An impish, big-eared breed with a soft, loosely curled rex coat and a mischievous, deeply people-bonded personality often likened to a monkey or pixie.
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Welfare floor for a free-roam pet cat: a secure indoor home with one litter box per cat plus one extra (placed in different rooms), multiple scratching posts and a sturdy cat tree, food and water stations kept away from the litter, and 20–30 minutes of interactive wand/puzzle play every day. Outdoor access only via a fully-fenced catio or harness walks.
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Recommended
Multi-room home with vertical territory
≥ 2 floors / wide rooms, cat trees, catio access
A multi-cat-friendly household with several tall cat trees and wall-mounted perches, window seats with a view, separate feeding stations per cat to reduce resource guarding, and access to a screened catio or balcony for sun and air. Vertical territory matters as much as floor space for cats.
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Ideal
Indoor home + catio + enriched garden
House + outdoor catio + cat-proofed garden
Indoor home paired with a large outdoor catio (or a cat-proof-fenced garden), abundant environmental enrichment (climbing branches, foraging puzzles, water features), and group-compatible housing if multi-cat. This combines the safety of indoor-only living with the behavioural enrichment of supervised outdoor time.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
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Newborn
Newborn mammals are nursed on their mother's milk. Many are born helpless — blind, deaf, and sparsely furred (altricial, as in dogs, cats, and rodents) — while others stand and follow within hours (precocial, as in hoofed livestock).
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Juvenile
After weaning, juveniles grow quickly and become increasingly active, playful, and independent. Adult coat, proportions, and (in many species) the permanent teeth come in as they approach full size.
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Adult
Adults reach full body size and sexual maturity, with the species' mature coat and build. Sexual dimorphism — differences in size, mane, horns, or markings — is pronounced in some mammals and subtle in others.
Senior
Senior animals show aging signs such as graying fur, reduced activity, and a greater need for veterinary monitoring of joints, teeth, and organ function. Lifespan and the onset of old age vary widely by species and size.
Color & pattern variants
Natural variants occur in the wild; selectively bred (man-made) variants were developed in captivity.
Ideal apartment companion — highly social, agile, and loves to climb to the highest perch and ride on shoulders. Provide cat trees, shelves, and abundant interactive play. The thin, curly coat offers little insulation, so keep the home warm with cozy beds and avoid drafts; indoor living recommended. Thrives on near-constant companionship.
Diet
Feed a balanced diet to support a brisk metabolism. Some Devon Rex lines are affected by a hereditary muscle condition, so maintaining good body condition and consulting your vet on any feeding concerns is wise. Watch weight despite the lean look; fresh water always available.
Behavior & temperament
Extremely affectionate, playful, clever, and attention-seeking — frequently called a 'monkey in a cat suit.' Loves to perch on people and stay involved in everything. Very trainable for tricks, fetch, and leash. High energy and social; excellent with children, dogs, and other cats. Strongly dislikes solitude — best in a home where it has company or a feline/canine companion.
Health
Breed-specific concerns include hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM); Devon Rex myopathy (a hereditary 'spasticity'/muscle weakness, genetically testable); hereditary congenital hypotrichosis (patchy baldness in some lines); patellar luxation; and a recognized blood-type incompatibility risk (high frequency of type B blood, important for breeding and transfusions/neonatal isoerythrolysis). The sparse coat brings sun-sensitivity and cold intolerance, plus oily skin. Recommend HCM echo screening, myopathy genetic testing, and blood typing of breeding cats.
Tips, DIY & hacks
Handle the fragile, wavy coat gently — minimal brushing; a soft cloth or light hand-grooming avoids breaking the delicate hairs. Low shedding but NOT hypoallergenic. Skin and large ears accumulate oil and wax, so regular gentle ear cleaning and occasional bathing help. Keep warm in cold weather. Channel its intelligence with clicker training, puzzles, and plenty of social interaction.
