Imagine a cheeky little monkey in a cat costume, with a distinct resemblance to ET and you have the Devon Rex cat! Unlike their more elegant cousins, the Abyssinian and Siamese cats, they have a scruffy look that reveals their mischievous and playful nature. They revel in human company, and will often follow you around the house just to be in your company.
Facts & advice
Devon Rex
An extroverted breed who never fails to entertain
Vital stats
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| Size: | Medium |
| Coat: | Short and curly |
| Life span:9 | 10 – 15 years |
| Temperament: | Mischievous, playful, extroverted |
Devon Rex personality & temperament
Devon Rex cats are natural comedians and experts at keeping the whole household entertained.
- A real cat for dog-lovers, the Devon Rex is a great companion and family pet – as long as you have lots of time to play and don’t mind putting the work in.
- The Devon Rex cat personality is more like that of a dog; they can make very loyal and loving pets. They enjoy playing and using up all their energy and then curling up with you on the sofa for a nice nap.
- This is an intelligent, active and outgoing breed, and they get on well with older children and other animals, if socialised early on and carefully introduced.
- The Devon Rex temperament is affectionate and attention-seeking, and this breed makes a rewarding family pet who’ll have the whole family in stitches with their antics.
Devon Rex food & diet
This low-maintenance breed doesn’t have any specific dietary requirements, but they do need a high-protein diet to keep them healthy.
- The best food for Devon Rex cats is a good-quality, low-grain adult cat feed that’s high in protein. However, it’s advisable to feed your Devon Rex kitten food for the first year of their life before gradually moving them on to an adult formula.
- It’s also important to maintain hydration, so a mix of wet and dry food is always advisable, as well as fresh water placed away from their food bowls as all cats like to eat and drink in separate locations.
- Like all cats, the Devon Rex is an obligate carnivore so a meat-based diet is essential.
- This is a hardy cat breed so you don’t need to worry too much about any specific nutritional issues, as long as you feed your Devon Rex a healthy cat diet that includes a mix of wet and dry cat food.
Devon Rex grooming & coat care
This curly-haired cat is a low shedder, but their coat is more delicate than most so grooming should be careful and gentle.
- Due to their coat, which is less water resistant and less insulating than other breeds, this is a cat that may physically benefit from an indoor lifestyle, as long as they are provided with opportunities for play and stimulation to prevent boredom.
- The unique rippled coat of a Devon Rex is a result of their curly-coated feline ancestors and lack of guard hairs; combined with their gorgeous sand-coloured markings it makes them look like a sandy beach – so they fit right into their namesake county!
- Less likely to moult than other breeds, Devon Rex cats do not need excessive human grooming, and their fur is prone to breaking thanks to their short, downy undercoat. Gently wiping the fur with a damp cloth occasionally will be adequate.
- Over-grooming a cat with short hair, like the Devon Rex, too much can lead to bald patches and an unhealthy coat so be extra gentle.
- Their large ears collect earwax, which your cat will be unable to clean themselves. To avoid ear infections, you’ll need to clean your cat’s ears regularly. Discuss this with your vet for more advice.
- The Devon Rex’s short hair can also mean your cat is sensitive to temperature, so it’s important to bear this in mind when providing cool or warm spots for them to sleep.
- Be careful around their face - Devon Rex’s whiskers are liable to crinkle and be quite stubbly. Cats need whiskers for balance, communication, judging distances and sensing air pressure and direction. Try to be particularly gentle when grooming the face.
Devon Rex training & behaviour
This fun-loving, impish breed has high energy levels and a low boredom threshold - but that can make for an extremely rewarding training relationship.
- Devon Rexes are intelligent and playful, so cat training using positive reinforcement techniques is perfectly possible. However, because of their intelligence they can become bored easily so keep training sessions short and rewarding.
- The Devon Rex needs a lot of exercise and many owners describe them as perpetual kittens so be prepared for some high energy playing sessions from the word go long into adulthood!
- Due to their high intelligence, the Devon Rex breed does need plenty of stimulation. To stop your cat from becoming disinterested, make sure you have some good cat games and toys on hand to keep them amused.
- A Devon Rex can easily be taught to play fetch so if you’re prepared to put the time in and work out what motivates your cat, the rewards can be high.
- The Devon Rex also likes to jump and climb so the best toys for these cats are cat trees and perches - not least to save the tops of your cupboards. If these levels aren’t introduced to their daily life you may find your Devon Rex in surprising places, like that difficult-to-reach spot on the top of your wardrobe or even on top of open doors!
- Like most cats, Devon Rexes are excellent jumpers, so you’ll also want to be vigilant when leaving open food containers on your counters or tabletops. This breed won’t be shy about helping themselves to that lovely roast chicken before you and your family carve it!
