In 1950s England, a random genetic mutation produced a kitten with an unusual curly coat. From this single kitten, the Cornish Rex breed was born. Known for their distinctive soft coats, large ears, and big personalities, Cornish Rex cats make wonderful family pets. Once you welcome a Cornish Rex cat into your home, you’ll probably want them to stay with you forever! Sadly, no pet can live forever, so you may want to know how long the average lifespan of a Cornish Rex is. You can expect a Cornish Rex cat to live 15-20 years on average. In this article, you will learn how long Cornish Rex cats live and how to keep your kitten as healthy as possible.
Cornish Rex Average life span
You can expect a Cornish Rex cat to live 15–20 years on average. They are small cats that are considered a relatively healthy breed in general. In the next section, you’ll find tips on caring for your Cornish Rex to help them enjoy a long life.
How to Care for Your Cornish Rex for a Long Life
Feeding and Diet
For small cats, the Cornish Rex is known for having a big appetite. Fortunately, they tend to burn a lot of calories because they are such active kittens. Keep your Cornish Rex healthy by feeding only as many calories as they need each day. Ask your veterinarian to help you calculate this number based on your cat’s age, weight, and activity level.
Environment
The signature coat of the Cornish Rex cat is very soft to the touch but it does not provide much protection or insulation. They do not tolerate extreme temperatures and should always be indoor pets. In cold weather, they may need to wear a sweater. Make sure they always have places to avoid heat or curling hot.
Care
Cornish Rex cats love to play, and it’s often easy to make sure they get enough exercise and stay at the right weight. If you allow your Cornish Rex to spend supervised time outside in a safely confined space, apply a cat-safe sunscreen to unprotected skin, such as their ears.
Repair
Cornish Rex cats shed but not as much as other cat breeds with long hair or layered coats. However, their coats and skin absorb oil more quickly than other cats. Because of that, they need regular bathing to keep them healthy and help prevent skin infections. Cornish Rex also require frequent ear cleaning as they may be prone to wax buildup.
Breeding
Spaying or neutering your Cornish Rex can help them live longer. Unneutered males are more at risk of running away, fighting, or developing testicular problems. Older women may develop a mammary tumor or uterine infection. Pregnancy also presents its own health risks for the cat.
Taking care of your health
Cornish Rex are more prone to inherit polycystic kidney disease and an eye condition called progressive retinal atrophy. Both conditions can be detected through genetic testing. They can also be prone to luxating patellas and a heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
When researching Cornish Rex breeders, look for one that has performed genetic testing and health screening on their cats. Starting with a healthy kitten will help increase the chances of your Cornish Rex living a long life. Make sure your cat gets regular vet checkups and follow all recommendations for preventative healthcare.
The Life Stages of a Cornish Rex
The five life stages of a Cornish Rex are kitten, adult, mature adult, senior, and geriatric.
- Cornish Rex cats are usually considered kittens until about 1 year old. In the first year of life, support their growth and development with proper nutrition and preventive healthcare.
- From 1–6 years of age, the Cornish Rex is mature and should receive regular checkups and a proper diet to support a healthy weight.
- From 7–10 years, the Cornish Rex is considered an adult. At this stage, many veterinarians recommend starting diagnostic tests to catch any age-related health conditions early.
- Cornish Rex cats reach the senior life stage at around 11 years of age, where they can experience conditions such as kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, and other age-related changes.
- With their long average lifespan, Cornish Rex cats often reach the geriatric life stage, which ranges from 15–25 years of age. Your veterinarian can help you keep your pet as healthy as possible with more testing, diet changes, and medical management of chronic conditions.
How to Tell Your Cornish Rex’s Age
If you’ve bought or adopted a Cornish Rex kitten, you probably already have a good idea of their age. On average, kittens gain about a pound of weight per month, so your pet’s weight can give you an idea of how old they are if you don’t already know. You can also check their teeth. Kittens begin to lose their teeth at 3-4 months of age and should have all their adult teeth by 7 months of age.
Once they are fully grown and have all their teeth, it is harder to tell how old a Cornish Rex cat is. Checking for decay and tartar on a cat’s teeth is not always reliable because some cats have worse dental health than others.
Mature Cornish Rex cats may begin to show some age-related changes in the eyes that may help narrow down how old they are. Older cats may move more slowly due to joint pain, neglect their repair, and show abnormal blood work results.
It can be difficult to determine the exact age of a Cornish Rex cat in years if you don’t know them, but you can usually get an idea of their life stage. This knowledge will help you provide your cat with the right diet and appropriate medical care. If you have questions about your cat’s age, talk to your veterinarian.
Conclusion
The charming, affectionate, and playful Cornish Rex thrives in almost any home environment and gets along well with children and other pets. Fortunately, they also have a long average lifespan, so you can usually expect to enjoy the company of your Cornish Rex for 15–20 years. By providing the right environment, diet, and preventative health care, you can help ensure that your Cornish Rex lives a long, healthy life.
Featured Image Credit: Elena Loginova, Shutterstock
