Cornish Rex

A rare breed distinguished by its distinct look and loving disposition is the Cornish Rex. These cats stand out in a crowd thanks to their large ears and sleek, wavy coats. They are unique, but it’s not just their appearance that appeals to cat lovers; they also have a fun and amiable nature.

The curly coat of the Cornish Rex, in contrast to most cats, is velvety soft to the touch. They have an attractive appearance due to their lean, athletic bodies, and they are regarded as lively and inquisitive people.

The Cornish Rex might be the ideal cat for you if you’re looking for one that likes to spend time with people. Even as adults, these cats are known to form strong bonds with their owners, frequently accompanying them around the house and acting playful.

Characteristic Description
Origin England, 1950s
Coat Soft, curly, and short
Personality Playful, affectionate, social
Energy Level High, active
Grooming Needs Low, occasional brushing
Good with Families Yes, especially with children
Health Concerns Generally healthy, but prone to some genetic issues
Lifespan 12-16 years

Breed characteristics

* Features of the breed Cornish Rex based on owner reviews and expert evaluations from Usatik.ru. Since the data are averages, they might not accurately reflect an individual’s behavior. Regretfully, it is impossible to account for every unique quality that makes each pet unique.

Brief description of the breed

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When did the breed appear?

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The type of feline The Cornish Rex was created relatively recently, in the middle of the previous century. Its representatives stand out from other cats thanks to their short, curly hair and stunning appearance. Apart from their peculiar fur, the graceful creatures’ image is enhanced by their large ears and intelligent, expressive eyes. These cats fit into any family easily because of their amazing personalities, gentle nature, and playful nature.

Video

Cornish Rex

  • History of the origin of Cornish Rex
  • Cornish Rex – description of the breed
  • Popular colors of Cornish Rex
  • Character and habits of Cornish Rex
  • Interesting facts about Cornish Rexes
  • Pros and cons
  • Breeding the root of the River
  • Cornish Rex Care
  • The diet of the Kornish-River
  • Diseases and health problems
  • Cornish Rex – price and how to buy correctly

The history of the origin of the Kornish-River

Past Events In 1950, the Cornish Rex breed was created in Britain. Among the kittens of a recently born cat, Farmer Nina Ennismore unexpectedly found one with a very unusual appearance. The kitten stood out due to its curly fur and enormous ears, which gave it an otherworldly appearance. The peculiar kitten was left in the owner’s home and given the equally peculiar name, Kalinbuker, while the other kittens were soon given away to neighbors.

After seeing Kalinbucker’s appearance, the veterinarian convinced the farmer not to castrate the cat, even though she had planned to do so for six months. He proposed that the unique pet might be the beginning of an entirely new breed. After following the veterinarian’s advice, Nina Ennismore mated the male Kalinbucker with his mother, Serena, the female cat, and three more kittens were born, two of whom resembled their father. Out of all of them, only Poldu made it to puberty.

For several more years, the English farmer experimented with crossing, and roughly half of each litter’s offspring were born with large ears and curly hair. A few years later, the farmer’s severe financial troubles forced her to give up breeding curly cats and put her two pets, a male cat named Kalinbucker and a female named Serena, to sleep. Poldu, the cat, escaped a terrible end when he was mistakenly castrated after being purchased. Luckily, Half still has a few curly ancestors.

Fascinating fact: In 1957, a virtuous American cat enthusiast named Francis Blanchery bought two half-cornish directors’ descendants in England. It was a pregnant blue-and-blue-colored female cat and a red cat. The woman brought them to her native America. The cat soon started spinning, and two of the kittens in the litter had curls, which is how the American branches of the breed got their start.

American breeders crossed the cornish Ruses with Burmansk, Siamese, and other short-haired cats for another thirty years. As a result, the breed not only gained new colors but also gained a lot of popularity among cats. The Kornish-River breed was formally registered in 1983. It also included official recognition for two lines: British and American.

Kornish -River – description of the breed

Generally speaking, Cornish Rex cats are not very big. Male and female cats typically weigh between 4 and 5 kg as adults. Despite their seemingly elegant and even graceful appearance, the animals have well-developed muscles throughout. It is important to note that the British line of the breed has slightly heavier skeletons than the American line.

The American standard states that Cornish Rex cats should look like this:

  • Narrow and somewhat elongated body;
  • Very developed muscular corset;
  • Ovoid head;
  • Wedge-shaped muzzle;
  • Roman nose;
  • High cheekbones;
  • Strong jaws;
  • Large conical ears;
  • Large oval, slightly slanted eyes;
  • Slightly curved back;
  • Broad chest;
  • Tucked belly;
  • Thin, slender and long limbs (front legs shorter than back legs);
  • Long and mobile whip-shaped tail;
  • Soft curly fur without guard hairs with a wide variety of colors.

