding occurs, the kittens are hand fed every two hours until the gut closes internally and they can handle the antibodies on their own. Out crossing to other breeds became the focus to save the breed.