Cornish Rex Cat Breed Information

Group

Rex

Weight

2.2-4.5 kg

Length

20-30 cm

Lifespan

11-14 years

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About the Cornish Rex Cat

Reviewed by:

Dr. Charlotte Francesca Stiles

Veterinarian

One thing’s for certain; this is a cat you won’t find easy to forget! Its extraordinary appearance from its egg-shaped head, bent ears and short coat make it a breed that’s unique and stands out from the rest.

Despite appearances, the Cornish Rex breed is a small/medium-sized cat that’s affectionate and playful for those who need a fun-loving feline for their home. Whether you decide on a Cornish Rex kitten or you choose to adopt an adult cat from your local shelter, here’s some information to learn more about this unusual-looking cat.

What Is the History & Origin of the Cornish Rex Cat?

Know for its resemblance to a Rex rabbit; their first appearance was spotted in the 1950s in sunny Cornwall, England. It was here that a cat gave birth to a litter of cats that was seemingly different from the rest. A cause of natural mutation that gave him a curly coat.

The cat was later mated with its mother and resulted in a litter of more curly-coated kittens. Later in the 1960s, the Rex type would be discovered to be a recessive gene that both cats must carry in order to produce the Cornish Rex that we see today. The Rex has also been crossed with American Shorthairs, Havana Browns and Russian Blues.

This crossing of breeds would lead to more colours and patterns being created as a result. Exported to the US in 1957, this cat breed has been growing in existence ever since. The CFA recognised this breed in 1964.

What Is a Cornish Rex Cat Breed?

The Cornish Rex is a short-haired cat that originates from Cornwall in England. Its unusual appearance, from its small head and wide eyes to its short coat and slender frame, makes for an interesting cat breed.

Like the Devon Rex, it’s a breed recognised by most cat registries, including the American Cat Fanciers Association.

Who Is a Cornish Rex Cat Best For?

For this type of breed, they’re best suited for a home that can offer a lot of attention and therefore are around a lot. They want to be kept indoors due to their thin coat, and as playful cats, they will adore families with young children or other pets and regular guest arrivals.

What Does a Cornish Rex Cat Look Like?

With a short coat, they are a natural mutation of the best kind. Their unique features are what make them so popular. The small head combined with the larger ears and eyes makes them an adorable character that you’ll never get tired of looking at.

Coat

The coat of this breed is an unusual one as it’s got a wavy texture that comes in a variety of colours and patterns. Care must be taken to ensure they don’t spend too much time out in the sun or under direct sunlight, as this can lead to sunburn and other skin conditions.

Colours

Due to their cross-breeding over the years, there have been many colour combinations of this breed in particular. Solid colours include brown, chocolate, lilac, black, blue, red and cream. There are several rare colours too that you might come across.

Patterns

This breed has a number of patterns which include tabby, tortoiseshell, calico, bi-colour and pointed.

Cornish Rex Cat Grooming & Shedding

With a short coat that’s soft and silky to the touch, you’ll want to make sure that you’re not grooming too much as it’s a delicate coat. Instead, you want to try and focus on the odd trimming of nails and earn cleaning where desired.

It’s important to only groom this cat type if you notice any matting of the cat hair in any places on their body. However, this isn’t very common with the Cornish Rex coat.

How Do Cornish Rex Cats Behave? A Look at Their Temperament and Personality

Just like them being spontaneous natural mutation, they have a spontaneous nature that makes them a hoot to live with. They have a sense of humour and a personality that you’ll find hard not to fall in love with. Highly intelligent and very active, they’ll be sure to keep you on your toes at all times.

Living Needs

This is a cat breed that needs to be kept indoors for the sake of its health. They love to play, so make sure to provide plenty of toys and give them the space to roam where possible. The larger the house, the better with this breed!

What Are Common Habits and Activity Levels of Cornish Rex Cats?

Cornish Rexes will love everyone, which makes them an ideal cat breed for most households.

Habits

These cats are explorers and therefore have a habit of being on the hunt for new things and spaces to explore, so they might not sit still for very long.

