Devon-Rex: Facts About the Breed

Devon-Rex: Facts About the Breed  15.12.2018 16:37

In 1960, in Buckfast (Devonshire, United Kingdom), an unusual cat with wavy hair, accompanied by a stray tortoiseshell cat, was spotted near abandoned tin mines. Where is the cat gone - the story is silent, but Miss Beryl Cox sheltered the cat, and she gave her kittens, one of which was with wavy hair. This kitten Miss Cox called Kirle and left her. Kirley was distinguished by low, unusually large ears, a broad, flat head with prominent cheekbones, surprised eyes, and a small body.

There is still no answer to the question: what color was Kirley? The breeders' articles mention not only black (although this is the most common variant), but also black smoky, blue and slate-gray. The only photo of the founder of the breed is black and white, and you will not find it reliable evidence. What we see in the picture may be the result of a light effect.

Interest in cats with curly hair in Foggy Albion at that time was very high. After all, ten years earlier in Cornwall found the curly kitten Callibanker - the first representative of the Cornish Rex breed. And here one of the largest newspapers in the UK, Daily Mirror, published a short article about a cat with amazing hair called Du-Bu Lambtex. After reading this note, Miss Cox wrote a letter to the breeder Agnes Watts, telling her about Kirlie. The Cornish Rex breeders, who were experiencing difficulties due to a lack of producers and too small a gene pool, were glad to know that another curly kitten had appeared in their country. Mr. Brian Stirling-Webb, a famous breeder of the Rex cats, and breeder Agnes Watts bought a pound for 25 pounds from Miss Cox (big money for that time), and Kirley left for his new home.

First, the development of the breed and the increase in the number went through inbreeding, but then other breeds were used to expand the Devon Rex gene pool.

Now Kirly is considered the founder of the breed, he was the first registered Devon Rex, but at that time the breeders decided they were dealing with Cornish Rex. So Kirly was first crossed with a cat of this breed, but as a result kittens were born with straight hair. It became clear that the cat has a completely different recessive mutation than the well-known Cornish. Cornish Rex are carriers of the Gene I Rex curly gene, while Devon Rex have the Gene II Rex curly gene. Therefore, in order to get kittens with unique curls, they began to resort to inbreeding: when one of the straight-hair cats grew from the first trial mating, she was brought together with her father, Kirlie. From this pair appeared two kittens with normal wool and one blue-cream curly kitty.

The founder of the same breed, Kirlee, was neutered in 1964 and took part in exhibitions for another six years, capturing visitors with his appearance. In 1970, Kirley died after being injured in a street accident.

In 1967, the Devon Rex were accepted into the British felinological association GCCF, and the cat Mrs. Gentry & apos; s Amharic Kurly Katie was the first Devon Rex to win the title.

The first Devon-Rex, crossed the Atlantic Ocean, was the cat Annelida Smokey Pearl, which in 1968 brought to Canada, Miss Mary Carroll. In the same year, Marion White and her daughter Anita brought the Devon Rex to Texas. Curly cats began to conquer America. Despite their interest in the breed, they didn’t recognize her for a long time in the oldest felinological organization of the USA. In CFA, the rexes were combined into one group, in which both the Cornish and the Devons were evaluated. In 1978, the pioneers of Devon Rex breeding in the US, Anita White and Dr. Ann Gibney, appealed to the CFA Committee to breed breeds that carry different genes. The following year, the breed was adopted and separated from the Cornish Rex, and in 1983, the Devon Rex had the opportunity to fight for the championship titles. Since March 1, 2012, the CFA standard has been updated: 40 points out of 100 are possible, instead of 35, for a head, 25 points instead of 30; Evaluation of wool and color remain the same: 30 and 5 points, respectively.

First, the development of the breed and the increase in the number went by inbreeding, but it is impossible to constantly resort to this method. It was necessary to expand the gene pool, so the Devon Rex began to improve with the help of the participation of other breeds. For example, in the UK, the Devons knit with Cornish Rex, Siamese, Burmese and British KSh, and in America - with the British and American KS. In addition, in the USA, the Devon Rex took part in the creation of the Canadian Sphynx breed, and some hybrids were recorded as Devons.

