The Devon Rex is not a common cat: it is eccentric and extremely sensitive.
These characteristics must lead one to consider carefully the idea of
making it our house-cat:
it is suitable only to those who possess in fact a certain experience
with animals, that might be endowed with an extreme sensitivity and who
can dedicate much time to him,
because the Devon Rex needs a lot of company and a lot of attention.
Members of this breed live well in enclosed environments, which must be
well heated,
and they are ideal for people who love cats but are allergic to their
hair (since they do not shed).
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THE
ORIGINS
The
origins of the Devon Rex are recent and its story is somewhat
unique: in 1960, thanks to the union of a domestic cat, the
property of Mrs.Beryl Cox, and a street-cat, was born a black
male cat very particular, similar to an elf that had curly and
big ears. Mrs.Cox, despite the strange features of the kitten,
she kept it and called it Kirlee.
After having found out, from a newspaper article, that a breeder
by the name of Brian Sterling-Webb was intrested in a new kind
of cat with a very short and coat called the Cornish Rex, Mrs.Cox
suggested Kirlee for the breeding program: Kirlee mated with
nine females that grave birth to twenty-nine kittens in total.
The results were very disappointing because nine newborns had
normal hair, but thanks precisely to this it came to light that
Kirlee and the female cats had different genes; it was therefore
discovered the existence of a second gene: The Devon Rex.The
experiments went ahead following two different programs.Through
cross-breeding, in distinct ways, the Devon Rex and the Corish
Rex strengthened each their own characteristics. Initially the
Cat Fanciers Association accepted and considered the breed Rex
without distinguishing between Devon and Corish; in 1979 the
Cat Fanciers Association gave them a seperate registration and
in 1983 permitted their competition. In Europe the first specimen
of the Devon Rex appeared in 1979 thanks to Jerry Weaver. One
night it will sleep quietly at your feet; another; it will get
it in its head to climb on the top of the bookcase (with the
ruinous consequence of falling books and knick-knacks);another
still, it will lie in wait very silent behind a curtain to wait
for the first little sparrow on duty to show up.Its odd actions
will drive you crazy, but its jealousy will enchant you. It
will see only you, it will stick to you like a stamp and it
will growl like a dog if you dare to give compliments only to
the house canary (which however with him it will have a sad
and short life).
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THE
CHARACTER
The
Devon Rex is the exception to the rule which asserts that the
first impression is what counts.
It appears timid and sad when in reality it is a lively jokester
and a tireless runner (it seems to be one of the fastest cats).
This atypical little cat is moreover very social: they need
only a few minutes to create a bond of mutual attraction. It
is an elf that leaps all of a sudden on your shoulders and there
lays down purring. The Devon Rex is particular not only for
its curious and amazing appearance but also for its character
so out of the common run, it is a big cuddlesome little dear,
so that its greatest desire is that to be between the arms of
its master (if possible under his sweater or his blankets) that
it adores and to who it does never lack affection and purring.
A very lively and curious cat, it does not take to being alone,infact,
its dependence on man is total not only because needing a lot
of affection, but because without his care it could never survive.
It loves to play and one can teach them, without difficulty,
to bring back objects thrown. It is always on the look-out and
careful of what is happening around it: it picks up,thanks to
its big ears, every little noise.
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THE
IDEAL DEVON REX
The
appearance of the Devon Rex is very peculiar and atypical.
The body, solid and muscular, is slender and of medium height
with an ample chest. The head, of small size, is slightly longer
than wide,and its short muzzle is well developed, with a strong
chin, prominent cheek-bones and whisker-pads. The ears, which
are very wide at the base, are large in proportion to its head
and they end like rounded triangles, their exterior covered
with fine hair, which inside is very sparse. The eyes are large,
well spaced, in the shape of a lemon and slanted toward the
outside of the ear, their color is in keeping with their coat.
The paws, of medium fine bone structure, are long and support
little oval feet (the rear appear longer with respect to the
front). The tail, of medium-thin proportions, is long, tapers
to a point and is well covered with short wavy hair. The hair
is short with a fine and wavy texture. The eyebrows and the
whiskers are ruffled, coarse,and of medium lenght.
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THE
COLOR OF THE HAIR
The
particularity of the Devon Rex does not concern the color of
the coat, but its texture and lenght: it has short and wavy
hair. The shade which characterizes the basic color is very
varied: infact all the variations of color and patterns are
being accepted, including the two-tone and the coat with the
points of a Siamese (Si-Rex).
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THE
CARE
The
Devon Rex shows availability, cheerfulness and vivaciousness
only when it knows it can trust its own master. To win its trust
it is necessary to follow some little suggestions. It is by
nature very trusting but they love cosy and concealed places
not because of shyness, but because it loves the warmth; it
needs a lot of security and therefore, when one welcomes him
into ones own home, one must not forget to create a little nest
for it.Its bodily cleaning does not require a lot of work because
its hair is very short and it keeps itself perfectly clean by
itself.Instead the cleaning of its ears merits particular attention:
being almost without hair it is easy for them to become receptacles
for dust. The important thing is to avoid colds, for it is in
the wintertime one must not forget to put a little wool coat
on it, but only in cold places and outside the house. Furthermore,
if it must be entered in a cat show, the bath must be given
2 or 3 days before, otherwise its hair will not lay close to
its skin. One last trick in regards to its feeding:on account
of a robust and excessive appetite it is often subject to intestinal
disturbances;to avoid this risk, it is necessary to give it
many small meals and to subdivide its food into small quantities.
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From
"IL GRANDE LIBRO DEI GATTI DI RAZZA",
di Milena Band Brunetti, De Vecchi Editore.
Thanks
very much to my friend Vincenzo Gioia for translation from Italian
to English.
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