Devon Rex - breed description and cat character

With their alien appearance with huge ears, Devon Rex cats also have a big loving heart. Where did this interesting creature come from, and what is it like?

Appearance story

Great Britain is considered the homeland of Devon Rex. His appearance resembles the characters of local folklore: hobbits, trolls and gnomes. For the first time this charming creature met by chance in Devonshire next to an abandoned mine in the 60s of the 20th century. Unfortunately, then it was not possible to contact this cat. After all, she was rather shy. But managed to catch a cat who walked nearby. Soon, she gave birth to a black kitten, which received the name Kirlie, which means “curly” in English. It was Kearley who became the founder of this breed.

Europe recognized the first Devon Rex and only after two decades - the United States.

Description

Outwardly, Devon Rex due to its curliness is very similar to representatives of another curly Cornish breed - Rex. Therefore, people who are poorly versed in breeds can hardly fail to distinguish between them. In fact, these two cat breeds are completely different, and have similarities only at first glance. To distinguish Devon Rex from other cat breeds, it is necessary to know the main external characteristics of these animals:

1. Torso. Medium in size, folded in stocky type. The weight of the cat is about 4 kilograms, and the female is about 3 kilograms. Cats look more elegant than cats. The chest is large.
2. Paws Thin and long. Graceful. Front shorter than the rear.
3. Head. Small in relation to the body. Triangular shape. Eyebrows and mustaches have curls at the ends.
4. The ears. Very large size. Set widely. They can be crowned with tassels.
5. Eyes. Large and convex. Set widely. Their color always depends on the color of the cat: green with golden spots, emerald, amber. Cats of color - point colors, as a rule, have eyes of blue and blue shades.
6. Wool. Short length, characterized by extraordinary softness, curled, visible outer hair is missing. On the muzzle and back, hips and sides, the hair is longer compared to other parts of the animal’s body. If the Devon has completely no hair, this is considered a drawback.
7. Colors. According to the characteristics of the breed any colors are allowed.
8. Tail. Thin and long, with a rounding at the end.

Attention! Due to the fact that Devon Rex has almost no hair, it seems that they are hot. Many believe that their body temperature is higher than that of other cats. This opinion is erroneous, this feeling comes from the fact that the coat is too short, therefore, with tactile contact, skin temperature is felt.

Character Features

According to the owners of the cats of this amazing breed, they can be described in just one word - cat! The Devons are very similar to dogs in their behavior. They are very affectionate and completely loyal to their owner. They are extremely dependent on him and are on the heels everywhere. Separation from your dear friend can be very stressful for cats of this breed. Therefore, the Devons are not a very suitable pet for the host - the traveler.

They are so smart that they can be trained and taught teams. Devons have a fairly good disposition. They have a relationship with absolutely all members of the family, including children.If there are children in the family, then this smart cat with a cute alien appearance will become a great friend to them.

Health

Devon Rex with good care and proper maintenance usually have good health and good life expectancy, about 16 years. But still subject to some characteristic diseases, namely:

• Hip dysplasia.
• Dislocation of the patella.
• Hypertrophic heart disease.
• Muscle dysfunction.

Features of care and maintenance

1. Bathing. Caring for Devon Rex cats is not much different from other breeds. However, wool that is too short, soft and curled requires some care features, namely more frequent washing. You need to bathe Devons about once every 1-2 months, using special cat shampoos or baby shampoos for newborns, without fragrances. Before exhibitions, a cat needs to beautified for at least 5 days in order for the coat to look aesthetically pleasing.
2. Toilet for a cat. Before getting a cat, not only Devon Rex, but also any other breed, its content should be well planned. It is necessary to make sure that the pet has a tray where the cat will relieve itself. In order for the toilet training process to be as quick and comfortable as possible, you need to check with the breeder exactly which kittens go to the pot and which filler is used. If kittens go to the tray without filler, then do not bother with it. Any kitten will immediately go to the pot, made on the principle of the one that he went with his mother - a cat.
3. Tableware. The pet should have at least two, and preferably three individual bowls. Suppose one is mandatory for water and the other two are for food. The bowl can be made of ceramics, stainless steel, or better - made of food-grade plastic. Plastic is convenient for the banal reason that the bowl will not rattle and ring when the cat wants to feast on the rest of the owner.
4. Place in the house. It is better for a cat to equip his personal place in the house. You can choose a separate corner in the apartment, equipping it with a cat's house, where the cat will be able to retire, hide and relax. Loneliness is sometimes useful not only for people.
5. Scarlet point. In order not to suffer from ragged sofas and wallpaper - in the house where the cat lives, there must be a claw point. An animal must be accustomed to it from the first days of its appearance. If the pet starts to tear the sofa, he will torture him until he destroys the entire upholstery. Therefore, if you want to pick something up, you need to show the kitten a scratching post. It can be made independently by upholstering a long log with cotton cloth or sofa upholstery, or you can buy a special one in the store. A long, freshly cut log is also suitable.
6. Teeth cleaning. For a kitten, you need to have a special toothpaste to teach you to brush your teeth from a young age. This should be done once a week. Teeth are cleaned with a cotton pad, a special cat or very soft brush. If you accustom an animal to this procedure from an early age, then there will be no problems with it in adulthood.
7. Hygiene of the ears. Ears should be cleaned once a week. To do this, you just need to slightly moisten a cotton pad with warm water and gently wipe the inner side of the ears without climbing inside.

