Cornish Rex Cat : appearance, character, care, breeding
Cornish Rex Cat
Lovable and sympathetic cat, he becomes attached to the whole family and loves friendly owners; its only requirement is to be protected from the cold, because of the short, cropped coat without undercoat.
The origins of the Cornish Rex Cat
The Cornish Rex cat is originally from Cornwall where on July 21, 1950, Serena, a normal-haired tricolor cat, gave birth to a bat-like kitten among her litter, with huge ears and a curly coat.
The owner of Serena, an Astrex rabbit breeder, understood that the traits of this “ugly duckling” were the result of a genetic mutation. Some geneticists confirmed the opinion of this lady, Nina Ennismore, and advised her to mate the offspring, called Kallibunker, to the mother carrying the mutant gene.
The new breed was called Cornish Rex: Cornish for Cornwall and Rex because the coat was similar to that of Astrex rabbits.
In 1952, Serena gave birth to three kittens: one female with normal hair and two males with short, curly hair. One of them got lost and the other, called Poldhu, became sterile after a series of experiments.
Fortunately, Poldhu had previously had a descendant: a male cat called Sham Pain Chas who was crossed with British Shorthairs and Burmeses. In this way, in addition to avoiding inbreeding, we could vary the colors and create the new English Cornish.
Lamorna Cove, daughter of Poldhu, was exported to America in 1957, where Helen Weiss and Peggy Galvin took care of “creating” the American Cornish, crossing the cat with Siamese and Orientals and other framed breeds. fine.
The Cornish Rex breed was very successful and developed rapidly, exciting the public and breeders.
Appearance of the Cornish Rex Cat
The Cornish Rex cat has a greyhound body and large ears which make it unique. The body, of medium height, has fine bones and well-developed musculature.
The head, not too long and of medium width, has an oval shape, with a round skull; the profile of the nose appears convex and a straight line connects it to the chin; the mustaches and eyebrows are curled.
The neck is thin and of medium length. The ears have a conical shape with rounded tips, they are large and set high on the head; in general, they have no hair on the outside. The eyes are large and oval, sloping and colored in harmony with that of the coat.
The trunk follows the backbone and the rib cage, wide and deep, makes it look like the Greyhound. The legs are very long and give it a slender figure.
They end in small, oval feet. The tail, long like a whip, becomes progressively thinner going towards the point; in general, it is covered with dense, wavy hair.
The dress is short, full, adherent to the body and fine in texture; the hair forms regular waves not only on the body but also on the legs, head and tail.
Coat color of the Cornish Rex Cat
As for the Devon Rex, all color tones are allowed, as well as small white spots for colors that normally exclude it.
The character of the Cornish Rex Cat
The Cornish Rex cat, just like the Devon, is a balanced and very gentle cat. His intelligence, very sharp, and his vitality, make him an athletic and playful animal, always on the alert and fast, when it is not busy contemplating their beloved master, whose attention it often attracts by the tone of his sound. meow, which is shrill and… penetrating, but in which it puts a lot of tenderness and affection.
The Cornish Rex is a sensitive cat and “attached” to its owner in the sense that it would spend its life on its knees. One of his characteristics, which disconcerts, is the use it makes of their forelegs, which are like small hands with which he grasps those of its master to put them on their head or in front of its mouth and cover them. of kisses.
Although it appears frail and delicate, it has the voracity of a wolf: it loves fish but does not refuse any other kind of food.
Cuddle: The Cornish Rex will always be looking for an opportunity to snuggle up to your warmth.
Playful: Its slender side and long legs allow this feline to run quickly and move easily in height.
Calm: Once it has been able to spend their energy by moments of activities, it will know how to be quite calm in you; it’s all about personality!
Smart: This smart cat will look for more than one opportunity to demonstrate this to you. So why not teach him a few tricks? It is also a way of forming a close relationship with your four-legged companion.
Fearful / suspicious of strangers: The Cornish Rex is curious about people new to its environment, if they are willing to be discreet and respectful when they arrive. By letting your Cornish Rex choose a time that is convenient for him to come and meet them, there is a better chance that his suspicion will decrease.
Independent: Loneliness isn’t really its strong suit. its chilly side readily guides him around you, which makes them less independent than other breeds.