It is crucial to realize that there are certain similarities between the Devon Rex and Cornish Rex breeds, and it can be challenging for a novice to tell them apart. Here, the main distinction is in the head’s shape. For instance, the heads of the former are shaped like eggs, while the heads of the latter are shaped like hearts. The nose of the Cornish Rexes also blends more seamlessly into the forehead.

Additionally, there are some variations in the body’s structure. Devons, for instance, have a stronger skeleton and a shorter body. Looking closely at the fur on both cats will reveal another difference. For instance, the majority of Devon Rexes’ hair appears tousled and pointing upward, whereas the majority of Cornish hair is bent downward.

The coat of a young lamb is akin to the short, silky, wavy coat of a Cornish Rexe. These cats have a wide range of colors because they have crossed with different breeds.

Here are a few of them:

  • White color (nose and paw pads are pink, eyes are golden or blue);
  • Black color (nose and paw pads are brown or black, eyes are golden);
  • Blue color (blue nose, golden eyes);
  • Red and cream colors (light brown nose and paw pads);
  • Smoky silver color (with dark areas like Siamese cats, bluish or green eyes);
  • Black smoky color (like Burmese cats, black nose and paw pads, green eyes);
  • Bluish smoky color (blue mask on the face and paws, pink paw pads);
  • Classic tabby color (paws are painted with dark rings, dark streaks on the sides, dark back);
  • Tiger tabby (almost identical to classic tabby color, but the letter "M" is painted on the cat"s forehead with dark stripes);
  • Spotted tabby (with beige and reddish spots);
  • Tabby brown spotted (the main coat pattern is classic or tiger tabby on a brown background with reddish and beige spots);
  • Bluish-spotted tabby (tiger pattern on a beige background with a bluish tint);
  • Blue spotted tabby (beige with a blue tint with a dark blue tiger tabby pattern, bright gold eyes);
  • Silver spotted tabby (tiger pattern on a silver background with spots, rich gold eyes);
  • Silver tabby (classic or tiger pattern, brick-colored nose, bright green eyes);
  • Red tabby (tiger pattern on a reddish background, terracotta nose and paw pads);
  • Brown tabby (dark "tiger" stripes on a terracotta background, brick-colored nose, golden eyes);
  • Blue or cream tabby (classic or tiger markings on a bluish or cream background);
  • Tortoiseshell (reddish spots on a black background, dark nose, golden eyes);
  • Calico (white background with dull reddish and black spots, eyes blue, gold or two-colored);
  • Calico bleached (white background with beige and blue spots, golden eyes);
  • Bluish-cream (blue background with rare small beige spots, golden eyes).

Regarding a given color’s popularity, the fashion for it varies from year to year. However, the so-called "pure" colors—those devoid of spots—remain more in demand.

Character and habits of Cornish Rexes

By nature, Cornish Rex cats are playful, gregarious, and full of energy. They still have a passion for life and seek out new experiences even in their advanced years. Long periods of time spent indoors are not recommended for Cornish cats as they enjoy exploring their surroundings. After all, they won’t know where to direct their excess energy, so they’ll start scratching walls and furniture, climbing curtains and walls, and toppling plant pots.

These kitties also enjoy being the center of attention and are very gregarious. For instance, they frequently enjoy jumping up on their owners’ laps, rubbing their muzzle against their hands, legs, and faces, and purring loudly, as though they are communicating something.

Fascinating fact: These creatures are highly gregarious and have no trouble coexisting in a home with dogs or other cats, provided that they receive the lion’s share of attention. It is guaranteed that the owners will be blatantly ignored for a few days if this is not the case.

Playing with children is what makes Cornish Rexes so devoted to them. It is important for parents to understand that a amiable pet will never hurt their child, even if the child misbehaves and tugs at its tail or touches its belly or hind legs. The Cornish Rex will not bite or scratch the child if their unwanted behavior persists; instead, it will ignore them because it perceives them as a threat.

At first, Cornish Rexes are wary of strangers and will only tolerate being petted when they are totally comfortable. One other thing to keep in mind is that because these cats have a strong hunting instinct, it is not advisable to keep rodents or birds in the house where they reside.

Interesting facts about Cornish Rexes

The primary characteristics of dogs and Cornish Rexes are strikingly similar. Along with being amiable and inquisitive, they also form a close bond with their owner and follow him everywhere.

The intelligence, quick wit, and high intelligence of Cornish Rexes set them apart. Compared to other breeds, they are far simpler to train and learn. Therefore, you can quickly teach your pet to bring objects that have been thrown as well as to obey dog commands like "lie down," "sit," "come to me," and "no" with consistent training.

