The Cornish Rex Cats Coat

Unlike many other cat breeds, the Cornish Rex doesn’t have the typical coat with the 3 different types of fur, the guard hair (longest hairs), Awn hair which is medium hair and down hair which is the softest and finest off all the types of hair.  The Cornish Rex only have the down hair, which is also known as the undercoat.  Each of hair of the undercoat is waved giving an overall ripple effect on the coat.

Because they have less fur then other breeds they need to be an indoor cat and can actually end up with hypothermia if left for long periods of time outdoors in the winter, they’re just not designed for it.  Because of their lack of fur they like warm places and will automatically find warm places to curl up whether that’s on your laptop or driers, they will go where ever there is a heat source so keep them out of the kitchen when cooking.

Cornish Rex Cats are just big kittens

Unlike most cats they don’t grow out of their skittish behaviour as they get older but keep the characteristic behaviour of kittens and love discovering new things and will explore everywhere.  They are very affectionate by nature and get on well with other cats or animals within the house.  They are also very demanding and if you don’t give them what they want then you will definitely know about it.

Where did the Cornish Rex Breed come from?

The Cornish Rex breed came from a gene mutation from a litter in the 1950′s in Cornwall, hence the name.  One of these kittens had a fine and very curly coat making him the first of the breed.  He was later breed with his mother to create more.   One of the kittens from this latter litter was sent to Amercia and cross breed with a Siamese.

Are they good for those suffering from Allergies?

Because the Cornish Rex have very little fur, people make the mistake of assuming their great cats if you have a cat allergy.  The cat’s fur isn’t what aggravates an allergy it’s a protein found in their saliva.  When they groom themselves which Cornish Rex’s do more intensely than other breeds, the saliva dries on the coat and turns into a dust called dander.  It’s the dander that sets off the allergy.

Cornish Rex Cats and Anesthesia

Cornish Rex have issues with normal veterinary anesthesia so they need to be given a lower does or an alternative.  This means that if your cat has to undergo any type of surgery your local vet might not be happy to proceed and suggest either an alternative procedure or suggest another vets.

Below is a short video of a Cornish Rex cat enjoying their day




Similar Cat Related Posts: