Cornish Rex are known for their charming looks and personality. These exotic cats are sure to stand out with their curly coats, bat-like ears, and slender features. People often fall in love with them more after getting to know them. These cats are playful and social and are known to turn many people into cat lovers.
There are countless good things to say about Cornish Rexes, and it would take forever to name every single one. So, we’ve picked our top 10 favorite facts about them.
The 10 Cornish Rex Facts
1. The Name of the First Cornish Rex was Kallibunker
The first Cornish Rex was accidentally bred. The first Cornish Rex was a male kitten named Kallibunker, and he was the first known and documented cat with a curly coat. He was born in 1950 in Cornwall, England. His mother is a regular barn cat and his father is unknown. Her mother gave birth to a litter of four kittens. Kallibunker is the only kitten in the litter with curly hair.
Unfortunately, Kallibunker lived a relatively short life and only lived until he was 6 years old. Before he died, Kallibunker helped produce litters of curly-coated kittens, all of which contributed to building the Cornish Rex breed into what it is today.
2. Their Curly Hair Is A Natural Genetic Mutation
Cornish Rexes get their coats from genetic mutation through autosomal recessive inheritance. The curly coat is caused by a recessive allele so a cat must inherit two recessive alleles (one from each parent) for them to have a curly coat. However, if they only inherit one of the recessive alleles, they will be a carrier for the curly coat, but will not have a curly coat. Carriers can still produce a litter of curly-coated cats if they are mated with another cat that either has a curly coat ie has inherited two copies of the curly coat allele, or a cat that gene carrier.
3. The Cornish Rex is the Oldest of the Rex Cat Breeds
The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) recognizes three types of Rex cats: Cornish Rex, Devon Rex, and Selkirk Rex. Rex cats share some similar features, such as having distinctive coats and playful personalities. However, they are recognized as three different races.
The Cornish Rex was first discovered in 1950. The Devon Rex came next in the 1960s when a curly-haired cat was born to a litter of cats in Devon, England. The Selkirk Rex comes from completely different origins and was first discovered in 1987 in Montana.
4. Cornish Rexes are Very Playful
Cornish Rexes are very athletic and playful. So, if you’re looking for a calm lap cat, you’ll want to look elsewhere. Since they are a high-energy breed, they will need plenty of interactive toys to help expend that energy and provide much-needed mental stimulation.
A Cornish Rex will also appreciate the ability to climb high places. So, if you don’t want your Cornish Rex climbing up your kitchen cabinets or bookshelves, you’ll want to make sure to get a cat tree and set up a few cat perches throughout your home.
5. Cornish Rexes are Friendly and Social
Many people say that Cornish Rex cats have dog-like personalities. They are not known to be shy around strangers and tend to be quick with people. They also often love a good game of fetch! Because they are very sociable, it is not good to be alone in the house for long hours. They also know how to get along with children, and they can be happy playmates with each other. Cornish Rex cats usually adjust well to living with a dog or other cat in the home.
6. The Cornish Rex is very sensitive to Temperature
Cornish Rex cats have a relatively thin coat, so they often engage in more heat-seeking behavior than your average cat. Their coat type also makes them more sensitive to heat, so it’s important to keep them out of the sun to prevent sunburn.
Some Cornish Rexes won’t mind wearing sweaters to stay warm, but if they don’t like clothes, it’s important to have plenty of warm areas set up in their home. They will love having extra blankets and pillows laid out for them.
7. Cornish Rexes Have a Uniquely Shaped Body
Cornish Rexes are often called the greyhounds of the cat world. Both the Cornish Rex and the greyhound have similar slim and athletic characteristics. Cornish Rex cats also seem to run when running, and it reminds when a greyhound runs.
Along with having social and playful personalities, Cornish Rexes are also known to learn tricks, such as retrieving balls. They enjoy running, so it is common for them to race with other cats and pets in the house.
8. The Cornish Rex comes in many colors and patterns
You can find Cornish Rexes in over 40 colors or patterns. There are many Cornish Rex cats with common coat colors and patterns, such as black, gray, white, bicolor or tabby. Cornish Rexes can also have color-point patterns similar to Siamese cats.
The CFA currently recognizes all colors and patterns of Cornish Rexes. So, you will likely come across different types of Cornish Rex if you want to adopt one.
9. Cornish Rex Are Not Hypoallergenic Cats
There is a myth surrounding Cornish Rexes that they are hypoallergenic cats due to their unique coat type. Unfortunately, the Cornish Rex isn’t really any better for those with cat allergies than most other cat breeds. This is because people get allergic reactions from a protein found in cats’ skin, saliva, and urine, not their hair.
Pet dander often sticks to an animal’s hair and can become airborne or stick to furniture when an animal sheds. Low breed cats will help allergies a little bit because there is less hair to spread dander. However, this still does not guarantee that a person with a cat allergy will live with anemic cats.
10. Cornish Rexes Are Healthy and Long Lived
Cornish Rexes are generally healthy and long-lived cats. Of course, as a pedigree cat, Cornish Rexes have a smaller gene pool than domestic short hairs, so are prone to some genetic conditions. Two of the more common genetic health issues that Cornish Rexes can inherit are autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (AD-PKD) and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA).
It is important for anyone wishing to keep a Cornish Rex as a pet to be prepared for a long-term commitment. Their average lifespan is about 15 years, but many can live to be 20 years old.
Conclusion
Cornish Rexes are a wonderful cat breed that many people love. It’s no wonder these friendly and funny cats have such a strong and loyal fanbase. They make great pets for many people with different lifestyles. Since they are a relatively healthy breed and live longer, you will have many happy days living with these feline companions.
Featured Image Credit: absolutimages, Shutterstock