Due to the lack of guard hairs in their curly fur, these cats’ fur does not retain heat well, so it is best to purchase warm houses for them that come with sunbeds. Furthermore, because they are active, a play complex won’t be unnecessary.

Wool from Cornwall is not allergenic. Anesthesia sensitivity is a strong point for Cornish Rexes. This makes them much more resistant to anesthesia than cats of other breeds, and it also makes them more likely to react unexpectedly to common medications.

These cats’ skin is also extremely susceptible to UV rays. It is therefore preferable to schedule their walks for the morning or the evening.

Feeding these cats a little less is preferable to overfeeding them. After all, they quickly become curly sausages if they are regularly overfed. It is advised to set up something akin to fasting days for them once or twice a month because of this.

A Cornish Rex cat should only give birth once a year in order to produce healthy kittens. It is not advised to wait longer than two or three years between pregnancies for the same reason. After all, a female’s ability to reproduce can lead to both exhaustion (in the first scenario) and sleep (in the second scenario).

Among cats, Cornish Rexes have a long lifespan. With a 15-year average life expectancy, many people easily reach 20 years old!

Pros and cons of Cornish Rexes

Just like any other breed of cat, Cornish Rexes have their diehard fans and people who don’t give a damn. The majority of these curly cat owners have left reviews stating that their cats never bite, scratch, mark, steal from the table, or seek revenge. Well, how is it possible not to salute such blatant aristocracy?

Future owners of these "sheep in sheep’s clothing" should be aware that if a kitten raised in an apartment is accustomed to taking walks on the street from an early age, it will grow up to be able to walk on a leash without any issues.

Let’s now proceed to enumerate the breed’s benefits and drawbacks.

  • Friendliness;
  • Sociability;
  • Mobility;
  • Learnability;
  • Ease of care;
  • Almost never shed;
  • Almost never get sick;
  • Wool does not cause allergies;
  • Lives long.
  • Very high price;
  • Excessive activity;
  • High sensitivity to drugs, in particular to anesthetics;
  • They don"t like being alone.

The intelligence of Cornish Rexes has already been mentioned. As a result, teaching them different tricks and training them is fairly simple. It is crucial to begin house training a kitten as early as possible—no later than three months—and to set clear guidelines for what is and is not acceptable behavior.

These cats are naturally very clean and well-trained to use a litter box, albeit with the requirement that any dirt be cleaned up right away. Furthermore, you are not allowed to hit your pet or yell at it. You can hit the cat with a towel on the floor or squirt it with water to express your displeasure with its behavior if it consistently disobeys the rules or is mischievous.

Breeding Cornish Rexes

Because Cornish Rexes are a rare breed with unique breeding traits, it’s critical for owners who wish to breed their pets to understand that finding a suitable partner for their pet is done well in advance, sometimes even months before the big event.

Sexual maturity in female Cornish cats typically happens at nine months of age. You shouldn’t, however, jump right into mating. The youthful body should become more robust, and the hormonal backdrop should somewhat stabilize. Expert breeders advise that the first mating should take place after the pet has been with them for a year. Furthermore, both male and female cats are affected by this condition.

Another restriction is that it is strictly forbidden to cross-breed Cornish cats with other breeds due to the possibility of losing the dominant gene that gives these cats their distinctive physique, large ears, and curly hair.

When selecting a mate for reproduction, the following criteria are crucial:

  • Impeccable pedigree;
  • Health status of the male;
  • Experience.

It goes without saying that both partners need to be in perfect health and possess a veterinary passport. The cat must also be cheerful, energetic, and kind. There is a very high chance of first-time fertilization if the male is already untied, which is preferred.

Prior to mating, parasite treatment and claw trimming are required because animals can cause severe scratches to one another. It is best to avoid receiving vaccinations right before mating. The actual mating process only takes place on the cat’s territory, and it’s best to let the cat stay with the cat for three to six days.

Approximately 63–65 days pass during a female’s pregnancy. Usually simple, labor can be predicted by observing a cat’s telltale behavior, which is its search for a quiet corner. At birth, kittens weigh between 100 and 110 g. In a typical litter, up to five babies are born. Newborn kittens have curly hair all over them at first, but after ten days the curls straighten out. After the first molt, a kitten’s curly hair starts to grow again.

A distinct breed of cat, the Cornish Rex is renowned for its playful, loving disposition and soft, curly coat. Because it lacks guard hairs, unlike most cats, its fur has a unique texture. This breed is an excellent companion for people who prefer a lively pet because it is intelligent, highly active, and loves to interact with people. For cat lovers searching for an interesting, active pet, the Cornish Rex is a great option because of its unusual appearance and amiable disposition.

