Cornish Rex 101

The Cornish rex is one of six breeds of "rex" cats, where "rex" indicates curly hair. The hair of the Cornish rex is its most distinguishing feature, besides its slender body, large ears, and tiny, egg-shaped head. The Cornish Rex has only a down coat, usually the undercoat of a normal cat. This means that a Cornish rex's coat is extremely soft, curly, and unique.

The breed originated in 1950s England. When a cat was born in Cornwall with this strange genetic mutation, it was bred with its mother to produce more of what are now known as Cornish rexes. After that, they were taken to America where they were bred with Siamese cats, giving them their skinny appearance.

Affable, curious, and very intelligent, Cornish rexes make great cats for children and people with other pets. The coat does very little to insulate them, so they can suffer hypothermia quite easily. They fare better as inside cats, especially in a home with lots of warm, cozy objects they can rest on. Some Cornish Rexes have a mildly cheesy odor, particular to their breed, which comes from the scent glands in their paws.

On Animal-World.com, Francis, a Cornish rex owner, talks about her experience:

"Our Cornish Rex is now 14 years old. She is still playful, very social, and very, very affectionate. After returning home from a week's business trip, no choice is given to me but to cuddle with her. She harasses me until I pick her up and then turbo-purrs for hours. Our rex is a little cat with a big, big heart."

If you are interested in adopting a Cornish rex, it is best to do plenty of research (as always). Talk to owners, and go to a reputable adoption organization, such as Purebred Cat Breed Rescue.

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