He is often called a goblin, gnome, E.T.; a permed bat – he is without a doubt the most charming proof for Mother Nature’s sense of humour. He arouses extreme feelings, but those, who were once charmed by his original beauty, forever stay faithful, stating that this is a cat you get addicted to.

 

Elegance with permanent wave

Even though they have turned up at least since the Victorian times, the first trials of breeding of those curly cats date first back from the late thirties of the last century, from Germany.

 

We owe them to a Saxony’s inhabitant, a geneticist – Mrs. Scheuer-Karpin, who, on the eve of the Second World War, got a strange female cat with soft curly fur, as a present. What she initiated, and what is most important, successfully conducted, was an experiment of preserving an uncommon feature, that later had its epilogue in France after the war storm, thanks to professor Etienne Letard. This noble chap managed most probably to bring up a whole litter of curly kittens; his success was however soon dimmed by some totally new circumstances…

 

	So in 1950, in Cornwall (Great Britain) in a letter of a stray cat, belonging to Mrs. Nina Ennismore, a cream male kitten was born, with delicate, curled fur. The extraordinary tomcat was named Kallibunker and he became the ancestor of a new breed, which Mrs. Ennismore gave
a resounding name rex, after a breed of rabbits she was raising, with the same name.
10 years later, in Devonshire another curled male kitten, with smoke black colouring was born and named Kirlee (Curled). With great hope and breeding expectations, Kirlee’s owner – Mrs. Beryl Cox and the owner of Kallibunker’s daughter – Mrs. Stirlling-Webb planned a marriage
of the two unrelated cat lines, but its result was rather poor – the litter was characterised with beautiful, though totally straight hair.

 

Unsuccessful experiments repeater several times - proving how genetically different Cornwall and Devon Rexes are – determined that the ways of these two breeds went in totally different directions.

 

Thanks to the ... matings as well as the extension of the genetic pool with crossbreeds with Birman, Bombay and British cats Devon Rexes obtained their own, peculiar looks and already in 1967 they were recognized as a breed by the British GCCF (Governing Council of the Cat Fancy).

 

Devon Rex in Poland

First devons who appeared in Poland were two sisters: blue …. GIC Tosa Oboe and blue … Tulia Oboe from Italy, and brought to Poland in 1993 by Grazyna and Jerzy Pietrzok (Loki Miao* kennel). Since then, an increasing interest in this breed, which is being reflected in a still increasing number of kennels.

 

At the moment, the most honoured representatives of this breed are three white tomcats with the title European Champion according to FIF’s system:

 - Farukin Metku Moosses – imported in 1994 from Finland – belongs to Grazyna and Jerzy Pietrzok (Loki Miao* kennel)

 - Filemon Loki Miao*PL – belongs to Krzysztof Piatek

 - Fozzie Rex Loki Miao*PL - belongs to Jerzy Pietrzok and Gra¿yna Pietrzok (cattery Loki Miao*PL)

 - Yori Rex Loki Miao*PL – belongs to Sylwia Siedlicka (cattery Z Gwiazd*PL)

 - Casanove Phu Quoc`s – belongs to Magdalena Wiciñska – Nalewaj (cattery Abrachdabrach*PL)

 

Gnome in our home.

Devons are exceptional cats, not only thanks to their original beauty, but also great character. They have an incredibly friendly attitude to the world. They tolerate other cats as well as dogs without any problems, but a human being is always and definitely the closest to their hearts.

 

If you then consider acquiring a cat of this breed you should be aware of the fact that from the moment a devon enters your home you will never feel lonely again. For devons are exceptionally emotional and they make a strong bond with their owners and the range of ways of showing their positive emotions is extraordinary rich – they talk, purr like small tractors, love sitting on human laps or shoulders, twisting around the neck like a pearl necklace, and they show their happiness like dogs – wagging their tails. They are family cats and even though some of them may prefer one of the caretakers, the others are never disrespected, or left without attention. Agile, fast, brisk, ubiquitous, always ready for play, tricks and practical jokes continuously amaze with its imagination and creativity.

 

They quick and willingly learn various tricks, like for example fetching of small objects. Their temper is moderate to lively. Seemingly fragile and delicate – they are strong and brave in reality, and they will not allow to be hurt, that is why they are great play companions for children, among whom they will never get bored or lack attention.

 

Beauty salon

Devons are not particularly demanding pets. Their, almost un-moulting coat is easy to take care of, with just a few strokes with a silk cloth from time to time.

 

If necessary, it is also recommended to bathe the cat with a special high-quality shampoo.

Large ears need regular cleaning, and the eyes with almost no eyelashes need to rinsed with warm cooked water or ready-made products available at pharmacies or veterinary clinics.

 

Structure of the body: weight from 2,5 to 4kg, middle size trunk, elongated, muscular. Strong boning well developed chest, slender neck. Quite long limb, front limbs slightly bended. Small oval feet. Long tapering tail.

Head visibly broader than long, of a triangle shape and significantly prominent cheekbones and visibly outlined chin and a short muzzle. Slightly rounded eyes.

Ears – strikingly large, wide at base, set very low, tapering to rounded tops.

Nose – short with a strongly marked stop.

Eyes – large, almond-like, wide set, slightly sloping.  Whiskers and eyebrows curled, of short or medium length.

Colour: all colours accepted. Eyes match the fur colour.   ‘

Coat: very short, soft, wavy, suede-like texture. Kitten's coats are is thinner than those of the adult cats; in young cats bolding areas are not a disadvantage