Devon Rex - description of the breed and character of the cat

With its alien appearance with huge ears, the Devon Rex cats also have a big loving heart. Where did this interesting creature come from, and what does it represent?

Appearance history

Devon Rex is considered the birthplace of Great Britain. His appearance resembles the characters of local folklore: hobbits, trolls and gnomes. For the first time, this fascinating creature met by chance in Devonshire, next to an abandoned mine in the 60s of the 20th century. Unfortunately, then it was not possible to contact with this cat. After all, she was quite shy. But I managed to catch a cat that was walking nearby. Soon she gave birth to a black kitten, which was named Kirle, which in English means “curly”.It was Kirley who became the founder of this breed.

Europe recognized the first Devon Rex, and only two decades later - the United States.

Description

Externally, the Devon Rex is very similar to the representatives of another curly Cornish breed - the Rex. Therefore, people who are poorly versed in rocks, can hardly distinguish them. In fact, these two breeds of cats are completely different, and have similarities only at first glance. To distinguish the Devon Rex from other breeds of cats, you need to know the main external characteristics of these animals:

1. Torso Medium in size, folded in a stocky type. The weight of a cat is about 4 kilograms, the females are close to 3. Cats look more graceful than cats. The chest is large.
2. Paws. Thin and long. Graceful. Front shorter than the rear.
3. Head. Small in relation to the body. Triangular shape. Eyebrows and mustaches have curls at the ends.
4. Ears. Very large size. Set wide apart. Can be topped with tassels.
5. Eyes. Large and bulging. Set wide apart. Their color always depends on the color of the cat: green with golden splashes, emerald, amber. Cats of color - point colors, as a rule, have eyes of blue and blue shades.
6. Wool. Small length, notable for extraordinary softness, curled, there is no visible guard hair. On the muzzle and back, thighs and sides of the fur is longer compared to other parts of the body of the animal. If the Devon has no wool, it is considered a disadvantage.
7. Colors. According to the peculiarities of the breed any colors are allowed.
8. Tail. Thin and long, with a rounding at the end.

Attention! Due to the fact that Devon Rex has almost no wool, it seems that they are hot. Many believe that their body temperature is higher than that of other cats. This opinion is erroneous, such a feeling is due to the fact that the wool is too short, so the skin temperature is felt during tactile contact.

Character traits

According to the owners of the cats of this amazing breed, they can be described with just one word - cat! Devons are very similar to dogs in their behavior. They are very affectionate and totally committed to their owner. They are extremely dependent on him and are tagged everywhere. Separation with your dear friend may be the strongest stress for cats of this breed.Therefore, the Devonians are not a very suitable pet for the host traveler.

They are so smart that they can be trained and taught to teams. Devons have a fairly good temper. They have a relationship with absolutely all members of the family, including children. If there are kids in the family, then this smart cat with a cute alien appearance will be a great friend to them.

Health

Devon Rex with good care and proper maintenance usually have good health and good life expectancy, about 16 years. But still prone to some characteristic diseases, namely:

• Hip dysplasia.
• Dislocation of the kneecaps.
• Hypertrophic heart disease.
• Muscular dysfunction.

Features of maintenance and care

1. Bathing. Caring for cats of the Devon Rex breed is not much different from other breeds. However, too short, soft and curled wool requires some features in the care, namely, more frequent washing. It is necessary to bathe Devonians approximately once every 1-2 months, using special cat shampoos or for children - for newborns, without fragrances. Before exhibitions, it is necessary for the cat to direct the beauty at least 5 days in order for the woolen cover to look aesthetically pleasing.
2. Toilet for cats. Before you start a cat, not only Devon Rex, but any other breed, you should plan its content well. It is necessary to take care that the pet must have a tray where the cat will relieve the need. In order for the toilet training to be as quick and comfortable as possible, it is necessary to clarify with the breeder what kind of pot the kittens go to, and which filler is used. If the kittens go to the tray without a filler, then you should not mess with it. Any kitten will immediately go to the pot, made on the principle of the one to which he went along with his mother - a cat.
3. Dishes. A pet should have at least two, and preferably three individual bowls. Suppose one is mandatory for water and the other two are for food. Bowl can be made of ceramic, stainless steel, and better - from food-grade plastic. Plastic is convenient for the banal reason that the bowl will not rattle and ring when the cat wants to feast on the rest of the owner.
4. Place in the house. For a cat it is better to arrange his personal place in the house. You can choose a separate corner in the apartment, having equipped it with a cat's house, where the cat will be able to retire, hide and rest.Loneliness is sometimes useful not only for people.
5. Kogtetochka. In order not to suffer from skinned sofas and wallpapers - in the house where the cat lives, there must be a claw stick. The animal must be taught to it from the first days of its appearance. If the pet starts to tear up the sofa, then he will torture him until he destroys the entire upholstery. Therefore, if you want to tear something up, a kitten needs to be shown a scraper. It can be made independently, having upholstered a long log with cotton fabric or a sofa upholstery, and you can buy a special one in the store. It is also suitable for a long, freshly cut log.
6. Teeth cleaning. For a kitten, you need to have a special toothpaste to teach you to brush your teeth from a young age. This should be done once a week. Teeth cleaned with a cotton pad, special feline or very soft brush. If you teach an animal to this procedure from an early age, then there will be no problems with it in adulthood.
7. Ear hygiene. Ears should be cleaned once a week. To do this, it is necessary to moisten a cotton pad with warm water and gently wipe the inside of the ears without getting inside.

