THE ORIGINS

The origins of the Devon Rex are recent and its story is somewhat unique: in 1960, thanks to the union of a domestic cat, the property of Mrs.Beryl Cox, and a street-cat, was born a black male cat very particular, similar to an elf that had curly and big ears. Mrs.Cox, despite the strange features of the kitten, she kept it and called it Kirlee.
After having found out, from a newspaper article, that a breeder by the name of Brian Sterling-Webb was intrested in a new kind of cat with a very short and coat called the Cornish Rex, Mrs.Cox suggested Kirlee for the breeding program: Kirlee mated with nine females that grave birth to twenty-nine kittens in total.
The results were very disappointing because nine newborns had normal hair, but thanks precisely to this it came to light that Kirlee and the female cats had different genes; it was therefore discovered the existence of a second gene: The Devon Rex.The experiments went ahead following two different programs.Through cross-breeding, in distinct ways, the Devon Rex and the Corish Rex strengthened each their own characteristics. Initially the Cat Fanciers Association accepted and considered the breed Rex without distinguishing between Devon and Corish; in 1979 the Cat Fanciers Association gave them a seperate registration and in 1983 permitted their competition. In Europe the first specimen of the Devon Rex appeared in 1979 thanks to Jerry Weaver. One night it will sleep quietly at your feet; another; it will get it in its head to climb on the top of the bookcase (with the ruinous consequence of falling books and knick-knacks);another still, it will lie in wait very silent behind a curtain to wait for the first little sparrow on duty to show up.Its odd actions will drive you crazy, but its jealousy will enchant you. It will see only you, it will stick to you like a stamp and it will growl like a dog if you dare to give compliments only to the house canary (which however with him it will have a sad and short life).

THE CHARACTER

The Devon Rex is the exception to the rule which asserts that the first impression is what counts.
It appears timid and sad when in reality it is a lively jokester and a tireless runner (it seems to be one of the fastest cats). This atypical little cat is moreover very social: they need only a few minutes to create a bond of mutual attraction. It is an elf that leaps all of a sudden on your shoulders and there lays down purring. The Devon Rex is particular not only for its curious and amazing appearance but also for its character so out of the common run, it is a big cuddlesome little dear, so that its greatest desire is that to be between the arms of its master (if possible under his sweater or his blankets) that it adores and to who it does never lack affection and purring. A very lively and curious cat, it does not take to being alone,infact, its dependence on man is total not only because needing a lot of affection, but because without his care it could never survive. It loves to play and one can teach them, without difficulty, to bring back objects thrown. It is always on the look-out and careful of what is happening around it: it picks up,thanks to its big ears, every little noise.

THE IDEAL DEVON REX

The appearance of the Devon Rex is very peculiar and atypical.
The body, solid and muscular, is slender and of medium height with an ample chest. The head, of small size, is slightly longer than wide,and its short muzzle is well developed, with a strong chin, prominent cheek-bones and whisker-pads. The ears, which are very wide at the base, are large in proportion to its head and they end like rounded triangles, their exterior covered with fine hair, which inside is very sparse. The eyes are large, well spaced, in the shape of a lemon and slanted toward the outside of the ear, their color is in keeping with their coat. The paws, of medium fine bone structure, are long and support little oval feet (the rear appear longer with respect to the front). The tail, of medium-thin proportions, is long, tapers to a point and is well covered with short wavy hair. The hair is short with a fine and wavy texture. The eyebrows and the whiskers are ruffled, coarse,and of medium lenght.

THE COLOR OF THE HAIR

The particularity of the Devon Rex does not concern the color of the coat, but its texture and lenght: it has short and wavy hair. The shade which characterizes the basic color is very varied: infact all the variations of color and patterns are being accepted, including the two-tone and the coat with the points of a Siamese (Si-Rex).

THE CARE

The Devon Rex shows availability, cheerfulness and vivaciousness only when it knows it can trust its own master. To win its trust it is necessary to follow some little suggestions. It is by nature very trusting but they love cosy and concealed places not because of shyness, but because it loves the warmth; it needs a lot of security and therefore, when one welcomes him into ones own home, one must not forget to create a little nest for it.Its bodily cleaning does not require a lot of work because its hair is very short and it keeps itself perfectly clean by itself.Instead the cleaning of its ears merits particular attention: being almost without hair it is easy for them to become receptacles for dust. The important thing is to avoid colds, for it is in the wintertime one must not forget to put a little wool coat on it, but only in cold places and outside the house. Furthermore, if it must be entered in a cat show, the bath must be given 2 or 3 days before, otherwise its hair will not lay close to its skin. One last trick in regards to its feeding:on account of a robust and excessive appetite it is often subject to intestinal disturbances;to avoid this risk, it is necessary to give it many small meals and to subdivide its food into small quantities.

From
"IL GRANDE LIBRO DEI GATTI DI RAZZA",
di Milena Band Brunetti, De Vecchi Editore.

Thanks very much to my friend Vincenzo Gioia for translation from Italian to English.