Breed Information
The Devon Rex is known as the pixie of the cat world with its rather alien appearance
consisting of an odd shaped head, skinny neck, long limbs, oversized ears and
large eyes. Personality-wise, this could be a cross between a cat, and a
monkey, with the attitude of Dennis the Menace. This is an affectionate,
sociable and fun-loving breed. Very active and always up to mischief, Devons
are involved in everything and everyone around them. They simply ooze with
purr-sonality
Devons love with an intensity that is matched by no
other breed. A person must be prepared not only to be owned, but completely
possessed by a Devon. They will eat with you, sleep with you, sit on your
shoulder, follow you around the house, sit at your feet, and take over your lap
the minute you sit down. They remain kittens at heart for most of their lives,
lovingly and deeply connected with their families.
The social nature of the Devon makes them
unsuitable as single pets for working people. They do not do well in homes
where they are left alone for long periods of time. They NEED company and it
would be cruel to leave them alone without it. They tend to get on well with
other household pets, especially those that will allow them to cuddle. A pile
of Devons is common where you more than one of them together. Children and
Devons are naturals as best friends and tireless playmates.
In South Africa, Devons are small to medium sized
cats and should have a short, tight curly coat. This coat can vary with the
seasons and as they mature. They are NOT hypoallergenic cats as so many people
like to believe and an allergy sufferer should handle the cats before making
any decision. They do moult, just like any other cat, although the shorter hair
is not as noticeable. Their large range of colours include a variety of solid,
shaded, smoke, tabby, bi-color, and pointed patterns. The heat that they give
off from their bodies makes them feel like living, breathing hot water bottles,
although their body temperature does not differ from that of any other cat
Their skin also gives off an oily substance which
will be noticeable in grubby marks on areas where they tend to spend a lot of
time. This is not the ideal cat for a home with a white leather lounge suite.
Their ears and faces can get quite dirty and they do need the occasional face
wipe or ear clean. They can also be bathed every now and then if they get used
to it from early on. Their claws can also grow quite long as they get older and
a weekly claw trimming routine is not a bad idea.
A Devon is an INDOOR cat and needs to be kept
behind meshed doors and windows unless the owner can offer the ideal
environment with a shade-cloth covered enclosure coming off the house. The
African sun is too harsh for them and can cause skin cancer. They also get cold
easily and need a warm spot to curl up in, but it is advisable only to use a
jacket on the coldest days, as it does affect the coat growth. They are a cat
that needs height and plenty of climbing / jumping opportunities and tall cat
stands built with a little imagination will provide them with hours of exercise
and stimulation.
Other health issues can include joint and limb
problems (noticeable from birth), occasional heart murmurs and a
higher-than-average susceptibility to viruses. Regular vet checks, updated
vaccinations and sterilisation by 7 months of age contribute a great deal to
keeping these little cats as stress-free and healthy as possible during the
first critical year. From a breeder perspective, they are a TLC breed. The
queens tend to have smaller litters on average, the kittens are fragile and
maintaining the correct room temperature is very important. They leave their
mothers at 12 to 16 weeks of age.
Beginning as a natural mutation, created in the
1950’s by Mother Nature in Devonshire and developed by humans to the breed it
is today, this little cat is truly one of life’s most precious miracles
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