Cornish Rex care

The guidelines for taking care of a Cornish Rex are similar to those for other pets. Consequently, the first thing an owner should do when a curly kitten moves into his home is set it up with everything it needs for a comfortable life. This includes buying a tray, bed, scratching post, food, litter for the tray, and, of course, regular care.

The following is the care required for Cornish Rexes:

  1. Coat care. It is important to occasionally (once a week) brush your pet with a soft natural brush. And it is better to do this carefully so as not to damage the structure of the thin curly hairs;
  2. Claw care. Cornishes naturally have very small paw pads that do not completely hide the claws. To give the claws an elegant look, it is recommended to trim them at least once a month. This procedure is carried out using a special device – a claw cutter;
  3. Eye and ear care. About a couple of times a week, the eyes and ears are carefully examined for dirt or inflammation and wiped with a damp cotton pad. Boiled water, a special eye hygiene solution, coconut oil are used as a moisturizing solution;
  4. Bathing. As you know, the hair of the Cornish Rex is quite short, so it does not have the ability to fully absorb all the sebaceous secretions. Because of this, the animal needs to be bathed at least once a month. Bathing is done in warm water using a special shampoo. The cat is dried with a long-haired towel, and then given the opportunity to lick itself and dry off.

Diet of Cornish Rex

Any cat breed’s diet is determined by the breed’s traits as well as the age of the pet. When a Cornish Rex reaches the age of three or four months, it is typically added to the adult menu. These kitties can be fed both ordinary natural products and premium cat food (available in both dry and canned forms).

It’s crucial to consider that a Cornish Rex will most likely have an insatiable appetite when creating a menu for them. Thus, cat nutritionists advise feeding the pet only on schedule, twice a day (morning and evening), to rule out stomach issues and avoidable weight gain. It is best to avoid all snacks, even the harmless ones. It’s critical to understand which natural feeding options are suitable for cats and which are not when making this decision.

  • Frozen raw or boiled dietary meat (turkey, rabbit, chicken);
  • Boiled offal (heart, kidneys, lungs);
  • Porridge (buckwheat, pearl barley, barley, oatmeal, rice);
  • Boiled vegetables (zucchini, pumpkin, carrots, cauliflower);
  • Boiled eggs (quail, chicken);
  • Sprouted grains (a little);
  • Fermented milk products (cottage cheese, kefir);
  • Green grass.
  • Bones;
  • River fish;
  • Cow"s milk;
  • Beans;
  • Sweets.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that meat and offal should make up 80% of your pet’s daily food intake when thinking about their diet. Giving them small pieces or mince that has been coarsely ground is preferable. It is crucial that the Cornish Rex always has unrestricted access to fresh, clean water, regardless of its diet.

Diseases and health problems

Cats of the Cornish Rexes breed have a long lifespan—up to 20 years. Despite the fact that the breed originated from a chance mutation, no significant hereditary illnesses have been discovered in these cats as of yet. Cornish Rexes have a strong natural immunity, which helps them recover from illness relatively quickly when it does strike.

Conditions to which Cornish Rexes are susceptible:

  1. Hypothyroidism. This disease appears as a result of a lack of thyroid hormones, which leads to damage to the skin, coat, and loss of appetite;
  2. Hypokalemia. This disease is caused by a systematic lack of calcium in the body. Can be transmitted genetically;
  3. Hypotrichosis – hair loss. This disease does not affect the pet"s well-being in any way;
  4. Progressive retinal atrophy;
  5. Alopecia. Hair loss in certain areas of the body (belly, paws, sides). The cause of this disease is most often hormonal problems or a lack of vitamins.

Refusing vaccinations is not a valid excuse if the pet is healthy and in good condition. Additionally, it is recommended that Cornish Rex cats receive a full course of vaccinations beginning at two months of age. Antiparasitic medication should also be taken ten days prior to the commencement of the course.

The Cornish Rex’s short hair means that you should also pay attention to the indoor air temperature. It’s possible that the pet will get a cold if the room is extremely cold. In this instance, cystitis may also strike the feline. Thus, keeping the pet healthy also requires not warming it to a desirable temperature.

A distinctive breed distinguished by its soft, curly coat and lively demeanor is the Cornish Rex. They are unlike other cats in both appearance and behavior thanks to their slim bodies and big ears.

These cats adore interacting with their owners and are very active. They are attention-seekers and frequently follow their humans around the house in search of company.

A lively, loving cat that will keep you entertained, the Cornish Rex might be a perfect choice for you. Just be ready for their exuberance and insatiable desire for affection.

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Daria Lebedeva

Dog lover. I constantly study the characteristics of different breeds, their character and needs. I publish articles on how to choose the right breed that suits you and how to provide the best living conditions for your pet.

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