The Devon Rex is a breed of cat that emerged in England during the 1960s. They are known for their odd, striking appearance and playful, companionable nature.

Appearance

The curl in Devon Rex fur is caused by a different mutation and gene than that of the Cornish Rex and German Rex, and breeding of a Devon with either of those cats results in cats without rexed (curled) fur. Devons, which are medium sized cats, are often called “pixie cats” or “alien cats” because of their unique appearance. Their uncommonly large ears are set low on the sides of their wide heads, their eyes are large, and their noses are slightly upturned. Unlike most cats their whiskers are very short and often curled to such an extent that it may appear as if they have no whiskers. Their body type is distinctly lightly-built. Their long, sturdy legs are well suited for long leaps, and their toes are unusually large. Devon Rex cats come in all colours. The ears are large and slightly rounded.

Behaviour

The typical Devon is active, mischievous, playful, and very people-oriented. They have been described as a cross between a cat, a dog and a monkey (or, more famously, as “a monkey in a cat suit”Wink. They are high-jumpers and will try to occupy any space large enough to admit them. With this trait, they are often found in odd nooks and crannies of a closet, shelf, or laundry basket. Devons prefer to be in high places and will go to great lengths to get to the highest spot in a room. They are relatively easy to take care of. Most Devons also have one central person to whom they devote their love, and on whom they will most often lie and rub. They like to playfully nip, and love to play throughout their lives.

They are a very intelligent breed; the typical Devon Rex can be trained to walk on a leash, fetch or perform all manner of tricks usually associated with canines, like jump, heel and tag to name a few.

Another common trait is their show of affection: they have a particular penchant for being close to the head or neck of their human companions and can often be found mounted upon ones shoulder or nestled into the cranny created by the neck and shoulder when one is prone.

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The Cornish Rex has no hair except for down. Most breeds of cat have three different types of hair in their coats: the outer fur or “guard hairs”, which is about 5 cm long in shorthairs and 10cm+ long in longhairs; a middle layer called the “awn hair”; and the down hair or undercoat, which is very fine and about 1 cm long. Cornish Rexes only have the undercoat. The curl in Cornish Rex fur is caused by a different mutation and gene than that of the Devon Rex.

The coat of a Cornish Rex is extremely fine and sometimes curly, the softest of any cat breed. However, their light coat means that they are best suited for indoor living in warm and dry conditions, they might get hypothermia if they stay outdoors in the winter. Their body temperature is slightly higher than most cats (102 F), and these cats tend to hang around light bulbs, the tops of computer monitors, and other warm places including laps and shoulders. Some Cornish Rexes also have a mild cheesy smell peculiar to the breed; this odour comes from scent glands in the paws.

Often the breed is referred to as the Greyhound of the cats, because of the sleek appearance and the galloping run characteristic of the breed. These cats tend to stay playful and kittenish throughout their long lives. Some Cornish Rexes like to play fetch, race other pets, or do acrobatic jumps. The Cornish Rex is an adventurous cat and is very intelligent. It can readily adapt to new situations and will explore wherever it can go, jumping into refrigerators, examining washing machines, etc. Some humans consider its antics to be deliberately mischievous. The Rex is extremely curious, seeks out the company of people and is friendly towards other companion animals. It is a suitable pet for timid children.

Cornish Rex cats come in a wide variety of coat colours and patterns, outlined in the standard: solids, including white, black, chocolate, orange and the dilutes blue, lilac and cream; all forms of tabby including classic, mackerel and ticked tabbies, bicolour “tuxedo” coat in many colours, tortoiseshell, “smoke” colours and the elegant colour-point pattern standard in the Siamese breed.

Are Cornish Rex Cats Hypo-Allergenic?

Despite some belief to the contrary, the Cornish Rex’s short hair does not make it non- or hypo-allergenic. Allergic reactions from cats are not the result of hair length, the true culprit is a glyco-protein known as Fel d1, produced in the sebaceous glands of the skin, saliva, and urine. Most people who have cat allergies are reacting to this protein in cat saliva and cat dander: when the cat cleans its fur, the saliva dries and is transformed into dust which people breathe in. Since Cornish Rex cats groom as much as or even more than ordinary cats, a Cornish Rex cat will still produce a reaction in people who are allergic to cats. Note that, for more serious allergies, there are several breeds theorised to lack or produce less of the offending protein.

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The Colourpoint Shorthair has the Siamese personality and body type, and appears in red point, cream point, lynx (tabby) point, and tortie point colours.

Like the Siamese, the Colourpoint Shorthair is a highly interactive, talkative breed. They are devoted, playful, fun-loving cats who thrive on company. For this reason, it’s best to keep them with cats of their own activity level or in busy households where they are not left alone for long periods of time.

The Colourpoint Shorthair was recognised in CFA in 1964 to distinguish it from the traditional colours of seal, chocolate, blue, and lilac (solid) point.

Description

Colourpoint Shorthair is the name the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA), a United States breed association, uses to refer to pointed cats of Siamese ancestry and type in colors other than the four “traditional” Siamese colours (seal, chocolate, blue, and lilac point). This name is also given to cats of Siamese ancestry in the four recognised colours whose eight generation pedigree show ancestors with other colours. In registries of other countries, however, “Colourpoint (or “Colourpoint”Wink is the name given to cats of Persian type and pointed colouring, as in Himalayans.