Behavior of the Cornish Rex Cat
Talkative: Being near you might encourage them to meow when it looks at you. And if, at this moment, you pay them your full attention, it will do it all over again the next few times!
Greedy / gluttonous: It easily finds something to take care of other than eating, if you arrange their environment to encourage them to explore and have fun. Use a variety of toys, food stashed in hiding places all over your home, and interactive games with you, like waving a fishing rod, and you’ll both come out on top!
Need for exercise: He especially needs you to take care of them!
Runaway: The lack of hair on the Cornish Rex doesn’t make it the best outdoor cat. A bit of winter chill and you can be sure he won’t venture far.
Compatibility of the Cornish Rex Cat with other animals
The Cornish Rex and the Dogs: All cats can be more or less curious in front of a dog. The way they will be presented, your monitoring and patience will go a long way in getting them to get along and play together.
The Cornish Rex and the other Cats: The company of another cat could bring them the pleasure of sleeping warm against a fellow creature and playing with them. Take advice from a specialist in feline behaviour.
The Cornish Rex and Children: Well-educated children would have a lot to learn growing up with the Cornish Rex. It wouldn’t be surprising if your Cornish Rex finds a way to snuggle up against their soft toys!
The Cornish Rex and the Elderly: This breed is very affectionate, often seeking our body heat, making it a good companion for a quieter person. But be careful that his active side is well received by his adopter! Choosing a Cornish Rex of a certain age, for example from a breeder, can help them to be calmer.
Price of the Cornish Rex Cat
The average purchase price of a Cornish Rex kitten in breeding is between 800 USD and 1200USD. This price often varies depending on pedigree, breeding, age or even sex. For the monthly budget, it will take an average of 50USD / month to meet his needs, by offering him quality food and products for maintenance recommended by your veterinarian.
Maintenance of the Cornish Rex Cat
Grooming: A light weekly brushing will suffice because it loses little of its undercoat. Be sure to monitor their skin more regularly to make sure they are not showing any redness or other worrying appearance. In addition, it is advisable to regularly clean the ears and eyes of this cat: small secretions may appear and should not accumulate.
Hair loss: Its down is not hair like the hair of other breeds of cats, you will not see a little hair on your clothes!
Food of the Cornish Rex Cat
It is important to maintain it in good health by a quality diet, recommended by your veterinarian.
Caring of the Cornish Rex Cat
The Cornish Rex cat is a very good apartment cat: it loves his owner, the comfort and the warmth of the house. Its affection is exclusive and almost morbid, its sensitivity can be excessive: this is why it must be played and kept in shape by involving the whole family. Thus, as an adult, it will be an alert and balanced cat, giving great satisfaction.
Like the Devon, the Cornish Rex fears the cold, especially when it is small; It is therefore necessary not to expose it to drafts and to use a closed and well padded travel bag when taking it to the vet – or on a trip – during the cold seasons. Note that it requires minimal brushing and that it loses little hair.
Health of the Cornish Rex Cat
Life expectancy: Its life expectancy is between 12 and 15 years in general.
Resistant / robust: Its coat so thin and sparse makes it sensitive to cold, especially when young. Make sure to keep the kittens warm.
Tendency to gain weight: Its playful and slender side does not predispose this feline to overweight. Nevertheless, watch carefully that it keeps his line.
Common Illnesses: This fluffy cat can be susceptible to feline diseases like all other cats.
Certain pathologies have a link with its genetics such as:
The Atrophy Progressive retinal, which is a condition that can cause blindness in this race. A screening test exists.
The hypertrophic cardiomyopathy results in a thickening of the heart muscle. By decompensating, this pathology causes heart failure which can result in arrhythmias or edema of the lung for example. Screening is carried out by an echocardiography examination, to be repeated in general on an annual basis. Treatment can be given to improve comfort.
Of dermatomes, that is to say, skin diseases presenting as red spots, may begin in this breed. It is advisable to consult your veterinarian at the slightest abnormality.
Reproduction: The Cornish Rex having been crossed a lot with Siamese and Orientals, the females now have more frequent heat for a good prolificacy.
Marriages are only allowed with other cats of this breed but the LOOF accepts marriages with the Californian Rex (same breed but long haired).
Good to know
The coat of kittens will have its definitive frizzy characteristics only from the age of 5 to 6 months.
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