Discovered for the first time in Devonshire, England in the 1960s, the Devon Rex cat breed owes its existence to the stray female cat with straight hair that laid her litter, which consisted of one curly haired cat, sired by a curly haired stray male cat. It is important to note that in those days, the gene for curly hair was considered recessive and it is possible that the female cat was carrying a matching gene, which led to the birth of this breed. It is interesting to note that these cats were then bred with the Shorthairs in England and America to strengthen the gene pool and extend it.

These are medium sized cats that have short hairs, usually close to the body. Their appearance is completely unique, as they have huge ears, which are unusually large and are set absolutely low on either side of the head. Their eyes are again large, wide set, oval in shape and slope towards the ears. Though the eyes can be of any color, they are usually found to be aqua colored, especially in minks with blue color points. Head of a Devon Rex reminds people of a potato wedge, more in length than in width, which has high cheekbones and a short muzzle. Hard, muscular, sturdy are some of the adjectives to describe the physical appearance of this cat. The tail is long and often tapering.

Coat of the Devon Rex is short, fine and curly and comes in a variety of colors - solid ones as well as combination and different patterns. Common solid colors include fawn, black, blue, white, red, lavender, chocolate, cream, cameo, tortoiseshell etc. There are smoke cats, tabby cats, tabby pattern cats, tortoiseshell cats, calico cats and shaded pattern cats. Each type of Devon Rex cats has a different color combination and pattern for its coat, making it a really interesting breed. While the common colors are the ones mentioned above, they are mixed with white and other shades to make it look different and absolutely stunning.  In terms of grooming, these cats require regular brushing and cleaning of their ears.

These are extremely curious, friendly and intelligent cats that are very active, love to jump and explore. In fact, they are great jumpers and are often found in places that you might least expect them to be. Any place big enough to accommodate them is never out of their limits! They may often entertain you by jumping to great heights. Of course, this could mean that nothing is out of their reach. They are extremely playful, love company and will play with you for hours together. They are extremely warm bodied cats and love places that are warm. So, do not be surprised if you find them near your heat vent, computer monitor or television etc.

These cats love to curl in your lap and often stay there for long hours. They may even sneak into your bed as they love the warmth. These cats also have a great love for eating and will eat anything you give them, including an empty plastic bag! Like other Rex breeds, these cats are intelligent and love playing games like fetch and tag.