Cornish Rex Breed History and Characteristics
The Cornish Rex cat breed originated in Cornwall, England, in 1950, when a spontaneous genetic mutation produced a unique curly-coated kitten named Kallibunker.
Unlike other cats, Kallibunker’s fur lacked the typical guard hairs, resulting in a soft, wavy, velvety coat. Recognizing this distinctive trait, breeders decided to preserve and develop the mutation.
Kallibunker was bred back to his mother, a domestic shorthair, producing more curly-coated kittens. This marked the beginning of the breed. To strengthen the gene pool, breeders introduced crosses with other cat breeds, including Siamese, British Shorthairs, and Burmese. These efforts ensured genetic diversity while maintaining the breed’s unique characteristics. The breed gained recognition in the 1960s and quickly captured hearts worldwide for its striking appearance and charming personality.
Outstanding Characteristics:
- Distinctive Coat: The Cornish Rex has a short, soft, and wavy coat, lacking the usual guard hairs found in most cats, giving them a velvety texture.
- Slender Build: They are elegant and athletic, with long legs, a fine boning structure and a graceful appearance.
- Large Ears and Oval Eyes: These features give them an expressive and inquisitive look.
- Smart, Active and Playful: They are known for their energetic, mischievous personalities and love of social interaction. Cornish Rexes are very smart cats having a great capacity to learn.
- Affectionate: Cornish Rex cats are highly people-oriented and thrive in homes where they receive ample attention.
- Easy to care: Cornish Rexes are an overall healthy breed and require very low maintenance.
- Lifespan: Cornish Rexes lifespan is 14-18 years old, but many reach their 20’s.
This breed’s blend of history, unique look, and engaging personality has made it a favorite among cat enthusiasts worldwide.
Head
The head is ”egg-shaped”, longer than wide, with large, deed, conical hears standing high on the head. The eyes are medium sized, oval in shape and set an eye’s width apart. The chin should be a straight line from nose to chin. The profile should be Romain with a prominent bridge, in two convex curves (or one continued convex curve – both are accepted in TICA).
Body
The head is ”egg-shaped”, longer than wide, with large, deed, conical hears standing high on the head. The eyes are medium sized, oval in shape and set an eye’s width apart. The chin should be a straight line from nose to chin. The profile should be Romain with a prominent bridge, in two convex curves (or one continued convex curve – both are accepted in TICA).
Coat
Cornish Rexes are known for their incredible marcella waved coat. It is short, fine and very soft. The waves should be ”closed”, well defined and covering all the body, from the neck to the end of the tail.