Cornish Rex

The Cornish Rex is smart, adaptable, adventurous and full of energy. According to the CFA, it is devoted to its people, and its need to stay in physical contact with its favorite person has earned it the nickname "Velcro kitty." When it isn't seeking attention, showing affection or playing, it's probably looking for food.

It keeps its energy well into old age. According to vet-reviewed sources, its powerful hind legs make it an impressive jumper that scales furniture with ease, and it can learn to open cabinets and drawers. It can entertain itself, but its real joy is playing with you: fetch and wand-toy games are classics.

It will make conversation, but it isn't given to unnecessary or loud yowling. It's an outgoing cat that runs to greet visitors when the doorbell rings and readily makes friends with dogs. After play, it looks for a warm lap or a spot under the covers.

The Cornish Rex suits lively, active homes and people who love playing with their cat every day and are ready to include it in everything they do. If you want a calm, independent cat, this breed may wear you out.

The CFA notes that owning a Cornish Rex means thoroughly child-proofing your home and keeping fragile things behind closed doors. The co-founder of a Cornish Rex rescue told PetMD that some Cornish thrive as the only pet of a single person while others need busy households with several people and pets, so it pays to talk openly about your lifestyle with the breeder or rescue.

According to the CFA, the breed's curly coat appeared spontaneously in 1950 in a kitten from a litter of barn cats on Nina Ennismore's farm in Cornwall, England. The cream-colored male was named Kallibunker. After consulting her vet and a geneticist, Ennismore bred Kallibunker back to his mother and got two more curly kittens. Having raised Rex rabbits, she gave the new breed the same name.

Crosses with Burmese, Siamese and British Shorthairs showed that the coat trait is recessive and broadened the breed's gene pool. In 1956, a California breeder bought a pair and took the breed to the United States; the CFA accepted the Cornish Rex for registration in 1962 and granted it championship status two years later.

The genetic cause of the curl was found in 2013: Gandolfi and colleagues showed that a small deletion in a gene called LPAR6 is present in every Cornish Rex and absent in straight-coated cats. The same change is also found in the German Rex.

A slim, long and elegant cat with an arched back, an egg-shaped head, large high-set ears, huge eyes and a prominent "Roman nose." According to the CFA, despite its looks it is surprisingly heavy for its size and feels warm to the touch.

• Weight: According to PetMD, 6–10 pounds (about 2.7–4.5 kg).
• Coat: Short, close-lying and covered with tight "marcel waves." Most cats have three layers of hair, but the Cornish Rex has only the fine, soft undercoat and no guard hairs at all. The CFA standard gives 40 points to the coat alone: besides the curl, it looks for density and softness.
• Colors: The CFA standard accepts a very wide range: solid colors such as white, black, blue, cream, chocolate and lavender, silver and smoke shades, tabby patterns, tortoiseshell, calico, bicolor and pointed cats.

Because of its coat, caring for a Cornish Rex is a bit different from other cats. According to the CFA, regular combing isn't needed, but a few things matter.

• Ears: The CFA notes that wax can build up in the ears faster than in other breeds and that they should be cleaned often. Clean them the way your vet shows you, without pushing anything into the ear canal.
• Baths: Some Cornish get greasy over time and need an occasional bath. According to PetMD, needs vary a lot: some are bathed every week or two, others almost never. Towel-dry thoroughly afterward; the CFA warns that a blow dryer will ruin the curls.
• Cold: With no guard hairs, it gets chilly easily. The CFA suggests a sweater in cold weather; a warm bed and blankets help too.
• Sun: Its coat may not protect it enough from the sun, and the CFA reminds owners that cats can get sunburned. Don't let it spend long periods in direct sunlight.
• Eyes: Dirt can collect around the eyes; wipe gently with a soft damp cloth and show your vet any redness or colored discharge.
• Play and space: One or two long play sessions a day, plus tall cat trees and shelves, are a must for this breed.

For ideas, see our articles on cats and high places, playing with an indoor cat and a cat-safe home.

The Cornish Rex doesn't need a special food; a complete, balanced cat food suited to its age is enough. The CFA notes that, despite its slim build, the breed has an enormous appetite and will go after foods most cats ignore. That makes measured feeding, and keeping food out of reach, important.

• Decide the daily amount with your vet based on your cat's age, activity and ideal weight.
• Serve several small meals rather than leaving food out all day.
• Smart and dexterous, it enjoys food puzzles.
• It can open kitchen cabinets; keep human food and trash secured.

The CFA describes the Cornish Rex as a sturdy, vigorous breed with no known inherited health issues. Still, a few things are worth knowing. The information below is for awareness only; ask your vet about diagnosis and treatment.

Progressive retinal atrophy (rdAc-PRA)

An inherited eye disease in which the retina slowly degenerates; it starts late and can progress to blindness. It was first described in Abyssinian and Somali cats, and a 2010 study by Menotti-Raymond and colleagues showed that the responsible variant is widespread across many breeds. In a 2022 study of more than 11,000 cats, the variant was found in 31 of the 106 Cornish Rex tested. Cats with one copy don't get sick; the disease appears in cats with two copies. According to PetMD, the first sign is often trouble seeing at night. A DNA test exists, so ask the breeder for the parents' results.

Type B blood

In the same 2022 study, 33% of the Cornish Rex tested had type B blood. Because cats are born with antibodies against the other blood type, this matters for choosing the right donor if a transfusion is needed and for breeding. Ask your vet about your cat's blood type and keep it on record.

Heart disease (HCM)

PetMD notes that HCM, in which the heart muscle thickens, can also occur in this breed. Many cats show no signs for a long time; according to the Cornell Feline Health Center, the disease is detected with a heart ultrasound (echocardiography).

Skin

In a 2008 study, the amount of yeast (Malassezia) on the skin of healthy Cornish Rex was similar to that of ordinary shorthaired cats, while the similar-looking Devon Rex carried noticeably more. Still, show your vet any greasiness, redness or itching on the skin.

We couldn't find large lifespan data for the Cornish Rex like the UK VetCompass studies. Vet-reviewed sources give a lifespan range of 11–15 years for the breed. That's a general range, not a precise average; well-cared-for cats at a healthy weight that see the vet regularly can go beyond it.

The most concrete ways to extend lifespan are the same for every cat: spaying or neutering, a healthy weight, a safe indoor life, a vet checkup at least once a year and dental care.

• Consider a shelter: Purebred cats end up in shelters and rescues too; some countries even have rescues dedicated to the Cornish Rex. Follow breed groups and adoption listings.
• Allergies: Light shedding doesn't prevent allergies. PetMD points out that allergy-causing substances are also in the skin and saliva, and no cat is truly allergy-free. If you have allergies, spend time with the breed before deciding.
• Ask the breeder: Request the parents' PRA (rdAc) DNA tests and blood types.
• Red flags: Steer clear of sellers who won't show you the mother, always have kittens available, can't provide paperwork or rush you.
• Registration: Rules vary by country; many places require or recommend microchipping. In Türkiye, owned cats must be microchipped and registered in the PETVET system. See our PETVET and microchip guide for details.