{"id":15338,"date":"2015-02-05T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-02-04T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvaryny.com\/?p=15338"},"modified":"2025-05-28T11:59:33","modified_gmt":"2025-05-28T08:59:33","slug":"cornish-rex","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvaryny.com\/en\/breed-cornish-rex","title":{"rendered":"Cornish Rex"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Cornish Rex is the epitome of elegance and energy in the feline world. This slender beauty, with its aristocratic appearance, large ears, and unique velvety, wavy coat, often resembles a delicate statuette or a greyhound. But don’t let its refined looks deceive you \u2013 beneath this elegant exterior lurks a tireless imp, a “perpetual kitten”<\/strong> brimming with boundless energy and curiosity. You can discover more about this breed and many others on Tvaryny<\/a>. The Cornish Rex forms deep bonds with its people, adoring attention, playtime, and warmth. Its short, wavy coat, which sheds very little, might seem low-maintenance, but it requires a specific approach, notably regular bathing<\/strong>. This is an active, intelligent, and exceptionally loving companion for those prepared to dedicate plenty of time and energy to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cornish Rex: A Breed Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Cornish<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Characteristic<\/strong><\/th>Description<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Origin<\/td>Cornwall, United Kingdom<\/td><\/tr>
Time of origin \/ recognition<\/td>~1950 (birth of Kallibunker); 1960s (GCCF recognition); 1967 (CFA recognition)<\/td><\/tr>
Lifespan<\/td>11\u201315 years (sometimes longer)<\/td><\/tr>
Height at withers<\/td>~28\u201333 cm<\/td><\/tr>
Weight<\/td>Females 2.5\u20133.5 kg; males 3.5\u20134.5 kg<\/td><\/tr>
Temperament<\/td>Very active, playful (“perpetual kitten”), intelligent, inquisitive, affectionate, social; needs attention<\/td><\/tr>
Grooming<\/td>Low (coat), but requires regular bathing<\/strong> and ear cleaning<\/td><\/tr>
Activity level<\/td>Very high<\/td><\/tr>
Vocalisation<\/td>Moderate<\/td><\/tr>
Compatibility with children<\/td>Good (with gentle handling)<\/td><\/tr>
Compatibility with other animals<\/td>Good (with proper socialisation)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

History of the Cornish Rex: The Curly Cat from Cornwall<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The story of the Cornish Rex began on a farm in Bodmin Moor, Cornwall, England, on 21st July 1950. It was then that an ordinary tortoiseshell domestic cat named Serena, belonging to Nina Ennismore, gave birth to an unusual kitten. Among his straight-haired siblings, one cream-coloured male stood out with a remarkable, dense, curly coat, similar to the fur of an Astrex rabbit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nina Ennismore, who had experience breeding Rex rabbits, immediately recognised the kitten’s uniqueness and named him Kallibunker<\/strong>. To understand the nature of this mutation and to establish it, she sought advice from geneticist A.C. Jude and veterinarian Brian Stirling-Webb. They confirmed that the curliness was caused by a spontaneous recessive gene mutation. To preserve this gene, it was recommended to mate Kallibunker with his mother, Serena.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The result of this mating produced kittens with both straight and curly coats, confirming the recessive nature of the mutation. The curly-coated offspring became the foundation of the new breed. The name “Cornish Rex” was chosen in honour of its place of origin (Cornwall) and by analogy with curly-coated Rex rabbits. The gene responsible for this mutation was designated “re” or “Gene R (Type 1)”<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To expand the very limited gene pool and improve the breed type in the early stages, outcrossing was carried out with other breeds, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n