Cornish Rex

Cornish Rex The first Rex cat appeared in Cornwall in the 1950`s, being spotted amongst a litter of farm cats. Wanting to breed more of these curly-haired cats, the male was crossed with his mother, which is said to have produced more Rex cats. The name Cornish Rex derives from Cornwall. A few years later, another cat with mole fur was discovered in Devonshire. As a result, specimens of both breeds were crossed, but the desired result did not materialize. "Rex" is surprisingly a term used in rabbit breeding and describes the animals` mole-like fur.

The characteristic of the breed is the curly or wavy coat, which is called "mole coat" because the hair is reminiscent of a mole. The hair is short and close-lying, with the guard hairs being sparse and hardly distinguishable from the woolly hairs. The guide hair is entirely absent. Whiskers and eyebrows are curled. Of all known Rex cat breeds, the Cornish Rex cat is the most affected by hair changes. The Cornish Rex is a thin cat with long, straight legs. The tail is also long and slender. The head is wedge-shaped with a long nose and the ears are large and set high. They look like those of a bat. The eyes are medium-sized and oval.