In the English GCCF, the first system to adopt the Devon Rex, it is still officially allowed to always mating with Abyssinian cats, Burmese, British KSH and korats. In the pedigrees of brought animals allowed the presence of American and European shorthair ancestors. It is not allowed only to use in breeding those Devon Rex, in whose pedigrees there are sphinxes. In CFA until 2028, it is allowed to knit Devon Rex with American and British KSh. In the other American system, TICA, the list is much broader and there is no date for imposing a ban on outcrosses.

For example, cross-breeding with American, British and European KSH, Burmese, Bombay, Canadian Sphynx and Siamese is allowed. A surge of blood from other breeds is not welcome in FIFe and WCF. Kittens obtained from interbreed crosses are registered in experimental books, and the decision on the further use of hybrids in the breeding program of the nursery is made individually. In almost all phelinological systems, breeders strongly do not recommend knitting Devonian with long-haired and semi-long-haired representatives of the breeds.

In February of this year, the Council of the CFA breed presented data on the development of the breed. It is noted that the number of Devon Rex litters is decreasing, which cannot have a positive effect on the genetic diversity of the breed and its development in the future. According to available data, 412 litters (1297 kittens) were registered in CFA in 1994, and in 2010 - 242 litters (816 kittens). These facts indicate the need for further use of outcrosses to enhance genetic diversity and health of the Devon Rex breed.

The first Devon Rex were brought to Russia in the early 1990s from Belgium and France. Among them were the famous black cat D’Anjou’s Ivan and the white-eyed cat Boogie Wogie Cherly, the bearers of the lines of the oldest nurseries in the world. D’Anjou’s Ivan is the direct descendant of the Kirlee line, and this famous progenitor of all Devon Rex is recorded in the twelfth knee of his pedigree.

Now the Russian Devon Rex Club exists and is active in Russia. ” The leaders and members of the club organize mono-breed shows in various phelinological systems, publish the annual animal rating of the club - “The Best Devon-Rex of the Year”, unite breeders of amazing cats with curly hair.

Care and health

Usually a Devon Rex cat brings 3–4 kittens with short wavy hair. At the age of 7–8 weeks, the curls disappear and reappear at the age of six months. Formation of animals of this breed, as a rule, is completed by the year, and then the curly pet appears before its owners in full glory. Devon Rex practically do not fade. Yes, and care for them will not be easy: brush with soft bristles enough to lay the wool in a good wave. The main task of the Devonian owner is to clean the cat's hair from dust and dirt, while maintaining the necessary amount of grease. Drying the skin will cause the wool to become too “fluffy,” so after washing you should not use a hair dryer, but a soft towel.

Sometimes Devonian shows congenital hypotrichosis (sphinx mutation of wool) - rarefaction of the coat until its complete loss. A known variant of the disease called geridar hypotrichosis, occurring only in Devon Rex and Siamese. Wool becomes thinner and drops out by 2 weeks old kittens. The defect is also transmitted in an autosomal recessive way.

Myopathy is a neurological disease inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, discovered in the Devon Rex breed in 1974. Cases of the disease are noted throughout the world. The disease is transmitted to kittens only if both parents are carriers of the disease. And not all kittens from such a pair will suffer from myopathy equally - someone will have a lighter form, someone will have a heavier form. Symptoms of the disease occur in the period from two weeks to six months. Patients kittens observed weakness, lethargy, unwillingness to make contact, eat and play. Also, sick animals suffer from muscle weakness, especially in the neck and shoulders, up to inability to hold the head, and tremor. The only salvation from myopathy can be a careful selection of pairs of lines free from this disease.

