DEVON REX Cats - Genetics

Brown and white Devon Rex (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Genes account for things like eye coloring, the color of the coat, physical characteristics and sex determination.

Rex is the name given to gene mutations which are responsible for the guard hairs on the coat to be missing. The Rex cat has only the curly undercoat hair present. This breed of cat first made an appearance in Cornwall, England. The name of this cat was Cornish Rex. Then, just a few years later, in Devon, a kitten was born, from a litter of foreign-type kittens. This gene mutation gave life to the Devon Rex.

Where the Cornish Rex is warm and soft to the touch and has a slightly woolly feeling coat, the Devon Rex has a closer coat which feels more crisp and short. In the beginning, the coat of the Devon Rex was sparse and not very nice looking, but gradually, over time, cat breeders have managed to eliminate this feature and now it has an adequate covering making it that little bit more attractive!

Cat breeders are now able to transfer the Rex coat to any color or type of cat, and so although there are two standard types of Rex, any other breed can be produced with the typical wavy coat with the guard hair missing. The standard for Russian Blue cats set out by the American Cat Fanciers Association, states that it is a dainty cat distinct from all other breeds with its soft, lustrous, bright blue double coat, and that handling it feels like running a silk scarf through your hands.

By Loretta Kay For more information on Devon Rex and Cornish Rex, please visit http://www.allthingskittycat.blogspot.com Article Source: EzineArticles

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The DEVON REX As A Family Pet

A relative newcomer to the world of cats, first appearing only in 1960, the Devon Rex has been created by the controlled breeding of a mutation caused by recessive genes. First discovered near Buckfastleigh in Devonshire, England, the original Devon Rex was the result of a tortie and white queen mother and a curly haired male of indeterminate breed and impeccable escape tactics. Therefore, alternate breeding created two mutations and the difference between the Devon and the Cornish Rex.

Male cat of Devon Rex breed.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Devon Rex maintains its short-haired look through careful breeding with American and British short-hair breeds to strengthen the gene pool and stabilize their uniqueness. The true Devon, besides having the loose waves and curls of fur like the line's progenitor, also exhibit very large low-slung ears and big, bright eyes. The short, upturned nose completes the inquisitive "pixie" look and expression of the Devon Rex.

The Devon is very friendly, always seeking the touch and close companionship of their human. This could also be because the short hair is not very efficient. insulation. They are very active and extremely curious. Their agility and jumping prowess makes just about anywhere in a home accessible to them. Because of their active nature, it is highly recommended that these predominately indoor cats do not be declawed but provided with an acceptable scratching post and training to use it rather than the furniture.

The Devon does not require much grooming. A quick damp-cloth wash-down or shampooing and towel dry will keep them clean and looking good. Some extra care needs to be given to their huge ears. There is no standard coloration for a Devon Rex as they come in a multitude of colors from black to white and some even have the pointed coloration of Siamese and Persian cats.

While a well cared for Devon Rex is robust and usually healthy, there are still a few genetic problems the breed is susceptible to. Such conditions as spasticity, hip dysplasia, luxating patella, and cardiomyopathy can affect these loving new members of the cat world.

By Shannon Hutcheson For more information on this breed, and others, contact one of the reputable registered breeders listed at our Cat Breeder Directory. Or join our Cat Breeder Forums to chat about your cats or cat breeding experience. Article Source: EzineArticles

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Information Regarding the DEVON REX CAT

A breed with a very curly, soft coat Devon Rex resembles the Cornish Rex in many ways. In fact it was discovered just ten years after the latter, in the same British Isles. Devon Rex was first seen in a litter of kittens in Devonshire. The cute baby was thought to be a Cornish Rex and initially bred with Cornish females to supplement their limited population at that time. 

Devon Rex  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

However, it soon became apparent that the gene responsible for Devon's hair was different. Plus Devon had guard hair that the Cornish lacked, even as they were often sparse and easily breakable. Devon Rex cats moved to United States in late nineteen sixties, after their discovery early in that decade. By the mid eighties they had gained general acceptance amongst cat fanciers. As part of their development they were outcrossed with Burmese and American and British Shorthairs. Today they still remain one of the less common feline breeds.

Devon Rex cats have a deceptively slight body. They are well muscled and strong, weighing between six to ten pounds on average. Head is triangular and flat on top. Ears are big, low set on the skull and rounded at the tips. The big bright oval eyes are widely spaced and slope towards ears. Nose is slightly upturned. Fur is soft and curly and is seen in a number of colors and patterns including tabby, tortie, calico, smoke and solid. Hair break off easily and there are often bald patches seen on the body. Even the whiskers are curly and sometimes completely absent. Overall they are slender cats with an ethereal appearance, leading to them being called 'pixie' or 'alien' cats.

Devons often accumulate oil on their skin owing to their stunted hair that fail to absorb it. This alongside the accumulation of dust can lead to skin problems, and therefore requires periodic grooming and bathing of the cat. Also their large ears trap dirt readily and should be swabbed regularly. The short hair are beneficial in the sense that they don't lead to a lot of shedding and are suited for people allergic to cats. However they do mean that the cats catch cold easily and look for warmth in the winter by snoozing on electronic equipments and cuddling under blankets. Owing to past inbreeding, some Devon lines carry occasional hereditary illnesses including cardiac myopathy.

Devon Rex's personality is often considered to be a combination of a cat, dog and monkey's attributes. They are more curious and inquisitive in their nature than most cats, are affectionate and easily trainable like dogs, and are athletic and possessive of an unusual fondness for high places like monkeys.

By Omer Ashraf The author is a blogger about cats and an expert on Devon Rex cats. Article Source: EzineArticles

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