Cornish Rex

Cornish Rex

Though they look a bit like the cats depicted in Ancient Egyptian art, Cornish Rexes actually originated in England, and were only developed about 60 years ago!

The story begins around 1950, when a natural mutation occurred in a litter born in Cornwall. This first Cornish Rex, Kallibunker, had a curly coat unlike his siblings. The owners of the cat struggled to create a new breed, but so much inbreeding was involved (inbreeding may have been the reason for the recessive gene mutation in the first place) that they gave up on the project. The breed development was then in the hands of others who had received offspring of Kallibunker.

Because Cornish Rex cats were so inbred at first, it is necessary to create crosses with other breeds in order to maintain genetic diversity.

Cornish Rexes come in more color varieties than I can count, but all possess the short, curly coat, high cheekbones, and large ears. They are not hypoallergenic. Personality-wise, Cornish Rexes are active, intelligent  affectionate cats.

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Status : Domesticated

Location : Cornwall, England

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Carnivora
Family : Felidae -- Genus : Felis -- Species : F. catus