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Rex Cats: Felines with Curly or Wavy HairDevon, Cornish, and Selkirk Rex Cat - and there are 14 Other Types
A few wavy-haired Rex Cats are well known and have been developed as new breeds. But there are actually many records of different curly-coated mutants.
Every so often kittens are born with a sparse, wavy or curly ‘Rex’ coat. As they get older, they really look as though the fur has been permed. Rex cats have been reported in many different places at various times. A few, such as the Devon Rex and Cornish Rex in the UK, and the Selkirk Rex in the USA, have been developed as new breeds. Others have been allowed to die out. There are records of at least 17 different Rex cats. History of the Rex Cats.1930/31: The Prussian Rex Cat was discovered in East Prussia, but died out. 1930s: There are records in America of the Karakul Cat, but it was not developed. 1946: A curly-coated cat was discovered in the ruins of East Berlin after the Second World War. This German Rex Cat, was used in crosses with the Cornish Rex for a while, but is no longer preserved as a distinct breed. 1950: An Italian Rex Cat was found, but it vanished within one generation. 1950: A wavy-haired kitten was discovered in a litter of farm cats in Cornwall, UK. The Cornish Rex Cats were carefully in-bred to develop the breed, which remains popular today. 1953: The Ohio Rex Cat was a kitten born in a normal litter, but was not developed as a breed. 1959: The Oregon Rex Cat appeared in America, but was overshadowed by the more popular Cornish Rex. 1959: A wavy-coated cat was found in an animal shelter and named the California Rex Cat. 1960: The Devon Rex Cat was discovered in Devon, UK and soon developed into a popular breed. Although Cornwall and Devon are very close geographically, the two Rex cats are unrelated depending on a different gene for their curly coats. 1972: A cat carrying a Rex gene was found in Victoria, London, and named the Victoria Rex Cat. 1985: The Dutch Rex Cat is a recent addition to the Rex breeds, and has a coarse wavy coat. 1987: The Selkirk Rex Cat was discovered in Wyoming, with a thicker curly coat than most Rex breeds. It is now quite a popular breed. 1988: Rare cases of Rexed Maine Coon Cats started to be reported by British breeders. 1991: Urals Rex Cats were discovered in Russia. 1990s: Eastern European breeders crossed Rex cats with Persians, and created the Longhair Rex Cat. 1990s: Rex cats were crossed with Scottish Fold cats to develop the Poodle Cat. 1990s: The Missouri Rex Cat was discovered in the USA. Rex Cat GeneticsThe curly hair is caused by a spontaneously occurring mutant gene, which is usually recessive. Therefore the ‘permed’ cats will disappear naturally unless they are carefully bred to develop the breed. However, the Selkirk Rex gene appears to be genetically dominant. Personality of Rex CatsRex cats of all types are said to have delightful personalities, retaining the playfulness of kittens into adulthood. They are affectionate and inquisitive, and make wonderful family pets. However, some of them need to be treated with care, particularly in cold climates due to their somewhat sparse coats. No matter which type, a Rex cat will always turn heads, and all of them remain as unusual and somewhat rare breeds. SourceCat World: A Feline Encyclopaedia, Desmond Morris, Ebury Press 1996 Related ArticlesHistory of the Tiffany (or Chantilly) Cat
The copyright of the article Rex Cats: Felines with Curly or Wavy Hair in Cat Breeds is owned by Helen Krasner. Permission to republish Rex Cats: Felines with Curly or Wavy Hair in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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