Parasite prophylaxis
If a kitten is acquired “processed” from worms, then before its appearance it is better to immediately process all members of the family. Often, it is animals that are infected by humans, and not vice versa.

An animal living in a private house can easily become infected with parasites or fleas. It is better for such pets to buy a special collar that helps in the prevention of these misfortunes.

Living a cat in an apartment, without walking on the street, in no way guarantees that she does not get infected with worms. Animals should be anthelminthic once every six months, and preferably once a quarter and before vaccinations.

Feeding

You should think in advance than to feed the baby, and ask the breeder about the menu. Little kittens are allowed to give dairy products. But they are not useful for adult cats, because digestive disorders can cause it. If the kitten is taken by a small sove, up to 6 weeks old, then it can be fed with baby food, which is bred according to the instructions. No need to feed the baby with milk powder, it is rarely of high quality recently.

Attention! Devon Rex is known for the fact that they do not have a “center of saturation,” and therefore are prone to overeating. The owner will have to regulate the amount of food and the diet of the pet on his own.

Walks

A cat, like any other living creature, just needs to go outside. With thoroughbred pets a little more difficult in this regard. You can not send cats or cats, and especially those that are needed in breeding, to go for a walk wherever their soul desires. The problem is not only that pets can be stolen or a thoroughbred young lady will bring her father’s worthless kittens to no one. Firstly, the animal can be in danger at every corner, and especially the gullible Devon River. Secondly, cats can also become infected with sexually transmitted diseases, which can lead to reproductive problems. An animal living in an apartment needs to be bred several times a week on a leash on its own.

Those who live in a private house are more fortunate. They can be let out for walks in the yard, if it is fenced with a high, in no case wooden, fence.

Short Devon Rex hair does not give them such protection as long to other cats. During winter walks, cats of this breed should be dressed in special clothes.

Knitting

It is worth taking care that the male has a place for mating, and the cat has a place where she will reverently raise the kittens resulting from mating. These points should be considered when choosing a cat’s gender.

You can knit a cat from the second estrus, from the moment when it reaches puberty, but not earlier than the age of 15 months. Only in this case, the pregnancy and childbirth of the female will be as complete as possible, which will ensure good health in future babies. In addition, this will protect the mother from possible complications during the period of gestation and birth of kittens.

When accepting a cat in your home, you need to stipulate all the conditions of mating in advance. This can be done in written or oral contractual form. The owner of the cat is obliged to provide a tray, a bowl and possibly food, which the animal is used to.

Both parties must show each other documents to confirm the adequate state of animal health and confirm that they have the necessary vaccinations.

Does Devon Rex cause allergic reactions?

It is generally accepted that cats with short hair are not prone to cause allergies. There is some truth in this, since there are people who have individual reactions specifically to the cat's hair. The shorter the hairline of the animal, the less hair falls out during molting. But this does not guarantee that the allergic person will not have unpleasant symptoms. Those who suffer from allergies to members of the cat family should better refrain from living with these animals in the same house. However, it is possible to consider breeds, communication with which did not cause any symptoms, as well as those that are considered as safe as possible.

Attention! In addition to wool, allergic manifestations can cause exfoliating pieces from the skin of the pet or the discharge of salivary glands.

How much is devon rex?

A lot of different factors can affect the price of a kitten. Starting from the place of purchase, and ending with the value of the pedigree data of each individual cat, namely:

• Place of purchase: exhibition, nursery, private breeder.
• The reputation of the breeder or nursery.
• Reputation of cats-parents.
• Pet class: pet, brid, show.
• Rarity of color and eye color.
• Sex of the pet - a cat always costs more than a cat.

Where to buy a Devon Rex kitten?

The breed is very common abroad, and most - in the States and Great Britain. On the territory of Russia and Ukraine there are not many breeders of cats of this breed, however, in big cities they are not so difficult to find.

Private breeders buy cheaper, but it carries more risks than famous nurseries. To purchase a cat from such a seller, you need to thoroughly study the breed and know the list of necessary documents. To begin with, it’s good to visit several exhibitions and see kittens there. In no case do you need to purchase an animal remotely. This must be done hand in hand to protect yourself from possible problems.

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