In the CFA, a Colourpoint Shorthair cat may also be any of the four traditional Siamese colours; however, they may only be shown in the red point (also called flame point in Persian Family) or cream point, or any of the above colours in tabby point (also called lynx point) or tortoiseshell point.

In all registries except CFA, the Colourpoint Shorthair is not considered a separate breed but is included in the Siamese breed.

Temperament

The Colourpoint Shorthair (a.k.a. Siamese) is a highly intelligent, playful, and people-friendly breed. They are extremely affectionate and outgoing and enjoy lounging around and playing with people, causing them to also be described as “extroverts”. They can also be very sensitive with nervous temperaments, which do not adapt well to changes of environment or to strangers. Like Siamese, they can be extremely vocal and attention-demanding, feeling a need for human companionship.

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The Colourpoint Longhair is often thought of as a glamorous cat. They are a very gentle but showy cat.

All point colours are available, with the body being warm cream and ivory. Coat length is long. Fur is very thick and soft. Body is cobby and strong, with short stocky legs. Paws are rounded with good tufts. The head is broad and rounded with a short nose and rounded eyes, which should be blue in colour. Ears are small and rounded-tipped. The whiskers should be very long. The tail should not be too long, and should be very full. Eyes are very large and round and are a piercing blue colour.

The Colourpoint Longhair or Himalayan Cat is a man-made longhaired breed of cat, that occurred from crossing the Persian Cat with the Siamese. The Colourpoint Longhair has a round head, round eyes and long whiskers. The coat is similar to that of a Persian Cat but has markings like those of a Siamese, and ideally bright blue eyes. In temperament the Colourpoint Longhair is placid and adaptable like the Persian Cat.

Appearance

The Colourpoint Longhair, or Himalayan, is a man-made cat with the Persian body type and his long, silk hair, and the beautiful blue eyes and colour pattern of the Siamese. It is a dazzling breed, graceful and elegant, with a “fluffy” appearance. The body is medium to large, heavily boned, short-coupled, with a broad and deep chest and back level. The legs are heavily boned, short and thick and the paws are large, round and firm with five toes in the forelegs and four in the hind legs. The forelegs slant inward very slightly. The head is round and massive set on a short, thick neck and with full and prominent cheeks and a well-developed chin. The nose is as broad as long with a break. The blue eyes are large and round in shape and set wide apart, lending the animal a sweet expression. The small, round-tipped ears, are set low and far apart but not unduly open at the base and tilt forward always maintaining the rounded contour of the head. The tail is short and straight and is carried at an angle lower than the back. The fine texture, glossy coat is long, thick and flowing, standing off from the body. The body colour ranges from almost white to pale cream with darker points on the mask, ears, legs and tail. Points come in seal, chocolate, blue, lilac, flame, cream, tortie and blue cream points (including the chocolate & lilac versions) and all colours of tabby (lynx) points.

Temperament

The Colourpoint Longhair , or Himalayan, is a gentle good-tempered and outgoing cat, very amenable to handling. Playful as kittens, Hymmies become more reserved as they mature, although they are not inactive and enjoy playing through adulthood. They have a sweet, chirpy voice and are very affectionate towards their owners, very good with children and with other pets. Himalayans adapt easily to new environments, but need to feel safe in a calm environment which makes them excellent apartment cats. Besides, due to their beauty they should be kept indoors. Their quite, docile temperament makes them an ideal companion for the elderly and children.

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The Chartreux is an internationally recognised breed of domestic cat from France. The Chartreux is large and muscular, with short fine-boned limbs, big paws, and very fast reflexes. They are known for their blue (grey) water-resistant short hair double-coats and gold- or copper-coloured eyes. Chartreux cats are also known for their “smile”; due to the structure of their heads and their long, tapered muzzle, they often appear to be smiling. Chartreux are exceptional hunters and were highly prized by farmers.

The first letter of the official name of a Chartreux cat encodes the year of its birth; all Chartreux born in the same year have official names beginning with the same letter. The code letters rotate through the alphabet each year, omitting the letters K, Q, W, X, Y, and Z. For example, a Chartreux born in 2002 would have an official name starting with the letter T (Fogle 2001:128).

Temperament

Chartreux cats tend to be quiet, rarely making noises such as mewing or crying, and some are mute. They are quite observant and intelligent, with some Chartreux learning to operate radio on/off buttons and to open screen door latches. They take about two years to reach adulthood. Chartreux cats are playful cats well into their adult years; some can be taught to fetch small objects in the same manner as a dog. Chartreux are good with children and other animals. They are non-aggressive and affectionate, good travellers, and generally very healthy. Chartreux tend to bond with one person in their household, preferring to be in their general vicinity (often following their favoured person from room to room), though they are still loving and affectionate to the other members of the household.

Popular Culture

The mascot of the world’s largest jazz festival, the Montreal International Jazz Festival, is a blue Chartreux affectionately named ‘Ste Cat’, after the festival’s hub, Sainte Catherine Street in Montreal.

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