Prevention of parasites
If a kitten is acquired “processed” from worms, before it appears, it is better to immediately treat all members of the family. Often, it is animals that become infected by humans, and not vice versa.

An animal living in a private home can easily become infected with parasites or fleas. So pets better to buy a special collar that helps in the prevention of these misfortunes.

Living a cat in an apartment, without walking on the street, does not guarantee in any way that she does not become infected with worms. Animals should be anthelmintic every six months, and better once a quarter, and before vaccinations.

Feeding

In advance, you should think about how to feed the baby, and ask about the menu from the breeder. Small kittens are allowed to give dairy products. But they are not useful for adult cats, because they can cause digestive disorders. If a kitten is taken with a small owl, up to 6 weeks, then it can be fed with baby food, which is divorced according to the instructions. You do not need to feed your baby with powdered milk, it is rarely of high quality lately.

Attention! Devon Rexes are known for not having a “saturation center,” so they tend to overeat. The owner will have to regulate the amount of food and the pet's ration on his own.

The walks

Cat, like any other living creature, just need to go out. With purebred pets a little more difficult in this regard. It is impossible neither cats nor cats, and especially those that are needed in breeding, to go for a walk, wherever their soul desires. The problem is not only that a pet can be trite or a thoroughbred lady will bring the useless kittens of her father - a scoundrel. First, the animal can be in danger at every corner, and especially the gullible Devonian river. Secondly, cats can also become infected with sexually transmitted diseases that can lead to reproductive problems. The animal living in the apartment, you need to display several times a week on a leash yourself.

Those who live in a private house are more fortunate. They can be let out for a walk in the yard, if it is fenced with a high, by no means wooden, fence.

The Devon Rex short hair does not give them such protection as it is long to other cats. During winter walks, cats of this breed should be dressed in special clothes.

Mating

It is necessary to take care that the male has a place for mating, and the cat - a place where she will anxiously grow the kittens resulting from mating. These points must be considered when choosing the sex of a cat.

It is possible to knit a cat from the second heat, from the moment it reaches puberty, but not earlier than the age of 15 months. Only in this case, the pregnancy and childbirth of the females will be as complete as possible, which will ensure good health in future babies. In addition, it will protect the mother from possible complications in the period of gestation and birth of kittens.

Accepting a cat in your home, you need to specify in advance all the conditions of mating. This can be done in written or oral contractual form. The owner of the cat is obliged to provide a tray, a bowl and possibly food to which the animal is accustomed.

Both parties must show each other documents to confirm adequate animal health and confirm that they have the necessary vaccinations.

Does Devon Rex cause allergic reactions?

It is believed that cats with short hair are not prone to cause allergies. There is some truth in this, because there are people who have individual reactions specifically to cat's fur. The shorter the animal's hairline, the less wool falls during shedding. But this does not guarantee that an allergic person will not have unpleasant symptoms.Those who suffer from allergies to the feline family, it is better to refrain from living with these animals in the same house. However, it is possible to consider the rocks, communication with which did not cause any symptoms, as well as those that are considered as safe as possible.

Attention! In addition to wool, allergic manifestations can cause peeling pieces from the skin of a pet or excretion of salivary glands.

How much is Devon Rex?

A lot of different factors can affect the price of a kitten. Starting from the point of purchase, and ending with the value of the pedigree data of each individual cat, namely:

• Place of purchase: exhibition, nursery, private breeder.
• Reputation breeder or kennel.
• The reputation of cat-parents.
• Pet class: pet, breed, show.
• Rare color and eye color.
• Sex pet - the cat always costs more than a cat.

Where to buy a Devon Rex kitten?

The breed is very common abroad, and the most - in the States and the UK. There are not many cat breeders of this breed on the territory of Russia and Ukraine, however, it is not so difficult to find them in big cities.

For private breeders, the purchase will be cheaper, but it is fraught with more risks than in famous nurseries. To buy a cat from such a seller, you need to thoroughly examine the breed and know the list of necessary documents. For a start it is good to visit several exhibitions and look at the kittens there. In no case do not need to purchase an animal remotely. This must be done from hand to hand to protect themselves from possible problems.

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