Cornish Rex and Devon Rex – do these two cats have anything in common besides a part of their names?
Well, they do; They are both friendly cats that make wonderful pets. So, it’s probably not an easy decision to choose just one of them!
This is why I’ll present you with both of these cats in this article. You’ll get to know all about their size, personality, physical appearance, health, and lifespan.
All this information might help you decide which Rex will be a better fit for you and your family!
Cornish Rex Vs Devon Rex: Breed Overview
Let’s first look at a short overview of these two cats.
| Cornish Rex | Devon Rex | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight range | 6-10 lbs. | 6-9 lbs. |
| Height range | 8 to 12 inches | 10-12 inches |
| Coat colors | Black, blue, chocolate, white, etc. | Black, blue, cinnamon, lilac,white |
| Coat length | Short | Short |
| Shedding level | Low | Low |
| Personality | Energetic, bright, sociable | Friendly, intelligent, outgoing |
| Health issues | Polycystic kidney disease, Progressive Retinal Atrophy | Deafness, Hereditary myopathy, hip dysplasia |
| Lifespan | 15-20 years | 9-13 years |
The Breed History
Kristen Drummey explains how the Cornish Rex breed was developed as a result of a natural mutation.
When a tortoiseshell cat Serena had a litter of five kittens back in 1950 in the United Kingdom, her owner noticed that one kitten had a distinctive coat.
Then he consulted a geneticist and decided to mate this kitten with his mother to produce a new litter with kittens with a rare, curly coat. Afterward, the early Cornish Rex kittens were bred with a couple of other cat breeds, such as Russian Blues and Siamese cats.
A couple of years later, a woman from California imported a Cornish Rex from the United Kingdom – this cat gave birth to a litter of kittens that became known as the first Cornsih Rex cats in the States.
VCA Animal Hospitals points out how the Devon Rex showed up a decade after the Cornish Rex.
This breed originated in Devon, England, where a curly-coated kitten was born in a litter of straight-haired cats. The first time a Devon Rex appeared in the United States was in 1968.
Physical Appearance
These two breeds are similar in size; Cornish is slightly larger than Devon with an average weight of 6 to 10 pounds, while Devon usually weighs a maximum of 9 pounds.
Cornish has a small head, large eyes and ears, and long legs. Her coat is short, curly, and soft, which makes this cat better suited for indoor living.
This cat’s coat comes in a variety of colors, such as black, blue, chocolate, white, orange, and all forms of tabby.
The Devon Rex cat also has large ears and eyes, a slender body, and high cheekbones. Her coat is short and wavy, and comes in almost all colors available, including black, blue, cinnamon, lilac, and white.
The coat is the characteristic that will help most people separate the Cornish Rex from Devon Rex. While the Cornish has a finer coat, the Devon has a wavy one.
Devon Cat is a great choice for people with allergies. Although shorthair cats shed, too, at least to some extent, a Devon Rex sheds far less than other cats with longer coats – meaning she’s less likely to cause allergic reactions in humans.
Temperament
The Cornish Rex is an intelligent, affectionate, and highly sociable breed. While many people would say that all cats are aloof, this isn’t quite true with the Cornish Rex breed.
These cats become highly involved with their owners. They like to be around them all the time – their favorite activity is to play with their parents all day long!
Cornish Rexes are also great with children and other pets.
The Devon Rex is not far behind the Cornish in its temperament. This breed is equally friendly and outgoing and loves to spend time cuddling and playing with its owners.
This cat is very energetic, active and funny; She’s always ready to give her people some amusing performances!
Just take a look at the little Devon Rex comedian in the video below.
Video
Care
Cornish Rex has a low-maintenance coat; So, you’ll not spend a lot of time grooming this cat. However, one thing to bear in mind is that this cat’s coat is very thick, meaning that she always needs to be warm.
The best would be to keep this cat indoors exclusively. Since this is an active breed, a Cornish Rex should have at least 30 minutes of activity per day – such as playing with toys or jumping around.
This cat doesn’t have any specific diet demands; The best would be to feed her a combination of dry and wet food, to ensure she’s hydrated enough.
The Devon Rex also requires minimal grooming. Normally, you shouldn’t wash your indoor cat except for some specific situation, such as if the cat got extremely dirty, or if she's old or overweight and incapable of grooming herself.
Still, things are different with the Devon Rex. Since this cat has a thin coat, her skin might get oily and itchy. To prevent this, the best would be to wash this cat once a month at least.
This cat requires a lot of attention and stimulation, so, it’s necessary to provide her with interesting toys, scratching posts, cat trees, and even some animal company!
Her nutritional needs are the same as with the Cornish Rex – just keep her on a healthy weight and make sure she receives a meat-based diet, with a small amount of carbs, and a moderate amount of fat.
Lifespan And Health Problems
Which one of these breeds is expected to live longer?
Cornish Rex is a winner in this field. Her life expectancy is 15 to 20 years, while a Devon Rex usually lives 9 to 13 years.
Some of the common health issues in Cornish Rex are Progressive Retinal Atrophy and Polycystic kidney disease. The Devon Rex, on the other hand, might deal with hip dysplasia, myopathy, and deafness.
Of course, all cat parents would like to do their best to keep their pets with them as long as possible.
RSPCA suggests taking your cat to the vet as soon as you notice something unusual, such as behavioral changes, or changes in the cat’s grooming habits.
Also, you should always use only the medicine prescribed by your veterinarian; Never use human or dog medicines on your cat!
Price
If you would like to buy a Cornish Rex kitten from a respectable breeder, you can expect to pay $800 to $1,200.
A Devon Rex is usually a bit cheaper, with the average price going from $600 to $1,000.
Of course, this is only the initial price for a kitten. Remember that you’ll also need to buy items such as food and water bowls, cat food, a bed, a litter box, toys, etc.
And, having a kitten in your home means having a long-term commitment to taking care of her health and well-being.
Be sure to also consider all of these factors when making your decision to purchase a kitten – whichever of these two breeds you decide on.
Final Words
I think that we can all agree that both of these two cats are impressive and will make wonderful pets.
So, who’s the winner in the battle: Cornish Rex vs Devon Rex?
This will ultimately depend on you and your lifestyle.
These two breeds are quite similar, but maybe some detail you found in this article will prevail in your final decision. This could be a cat’s expected lifespan, activity level, price, and so many other things.
Whichever Rex you choose, I wish you many nice and fun moments with your future kitten!
