In order to truly appreciate the unique appearance of
the Devon Rex, you must first set aside your preconceptions of what a cat
should look like. In 1960 in Devonshire, England, a spontaneous mutation
caused British barn cats to conjure up their own version of the ultimate
feline pixie. Low-set, oversize ears jut out and away from the side of an
elfin cheeky face with a turned up nose. Large impish eyes suggest a
madcap personality and a nimble mind. A deceptively muscular body is
covered by a short coat of downy fur that curls and ripples.
Devons sport a variety of coats that range from a
full-rolling loose uneven wave through lessening degrees of density that
support a tighter rippling effect all the way to a thin suede-like cover.
Kitten coats usually thin out (molt) at about eight weeks of age. Although
some kittens escape this molt phase, many juveniles sport a suede look
until the adult coat begins to come in. Further molts are sometimes
witnessed at about six months and ten months of age, although these tend
to be less dramatic and of shorter duration. Selective breeding is
required to produce the beautiful show Devon with its unique pixie face,
bat-like ears, and a coat with just the right amount of density, length
and texture to display a rippling wave when stroked with the hand.
Many North American breeders have practiced a careful
outcross program to the native American Shorthair in order to provide an
expanded and strong gene pool. Today, over thirty-five years after their
mutant origin, Devon Rex remain remarkably faithful to their original
conformation, head type, coat and disposition.
Devons NEVER sit upon a window sill looking elegant or
bored. Devons are seldom elegant and never bored (or boring). They sit
upon your shoulder or they lie across the back of your neck and
investigate your ear. They lie in stacks like untidy cordwood in front of
heat vents or pile one upon another until they lie six deep in a cat bed
designed for one or two. They MAY sit upon a window sill but only to
chatter excitedly at squirrels or other passersby.
Devons never meander, they favor a purposeful trot.
They know WHERE they are going and WHAT they are going to do when they get
there. They are skilled food bandits with asparagus high on their list and
grapes, cantaloupe and artichoke leaves only just a whisker behind.
Devons, like puppy dogs, follow you from room to room
and just like puppies, they wag their tails when happy or praised. They
chat gaily in subdued chirps, chortles and trills but purring can drown
out polite conversation.
Devons bring another meaning to �wash and wear.� A
quick shampoo, rinse, towel pat and hang over the shoulder to dry or place
in a sunny window. Most Devons do not object to the Saturday night bath
and some will join their human companions in their tub uninvited. This
behavior reflects the Devon�s deep concern for their beloved person�s
safety and comfort although many suspect it is also a measure of their
refusal to be justify out of ANYTHING.
Happily, Devons shed their coats at a rate that is only
barely perceptible to the human eye and nose. And as they are quickly and
easily bathed, many people with allergies to cats discover they can live
comfortably and intimately with a Devon Rex. The absence of cat hair in
the air, on pillows and on furniture is a definite plus to the allergy
sufferer and to the one who cleans the house. The ideal Devon coat is soft
to the touch, for while the Devon has guard hair, it is mutated into a
weakened form and vastly reduced in density relative to the soft down and
awn hairs that make up the Devon coat.
When you handle a Devon, you will be surprised at the
density of muscle and the sense of weight in such a small animal. The
mature Devon female averages six to seven pounds and the slightly larger
male averages eight to nine pounds. You will also be surprised by the
pleasant warmth of the Devon body. The Devon has the same body temperature
as other breeds but has less fur to insulate your hands from its natural
body heat. They make superb bed warmers. Devons are patient and nurturing
mothers and fathers. The average litter size is three to four kittens with
an average weight of about three ounces. Kittens are strong and highly
mobile at birth, frequently nursing before the umbilical cord is severed.
They open their eyes early, at about five to seven days and not just a few
breeders report eyes open at or on the first day after birth. Devons DO
dislike missing ANYTHING!
Devons love to play but their natural preference is to
sit cozily in your lap. Devons are, above all else, people oriented. Their
human companions are the focus of their boundless interest and love.
Pricing on Devon Rex usually depends on type,
applicable markings and bloodlines distinguished by Grand Champion (GC),
National or Regional winning parentage (NW or RW) or of Distinguished
Merit parentage (DM). The DM title is achieved by the dam (mother) having
produced five CFA grand champion/premier (alter) or DM offspring, or sire
(father) having produced fifteen CFA grand champion/premier or DM
offspring. Usually breeders make available kittens between twelve and
sixteen weeks of age. After twelve weeks, kittens have had their basic
inoculations and developed the physical and social stability needed for a
new environment, showing, or being transported by air. Keeping such a rare
treasure indoors, neutering or spaying and providing acceptable surfaces
(e.g. scratching posts) for the natural behavior of scratching (CFA
disapproves of declawing or tendonectomy surgery) are essential elements
for maintaining a healthy, long and joyful life.
There are CFA clubs devoted to the promotion,
protection and preservation of the Devon Rex breed. For more information,
please send inquiries to CFA, PO Box 1005, Manasquan NJ 08736-0805.
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CFA Breed Description for Devon Rex