The Cornish Rex

Vanrinkle's Cornish Rex kittens

Cornish Rex, a "Mutant Breed"

The first known Rex Cat appeared unexpectedly in a litter of “Barn Cats” born on a farm near Cornwall, England. The new “Mutant Breed” of cats was called Cornish Rex for the vicinity where it began, and for the Astrex Rabbit, which has a similar coat mutation. Other Rex Cats have appeared in Germany and in Devonshire, England. (German and Devon Rex)

In appearance the Cornish Rex is quite exotic. The hallmark of the breed is the unique curly-coat. To understand the Rex coat, one must first analyze the normal shorthair coat. It consists of several different types of hairs, guard hairs, awn hairs, and down hairs. Guard and awn hairs are longer than down hairs and much more coarse, and make up the top layers of the coat. Down hairs are shorter and very soft, and make up the undercoat. The Cornish Rex coat is made up only of down hairs, giving the coat its unique look and texture. It is not harsh like a Poodle, nor woolly like the lamb. It is as soft to the touch as silk, yet has the plushness of velvet, and is softer than any other feline coat.

The Cornish Rex Cat is an elegant, trim and racy-looking cat that has the appearance of being very fragile, deceptively so, due to its light boning and relatively small size. The skeletal structure of the Cornish Rex differs from the Domestic Shorthair. The Cornish Rex is much finer boned and slimmer, with long, powerful hind legs, arched body and long head and neck. This slim, racy look was retained when Siamese Cats were used as outcrosses in the early Cornish Rex breedings. The Cornish Rex has an alert appearance enhanced by very expressive eyes and large, high-set ears.

Contrary to the Rex’s delicate appearance, it is quite hardy. Cornish Rex Cats love to play, and they exhibit great agility and fantastic quickness. They have excellent appetites and grooming requirements are minimal.

They are very active cats with an inquisitive and outgoing nature. Cornish Rex Cats are extremely intelligent and can be very demanding, requiring a close relationship with their owners. Some people say that Cornish Rex Cats act like kittens all of their adult lives. Their active, playful and affectionate nature make them ideal companions.

A Short Breed Profile for the Cornish Rex

Coat: Ultra-shorthair
Environment: Indoor only
Disposition: Affectionate, active, gregarious
Best with: Those with a sense of humor
Colors: Virtually all but the Abyssinian colors

The Cornish Rex is a small to medium cat with a slender, arched body, long legs and tail, an oval head with a tapered but rounded muzzle, a high forehead and Roman nose, large eyes and large ears set high on the head. The long neck, high cheekbones and aristocratic profile give it a look of pure elegance. Its coat is extremely short and silky, lying close to the body in washboard waves.

Over the years, it is likely that the Rex mutation has occurred many times. Since the advent of purebred cat breeding, three major Rex mutations have been recorded and developed by cat fanciers: the Cornish, the German and the Devon Rex. In addition, other such mutations have been reported but haven't been developed: the California, the Oregon, the Ohio, the Pennsylvania and the Connecticut Rex, among others. The Cornish and Devon Rex mutations were quickly found to be genetically different and have been kept separate as two distinct breeds. Based on this fact the Cornish and German Rex were assumed to be genetically different. Only after much controversy were the Cornish and German Rex interbred, and it was discovered that they were genetically identical. Unlike the Cornish x Devon cross which produced only straight-coated kittens, the Cornish x German cross produced Rex-coated curly kittens. The German Rex is no longer bred as a separate breed in this country, but some Cornish Rex trace their ancestry to German Rex foundation cats. All Cornish Rex are descended from the original Cornish Rex, Kallibunker, who was born in a litter of barn cats in Cornwall, England in 1950.

Agile, athletic, and intelligent, the Cornish Rex is wonderful for people who enjoy a fun-loving pet with a high level of activity. While they enjoy being a lap cat, they also enjoy resting on your shoulder. Cornish Rex are very active cats with an inquisitive and outgoing nature. The tops of cat trees, refrigerators, or bookcases are favorite places from which they survey their domain.

Popular folklore maintains that Cornish Rex cats are non-shedding and hypoallergenic. In fact, they do shed just as any live animal with hair must shed to renew its coat. Due to the extremely short length and fine texture, the hairs may be hard to see. It certainly isn't advisable to pick up your white Cornish Rex if you're just getting ready to leave for a formal affair in your black velvet gown! Cat allergies are usually caused by the proteins in the cats' saliva. When cats groom themselves they coat their fur with saliva which can become airborne when any fur is shed. 

This breed comes in a veritable rainbow of cat colors: solids, bi-colors, tri-colors (properly called calicos), stripes but, alas, not plaids. Cornish Rex can even come in the colors and patterns of the Siamese or Colorpoint spectrum.

Author:

Charles R. Bund, "Vanrinkl for Curly-Coated Friends"
Grand Rapids, Michigan / USA

Fon: (616) 458-2447

e-mail: vanrinkl@ix.netcom.com

homepage: http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/1222