Due to the crossing of the Devon Rex with other breeds of the "headache" of breeders, the issue of the incompatibility of blood groups of cats is a question. Apparently, the progenitor, Kirley, had a widespread group B, which is also most often found in British KSh and Cornish Rex, but most of the representatives of the eastern group of cats and American KSh have blood type A. It is known that cats born with blood type B kittens with blood type A, die if fed with mother's milk. This problem applies to all breeds, but for the Devon Rex it is the most significant and painful. After all, the percentage of two blood types in curly cats is almost equal: 40% (group B) to 60% (group A). Genetic type A dominates type B, and the breeder should be careful when selecting pairs. It is best to conduct a blood type test to avoid the death of newborn kittens. Some breeders also prefer to feed babies for the first 24–48 hours in order not to lose litter.

Devon kittens are born with normal ears, but from a week old, their ears hang and press tightly to their heads. The longer this period lasts and the tighter the ears are pressed, the wider at the base will be the ears of an adult cat. The Devon-Rex auricle is large and open, and therefore there is the likelihood of various infections. For prevention, it is recommended to clean the ears about once a week with a special lotion.

Some Devon Rexes are prone to obesity because of their love to eat well. Experienced breeders warn that the Devon is a cat-bulimia. He is always hungry and never satisfied. He is the most famous thief of the feline world. In addition, any Devon Rex is very intelligent and can develop many strategic tricks. Open the oven, refrigerator, cupboard for him is not a problem. He can easily steal, for example, a whole chicken and try to eat it alone. Therefore, the diet of these cats should be monitored very carefully, not to overfeed them and calculate in advance the moves of the clever pet, in order to prevent theft.

Character and behavior

Devon Rex are completely dependent on the person and require increased attention. They are sometimes called "sticky" - they love physical contact with a person so much. Devon will never miss the opportunity to press his forehead to the owner's cheek or gently put his head on the master's hand as proof of his love. Cats are constantly trying to keep a person in their field of vision, and he will not have to do anything alone - the Devon will follow him everywhere, comfortably sitting on his shoulders. These cats suffer loneliness with difficulty, so a busy person is better to start two cats at once. Do not worry about the fact that the Devon does not get along with a relative or a representative of another breed - these cats with an amazing, conscious look very warmly refer to everyone who lives with them in the same house.

Cats of this breed can easily find a common language with children, becoming friends for active games. In this case, you should not be afraid of scratches - the Devons are low-aggressive and will never let go of the claws. Devons are very mobile. To be on the refrigerator, they need just a couple of seconds. True, they behave in this very correctly. As true immigrants from Foggy Albion, the Devons are very tactful: if they play it out, they won't drop anything and won't break it. However, the owner should be alert - such a love for climbing and jumping can end in a fall.

The extraordinarily intelligent look of the Devon Rex is another feature of the breed. Moreover, the expression of the eyes itself can constantly change: now you have a mischievous playful nature, or an inspired romantic, or just a lazy and bored domestic cat. With the gaze of a devon, any emotions can be expressed: discontent, sadness, joy, convey an understanding of the situation and express disagreement.

Sometimes Devon's name is “sticky” - they love physical contact with a person so much.

Describing the behavior of the Devon Rex, jokingly they are presented as a cross between a cat and a monkey.

The dexterity with which they clamber over the “lianas” - curtains, their ability to open practically any locks and doors with their paws and the ability to imitate and mimicry allow them to be called a monkey in cat skin. Here is what Larisa Martynova recalls: “Hanechka's cat loves to tease us very much. I explained to her emotionally that there was no dragon season. The pet listened attentively and followed my facial expressions and gestures. When I asked: “Is everything clear to you?” - she took a stern look, looked at me reproachfully and shook her head, looking at the flower, - she passed everything that I was doing with accuracy. Tested many times: when she tries to impress something, she turns into a monkey. ”

With all the childishness of their behavior, the devons are wonderful mothers. As a rule, cats tolerate pregnancy very well, and take care of children surprisingly gently. By the way, among the Devon Rex come across and fantastically caring fathers. If the cat allows, they will gladly take part in raising the offspring. Devon Rex cats are not lovers of loudly expressing their demands and disturbing those around with prolonged serenades. They meow extremely rarely. Breeders even compare the sounds of their pets with the chirping of birds.