In the rolling hills of Devonshire, England, a peculiar discovery was made that would forever change the world of cat fancying. It was 1960, near the town of Buckfastleigh, when a woman named Beryl Cox noticed a feral tomcat living in a deserted tin mine. This was no ordinary stray; he possessed a coat of thick, curly ringlets. While Cox was unable to catch the elusive tom, she later took in a pregnant feral tortoiseshell who had been part of his colony. When the litter arrived, one kitten stood out among the rest. He was a brownish-black male with the same distinctive, wavy coat as the mysterious mine-dwelling tom. Cox named him Kirlee, and he would become the founding father of the Devon Rex breed.
At the time, another curly-coated breed, the Cornish Rex, had already been established in the neighboring county of Cornwall a decade prior. The cat fancying community was abuzz with excitement, assuming Kirlee was another example of the same genetic mutation. Beryl Cox contacted a group of Cornish Rex breeders, who eagerly purchased Kirlee to expand their gene pool. They mated Kirlee with several Cornish Rex females, expecting a litter of curly kittens. To their shock, every single kitten born had straight hair.
A Breakthrough in Disguise
This failed experiment was a breakthrough in disguise. It proved that Kirlee’s curly coat was caused by a completely different and incompatible genetic mutation. The Cornish Rex had a mutation on what breeders called "Gene 1," while Kirlee possessed a unique mutation on "Gene 2." Realizing they had an entirely new breed on their hands, breeders began a separate program to preserve Kirlee’s unique traits. The breed was officially named the Devon Rex, honoring its county of origin.
A Study in Contradictions
Physically, the Devon Rex is a study in contradictions—fragile in appearance but muscular and athletic in reality. They are often described as looking like a pixie, an elf, or a visitor from another planet. Their most striking features are their enormous, low-set ears that frame a wide, wedge-shaped face with large, inquisitive oval eyes. Their profile is distinctively marked by a short muzzle and prominent cheekbones.
The coat is the breed's crowning glory: soft, fine, and rippled with a loose wave. Unlike most cats, the Devon Rex has very little guard hair, giving their fur a texture often compared to crushed velvet or suede. Even their whiskers are brittle and curled, often breaking off to leave short stubble.
The "Monkey in a Cat Suit"
Beyond their unique looks, the Devon Rex is famous for a personality that has earned them the nickname "a monkey in a cat suit." These are not aloof animals content to sleep the day away. They are intensely social, highly intelligent, and perpetually active. Kirlee himself was known to be a natural performer who could walk a tightrope and wag his tail like a dog.
Modern Devons share this dog-like loyalty, often following their owners from room to room and perching on their shoulders—a behavior enthusiasts call "parrot-catting." They are known to fetch toys, learn tricks, and involve themselves in every household activity, from cooking to showering. Their insatiable curiosity and high energy make them entertaining, if sometimes mischievous, companions who refuse to be ignored.
Backgrounder Notes
As an expert researcher and library scientist, I have identified several key facts and concepts from the article that warrant additional context. Below are the backgrounders and definitions to provide a deeper understanding of the Devon Rex and the world of feline genetics.
1. Cat Fancying
Cat fancying refers to the organized hobby, industry, and community dedicated to the breeding, showing, and preservation of domestic cat breeds. It is governed by international registries, such as the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA), which establish rigorous breed standards and maintain detailed genealogical records.
2. Cornish Rex
Originating in Cornwall, England, in 1950, this breed is characterized by a coat of tight "Marcel waves" and a slender, sighthound-like build. Although they share a curly-coated appearance with the Devon Rex, they are genetically distinct; a cross between the two results in straight-haired offspring because their mutations are located on different genes.
3. Recessive Genetic Mutations (Gene 1 and Gene 2)
In the context of Rex cats, these mutations are "autosomal recessive," meaning a kitten must inherit the specific gene from both parents to display a curly coat. The article’s mention of "Gene 1" and "Gene 2" refers to the scientific discovery that the Cornish and Devon mutations are non-allelic, occurring at different loci on the feline genome.
4. Guard Hair
Guard hairs are the long, coarse, and tapered outer hairs of a cat’s coat that provide protection and water resistance. The Devon Rex is unique because its coat is almost entirely devoid of these guard hairs, consisting instead of soft "down" and "awn" hairs, which creates their signature suede-like texture.
5. Wedge-Shaped Face
In feline morphology, a "wedge" refers to a head shape that tapers in straight lines from the base of the ears toward the muzzle. The Devon Rex possesses a "modified wedge" with a three-level profile—a flat skull, prominent cheekbones, and a distinct "stop" (an indentation) at the bridge of the nose.
6. Foundation Sire
A foundation sire is the original male cat from which a pedigree breed begins. Kirlee is the foundation sire for all registered Devon Rexes; because the mutation was so rare, early breeders had to carefully use him to establish the lineage while eventually outcrossing to other breeds to ensure genetic health.
7. Parrot-catting
This is a colloquialism used by enthusiasts to describe the specific behavior of a cat perching on a human’s shoulder to observe the world from a high vantage point. While many cats enjoy heights, the Devon Rex is specifically known for this "shoulder-riding" as a manifestation of their intense desire for physical proximity to their owners.
8. Devonshire (Devon)
Devon is a county in South West England characterized by its diverse landscape of moorland and "Jurassic Coast" cliffs. In the mid-20th century, the region's isolated rural areas—including abandoned tin mines like the one mentioned—provided a unique environment for spontaneous genetic mutations to occur within feral cat colonies.