Activity level

With a high activity level, you’ll want to do a lot to keep this cat breed satisfied so that it isn’t clawing at your furniture in boredom.

Vocalness

The Cornish Rex’s vocalness is one that’s frequent in nature. They definitely like to be vocal and to show their owners that they have a voice. This might not be for everyone if they’re looking for a quieter cat breed.

What Is the Weight, Height, and Size of a Cornish Rex Cat?

In the cat world, it’s good to know the sizing of this breed so that you know exactly what you’re letting yourself in for. Not every cat owner wants a giant cat, after all!

Height

These cats have a general height of 20 to 30cm and a body length of 30 to 43cm.

Weight

Keep your Cornish Rex healthy the way it should be by maintaining its weight. The average weight is usually between 2.2-4.5kgs.

Size

The Cornish Rex is a cat that’s considered small to medium in size, so it is the perfect lap cat for those that want one.

Are Cornish Rex Cats Easy to Train?

When it comes to training cats, they’re similar to dogs in that they need to be housetrained, especially as kittens.

With the Rex, they like to be active and climb to high points in the home where possible. That’s why it’s important to have plenty of climbing furniture and toys put in place for them to roam freely.

They’re a breed that’s always on to go, so you’ll certainly need to pin them down at times to teach them tricks.

Does the Cornish Rex Cat Have Any Common Health Issues?

Any cat is prone to health issues, but if you’re doing your best to keep your adorable feline healthy, then you should be able to avoid a lot of problems later in life. From taking them to the vet regularly, vaccinating them, treatng them for parasites to making sure they have a good exercise routine and food schedule.

The Cornish Rex is generally healthy; however the little coat that this breed has will make them prone to skin problems if they’re exposed to the sun for too long.

Other problems that they can encounter are things like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and patellar luxation. This causes one or both kneecaps to slide out of place and results in difficulty walking, particularly over long periods of time.

HCM is considered one of the most common heart diseases in cats, and it’s important to only buy your pet from a responsible breeder.

What Is the Lifespan of a Cornish Rex Cat?

With a Cornish Rex, you’ll find that they have a general lifespan of around 11-14 years. This is a reasonable amount on average, and as long as you’re keeping them healthy with food and exercise, they should have a long life!

How Much Does a Cornish Rex Cat Need to Be Fed?

When feeding a Cornish Rex, it’s important to consider their high energy levels vs their calorie intake. It’s worth considering that they might need a slightly increased amount depending on how much exercise you can provide to your cat every day.

It’s important to avoid overfeeding them as this can lead to weight gain. Keep to a timed schedule and measure food in order to give them the right amount for every meal!

How Much Can You Expect to Pay for a Cornish Rex Cat in Australia?

Cornish Rex cat breeds aren’t too expensive in comparison to other cat types. With the Cornish Rex, you can expect to pay around $300 to $400 for one from a Cornish Rex breeder. Be sure to look for registered breeders rather than simply doing a Google search and looking at amateur breeders.

Cornish Rex Cat FAQs

Are Cornish Rex cats destructive?

It’s important that you consider the differences between getting a kitten and an adult Cornish Rex. The adults are going to be less destructive as they’ve gone through their growing up phase. Whilst Cornish Rexes aren’t particularly destructive as adults, they tend to also be destructive as kittens – which is typical for most cat breeds when they’re young and full of energy.

Are Cornish Rex cats hypoallergenic?

A Cornish Rex is often thought to be hypoallergenic because of its short coat texture, but this is not true. Allergies are caused by dander rather than coat hair. This means that if you decide to get a Rex, you’ll want to make sure you don’t have any cat allergies first, as these cats aren’t hypoallergenic.

Do Cornish Rex cats suffer from separation anxiety?

It is certainly common for some cats to suffer from separation anxiety. Whilst the Cornish Rex can do quite well on its own, it’s important to be aware that even this cat breed can be prone to separation anxiety if not trained to do so or if you simply leave them alone for too long.