{"id":30170,"date":"2015-02-05T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-02-04T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvaryny.com\/?p=30170"},"modified":"2025-08-06T19:05:39","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T16:05:39","slug":"cornish-rex","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvaryny.com\/us\/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 looks, large ears, and unique velvety, wavy coat, often resembles a graceful statuette or a svelte greyhound. But don’t let its sophisticated appearance fool you\u2014beneath that elegant exterior lies a tireless prankster, an “eternal kitten” with an endless supply of energy and curiosity. The Cornish Rex forms deep bonds with its humans, adores attention, games, and warmth. Its short, wavy coat, which sheds very little, may seem easy to care for, but it requires a specific approach, including regular bathing. This is an active, intelligent, and incredibly loving companion for those ready to devote a lot of time and energy to it. You can read more about this on Tvaryny<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cornish Rex: A Brief 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 Emergence \/ 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>~11\u201313 inches<\/td><\/tr>
Weight<\/td>Females 5.5\u20137.7 lbs; Males 7.7\u20139.9 lbs<\/td><\/tr>
Temperament<\/td>Very active, playful (“eternal kitten”), intelligent, curious, affectionate, social; requires attention<\/td><\/tr>
Grooming<\/td>Low (coat), but requires regular bathing<\/strong> and ear cleaning<\/td><\/tr>
Activity Level<\/td>Very high<\/td><\/tr>
Vocalization<\/td>Moderate<\/td><\/tr>
Compatibility with Children<\/td>Good (with gentle handling)<\/td><\/tr>
Compatibility with Other Animals<\/td>Good (with proper socialization)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The 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 July 21, 1950. That’s when a peculiar kitten was born to a regular tortoiseshell domestic cat named Serena, owned by Nina Ennismore. Among its straight-haired siblings, one cream-colored male stood out with a wondrously dense, curly coat, similar to that of an Astrex rabbit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nina Ennismore, who had experience breeding Rex rabbits, immediately recognized the kitten’s uniqueness and named him Kallibunker<\/strong>. To understand the nature of this mutation and 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 that Kallibunker be bred with his mother, Serena.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

To expand the very limited gene pool and improve the breed’s type in the early stages, it was crossbred with other breeds, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n