Common Devon Rex health conditions
As a cat owner you will want what’s best for your pet’s health so they can live a long, happy life. Like all breeds, Devon Rexs are prone to certain health conditions. To help you be more aware and prepared for these potential ailments if they should arise, we have put together information on the health issues that we see the most in Devon Rexs.
Like all cats, the Devon Rex can suffer from eye problems such as glaucoma (caused by increased pressure inside the eyeball); cataracts (opacity of the lens); entropion (inward rolling of the eyelids); retinal problems; or conjunctivitis (inflammation of the insides of a cat’s eyelids). Of these, Devon Rex are most prone to conjunctivitis, which has various causes including infections, scratches to or something within the eye’s surface, a lack of tear production, allergies, or entropion. Treatment of each eye condition depends on the type and severity of the problem, although many are treated using eyedrops.
Like most breeds, the Devon Rex may suffer from gum and dental disease during their lifetime. Gum disease occurs when some (or all) of a tooth’s deep supporting structures become inflamed. This begins when food, bacteria and minerals accumulate along the gum line, leading to the build-up of a brown scale known as tartar. When this undermines the gum the condition is called gingivitis. Eventually, small spaces can form between the gums and the teeth creating pockets of space for bacteria to grow, resulting in what is known as periodontal disease. Devon Rex may also suffer from mouth inflammation and ulcers, which can be triggered by viruses such as feline calicivirus (FCV). Dental treatment under general anaesthetic is usually required to assess and resolve the full extent of the problem.
Diabetes is a condition which can affect all cat breeds, but especially the Devon Rex. It occurs when a cat’s pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin – the hormone that keeps blood sugars at a steady level – or when the cat’s body doesn’t respond normally to insulin. It can also be caused when a cat has been on long-term steroid medication (for another disease), which affects insulin production. Cats suffering from diabetes may be more hungry or thirsty than usual or may lose weight. Diabetes is usually managed with daily insulin injections and diet control. Unlike many other species, cats with diabetes may even be cured, if the condition is treated early enough.
Conditions that affect a cat’s bladder and urethra are collectively known as feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), which is more commonly referred to as cystitis. Devon Rex can suffer from these conditions, which can be caused by stress, not urinating enough, infections and bladder stones or crystals. Cats suffering from cystitis make frequent, painful attempts to urinate, and blood is often found in the urine. Treatment depends on the cause, but cats diagnosed with cystitis will usually require pain relief, access to plenty of water, special diets and perhaps some help to reduce stress.
A dislocated kneecap occurs when the kneecap (or ‘patella’) moves out of its normal location. This can occur in any breed, including the Devon Rex, due to trauma or injury, or the cat may develop this defect when young. If only one side is affected the cat will limp intermittently, whereas if both kneecaps are affected the cat will often do a strange ‘bunny hopping’ motion or collapse. Surgery may be required to correct a dislocated kneecap in order to help prevent long-term changes that could lead to arthritis.
What to know before you buy or rehome a Devon Rex cat
Bringing a Devon Rex cat home might be the best decision you ever make but there are some things you need to bear in mind before you take the leap.
- Because of their thin coat and their high price tag, this is a cat you may want to keep indoors to protect them from the elements as well as thieves.
- This is a breed which loves to explore, and will need a lot of playtime and stimulation. If you work long shifts or are out of the house a lot, you may find a more independent breed, like the Russian Blue, is more suited to your lifestyle.
Devon Rexes don’t have particular dietary needs but our data suggest they are more prone to diabetes than other cat breeds, which you can discuss with your vet.
Devon Rex frequently asked questions
Devon Rex cats tend to live to around 15 years, and generally into their teens.
Like all cats and kittens, Devon Rex cats can suffer from eye problems such as glaucoma, cataracts or – particularly in the case of Devon Rex cats – conjunctivitis. Devon Rex cats are also more prone to diabetes. And, because of their fine type of cat coat, Devon Rex cats can easily get sunburned - so if your pet does go outside in the sun (under supervision) we recommend applying some cat-friendly suncream.
Devon Rex cats are technically not hypoallergenic, though many believe they are because of their short hair (allergies are caused by a protein in their saliva that stays on their coat after grooming).
Devon Rex insurance considerations
Devon Rex cats sometimes suffer with certain health conditions and may require treatment. Petplan cat insurance offers peace of mind that they will always be protected.
We always offer these things as standard:
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy & pet therapies
Along with physiotherapy, which is covered within the Vet Bills benefit, we also cover Pet Therapies like herbal medicine, homeopathy and acupuncture. You can also claim for hydrotherapy, up to £500 per illness/injury in dogs and cats (no additional limit for rabbits).
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