The Purrfect 10: Fascinating Facts About the Devon Rex

We love reading and researching anything and everything about cats, and wanted to find a fun and unique way to share the interesting facts we learn with you! Since top 10 lists are very popular in the blogosphere, we created The Purrfect 10 as a way to present 10 educational or fascinating tidbits about a wide variety of cat-related topics, everything from health issues to cat breeds to famous felines.

Back in January I attended our local cat show and the breed that made the biggest impression on me this time around was the Devon Rex, so the precious little pixies became the subject of this month's edition of The Purrfect 10...

1) Because of their unique appearance (low-set, over-sized ears, high cheekbones and large, wide-set eyes) the Devon Rex has earned a few nicknames: pixie cat, alien cat, and poodle cat.

2) The first Devon Rex was discovered in Devon, UK in 1960, the result of a mating between a straight-haired tortoiseshell female and a feral curly-coated male. The curly kitten was named "Kirlee" and initially linked with the Cornish Rex who had first come on the scene in 1950. Kirlee was sold and bred to Cornish females with the hopes of producing more curly-coated kittens, but every time the resulting kittens had straight coats. The curly coated cats were determined to be two distinct breeds, with Kirlee as the founding father of the Devon. (Ironically, the first Cornish Rex was also the offspring of a tortie!) Sadly, Kirlee was killed by a car in 1970.

3) Cats typically have three types of hair in their coats, guard (the outer layer), awn (the intermediate hairs), and down (the undercoat). The Devon's awn and downs are soft and close to the body, but their guard hair is very sparse and fragile. Temporary bald patches are not uncommon in areas where they lick themselves, and even brushing can cause the fur to break off completely.

4) Like their outer coat, a Devon's whiskers are also curly, short and prone to breakage. The whiskers will grow back, but not to the length most other cats have.

5) There's no need for a hot water bottle in a home with a Devon Rex! Their body temperature is the same as other cats but their coat doesn't provide as much insulation, causing them to feel warm to the touch. They are always in search of extra warmth, either from sunny windows or even a cozy sweater.

6) Their personality is rather dog-like and extremely people-oriented. They don't like being left alone and prefer to be with you (or *on* you, preferably perched on your shoulder) as much as possible. Likened to a cross between a dog, cat, monkey, and Dennis the Menace, playful Devons are often described as forever a “kitten at heart.” They love to jump, have a passion for food, and are highly intelligent.

7) It's a myth that a Devon's coat is hypo-allergenic. Their dander produces allergens just like every other cat. They do shed less which could possibly ease some people's allergic reaction, but anyone with allergies should make arrangements to spend time with a Devon before bringing one home.

8) By 1968 the Devon had emigrated to the United States and the breed was recognized by the American Cat Fanciers Association in 1972, the International Cat Fanciers Association (TICA) in 1979, and the Cat Fanciers Association in 1983.



9) The Devon Rex made it's big screen debut in the opening scene of 1978's Superman the Movie when the superhero rescues "Pixie" from a tree.

10) The iconic character of E.T. was inspired by Stephen Spielberg's pet Devon.

Got your heart set on adding a Devon Rex to your family? You can still make adoption your first option! Visit the adoptable Devon Rex cats on PetFinder!

We hope you learned something new today!

Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover in The Purrfect 10?