Meet the Cornish Rex

There aren’t many cat breeds who can pinpoint the very day they first set paw on Planet Earth. But the Cornish Rex can: July 21, 1950, in Cornwall, England.

Kallibunker was not like the British Shorthair kittens in the rest of the litter. He had a long slender build, large ears, and the most extraordinary soft and curly coat; like a lamb. A geneticist was consulted, and this kitten was bred back to his mother to get two more kittens, and a name: Cornish for their birthplace, and Rex for the curly-coated rex gene in mice. One of those kittens was outbred to a Siamese, adding length to the tail and size to the ears, and the cat world had a new, and very unusual, cat breed.

Pictured: Best of Breed GC, BW, RW QUAILS NEST MY PETOOTIE PIE, Black Smoke Cornish Rex Male Photo: © Chanan

Part of why that wavy coat is so short, and so soft, is that it is only the “down,” or underfur, that is grown by these cats. So they love heat sources, (including us,) and have minimal shedding.

Though this does not make them hypoallergenic, since it is the dander and saliva which creates the allergic reaction. If allergy problems are what interests people in the Cornish Rex, they should meet and greet some of these cats first.

Because they are very Alpha; high energy, high metabolism, high interest in everything, and high activity at all times. Fans laugh about their “bottomless appetites” which can be somewhat indulged since a Cornish Rex doesn’t have to be urged to exercise. They like to use their paws like hands, and are quite clever with latches and toys.

This “greyhound of the cats” is not only distinguished by their lovely coats. They have a lot of intelligence, which they bend towards being a part of whatever we do, leading to another nickname, “velcro kitties.” Their clown side is very endearing, but all Cornish Rex breeders agree that prospective appreciators must understand that moderation is not part of the Cornish Rex vocabulary.

If they want to do something, and are thwarted in some way, they will bend all their considerable will and intelligence into accomplishing their goal. People who are used to cats who spend a lot of time sleeping and thinking about where to sleep next will find a Cornish Rex to be a perpetual motion machine. Fans regard them as having only two speeds; full on and full off.

Give them plenty of running room, (both horizontal and vertical,) and lots of cuddling and craft projects, and the Cornish Rex will offer kitten levels of amusing antics well into their teen years. They are healthy and long lived cats; seeing them reach fifteen is not unusual.

The Rex gene is recessive, so mixes will look like other kinds of cats. When a purebred does turn up in rescue, it’s easy to mark them as such. While we might not get the Cornish Rex looks, it’s likely we could get the personality, wherein “Mischief” is their middle name. Such long, slender, big-eared cats can provide a reasonable facsimile, since outcrossing established the breed in the first place.

Want a Cornish Rex? Find an ethical breeder who cares about their cats, or check out the cats needing homes at Cornish Rex Friends. Check North America at Petfinder.com to see if there’s one nearby, just waiting for a home.

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