Cornish Rex ~ Blue-eyed White
Cornish Rex ~ Blue Smoke
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Cornish Rex ~ Blue-eyed White
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Cornish Rex ~ Blue Smoke
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| A curly-coated, playful, sociable acrobat The first Cornish Rex was a male named Kallibunker born to Serena, a tricolor housecat, in 1950 on the Ennismore farm near Bodmin in Cornwall, England (hence the name Cornish Rex). His curly coat resembled that of Rex rabbits discovered on a French farm in 1919. In order to preserve this recessive mutation, the breeding program combined inbreeding with outcrosses to Siamese, British Shorthairs, and Burmese. In 1967, the Cornish Rex was officially recognized in England. In 1960, Professor E. Letard brought a Rex couple from Germany to France. Only the green-eyed male, Marco, survived the trip. He was mated with a Burmese queen. The kittens were black and straight-coated, proving that the gene responsible for the Rex coat was indeed recessive. Letard inbred the mixed-breed offspring and in 1962, finally obtained a male Rex - Lisko, a descendant from the French Rex line. In the United States, a breeding program began in 1957. Crosses with Siamese and Orientals resulted in a lighter, oval-headed cat, while the English Cornish Rex was heavier and had a more triangular, rather than long, head. This breed is highly prized in the United States and Europe. |
| Chic-looking, but really a lap cat. Properly raised, it enjoys handling and projects warmth. Generally talkative; voice is high-pitched and somewhat like Siamese but not as piercing. Excellent with children. Playful. |
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Head
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Length greater than width, moderately wedge-shaped. Egg-shaped skull. Roman nose . Straight line from middle of the forehead to tip of the nose. Straight nose. Definite whisker break. Strong chin. Curly whiskers and eyebrows. |
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Eyes
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Medium to large in size, oval in shape, and slanting slightly upward. A full eye's width apart. Color should be clear, intense, and appropriate to coat color. |
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Ears
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Large and full from the base, erect and alert; set high on the head. |
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Nose
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Roman. Length is one-third length of head. In profile a straight line from end of nose to chin with considerable depth and squarish effect. |
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Neck
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Of medium length. Slender, but muscular. |
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Body
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Small to medium, males proportionately larger. Torso long and slender, not tubular; hips, muscular and somewhat heavy in proportion to the rest of the body. Back is naturally arched with lower line of the body approaching the upward curve. The arch is evident when the cat is standing naturally. |
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Paw
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Long and straight. Fine bone structure. Firm muscles. Small, oval paws. |
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Tail
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Long and slender, tapering toward the end and extremely flexible. |
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Coat
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Short, extremely soft, silky, and completely free of guard hairs. Relatively dense. A tight, uniform marcel wave, lying close to the body and extending from the top of the head across the back, sides, and hips continuing to the tip of the tail. Size and depth of wave may vary. The fur on the underside of the chin and on chest and abdomen is short and noticeably wavy. |
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Fault
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Overly large or long head. Small ears. Massive, stocky body. Tail that is too thick, short, free of hair, or shaggy. Large hairless areas, except at temples and on the tail. Coarse, straight hairs. |
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Disqualify
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Kinked or abnormal tail. Incorrect number of toes. Any coarse or guard hairs. Any signs of lameness in the hindquarters. Signs of poor health. |
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Character
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This playful, lively, rather eccentric acrobat is always in motion. The good-natured Cornish Rex enjoys other cats and dogs, and dislikes solitude. This affectionate, gentle cat makes a loving companion, albeit with a rather strident voice. The Cornish Rex enjoys indoor living, particularly since he tends to be cold-blooded. Females cycle frequently and are quite prolific. Their appetite is phenomenal, and kittens develop rapidly. Weekly brushing will help maintain the wavy coat. This breed hardly sheds. |
| Coat is fragile and lacks guard hairs. Cat must be kept warm and protected from extreme heat and cold. |
Cornish Rex