It is thought that origin of the Devon Rex’s curly coat resulted from a spontaneous mutation in a domestic cat. The exact circumstances are unknown but it is generally accepted that the father of the Devon breed as we know it was a curly-coated tom cat which was living in the wild that lived around a mine near Buckfastleigh, Devon, England. He mated with a domestic cat sometime in 1960 and she produced a litter of kittens in the garden of a cat lover called Beryl Cox. I always think that these cats look like aliens and you can certainly never call them pretty but what they lack in beauty they make up for in terms of personality as they often make loyal, attentive and entertaining pets, they just love human company and you could never call them aloof. Common colours include black, smoke, tortoiseshell, tabbies in silver, red, and brown, blue, and white.
.I will put a myth to rest, one of the main reasons that people will choose this breed is that it is said that Devon Rex cats are hypoallergenic and so can be kept by those allergic to cats. Unfortunately this supposition is often mistaken as no breed of cat is completely hypoallergenic. They do make a good pet in terms of lacking of shedding hair on the furniture but very often it is not the hair that causes the allergic reaction in susceptible people but an allergenic reaction to an enzyme called Fel d1 that’s secreted via saliva and skin glands. Devons actually produce as much of this enzyme as any other cat breed and during grooming they spread it onto whatever fur they have so you can see that allergic reactions are possible. To counteract this regularly bathing this breed to remove the enzyme is possible but really iIf you’re allergic to cats and considering a Devon you should spend some time with one before agreeing to buy to see what affect it will have on you.
.They do vary from ” normal ” cat breeds in a number of ways, the most obvious being the coat. They have a sparse, wavy, extremely short coat which requires little brushing but because of the buildup of oily skin secretions some Devons need bathing on a regular basis otherwise the coat will look greasy and this can also contribute to skin problems as well as having a poor cosmetic appearance. Their skull structure is more wedge shaped compared to other breeds and their ears are unusually large and rounded at the tips. As with all breeds with a small gene pool there is a danger of hereditary disease in some blood lines so you should check this out before buying a kitten. Cardiomyopathy and a muscular dystrophy-like disease called hereditary myopathy has been identified as problems in this respect.
I personally would never buy a cat, I would just pick up a stray kitten on the street or get one in some other way which need a home. But if you are looking for an unusual cat with loads of personality then you could do far worse than a Devon Rex.
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Hi
I agree totally with the science and what you say about allergies and Devon Rex cats however having bred these cats now for 12 years I have probably over a dozen living up close and personal with people who have never been able to tolerate other cats, not sure why but a fact
Hello Judy,
Thanks for dropping by …
This breed does tend to be washed more than a ” normal ” cat and if this is carried out on a regular basis then the chances are the cat will be fine with a person who suffers from allergies for reasons I know you understand.
However I am a bit sensitive on the subject because I once advised a client to get a Devon Rex because they had allergies to cats previously, and of course they then were just as allergic to the Rex, and some months later they came to the surgery and made their feelings known about my advice !!!
The story has a happy ending though because they were so taken with this breed they kept the cat anyway despite the symptoms the suffered.
Kindest Regards,
Scott
Hi Scott,
We have a 5 year old Devon, and got our second Devon kitten in February, both of whom are lovely, fantastical creatures. The elder has excessive discharge from her eyes (no apparent pain, and only slight inflammation), which has been attributed to some herpes virus or other, but remains quite unresponsive to treatment. The recent addition has just begun showing signs of excessive discharge, but only after spending 6 whole months in close proximity to the other cat.
I just read another article on your site which mentions Persian cats having anatomical problems with tear ducts which produce similar symptoms, due to their shortened muzzles. Are you aware of any common eye issues in Devons which are related to something other than viral infection?
I mean, if we can’t treat it other than daily cleansing, then we can just accept it and get on with things.
Thanks in advance,
Chris
Hello Chris,
While I cannot diagnose your problem via the internet I can tell you the following :
In direct answer to your question I know of no inherited or breed specific condition which would affect the eyes of your cats which would present with the symptoms you describe.
Eye problems and discharge are more common in the Persian because of their reduced length of nose which may contribute to closed tear ducts and other problems. Your breed has a very natural shape of nose so you can discount this.
That said the most likely thing going on here would be some form of infection perhaps viral. Usually these sort of infections do not affect the cat’s life’s too much but it may be possible for your vet to take samples, identify what is going on and then perhaps try some specific treatment if that is possible.
Regards,
Scott