Short History of Devon Rex
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The Devon Rex is native to the UK and as their name suggests, they were first bred in the county of Devon. The breed is a relative newcomer to the cat world and boasts an interesting history. It was a tortie and white cat that produced a litter of kittens after having mated with a feral tom cat. Among the kittens was a male cat that boasted a brown/black coat much like the sire’s. The breeder named the kitten Kirlee, having decided to keep him. They knew about Kallibunker, the first Cornish Rex and how other breeders were working to develop this new gene and asked whether Kirlee could be used in the Cornish Rex’s breeding programme.
Unfortunately, the gene that created Kirlee’s wavy coat was not the same as that of the Cornish Rex which saw cats with well-defined, even waves in their coats. As such, breeders began to develop the Devon Rex as a breed in its own right. Kirlee, the first Devon Rex is therefore the ancestor of all Devons seen today. However, from 1967 right up to 1984, both the Devon and the Cornish Rex were classed as the same breed. Then in 1984, the Devon was recognised as a breed in its own right and today has become a popular companion and family pet, thanks to their adorable pixie-like looks and charming, loving, intelligent natures.