fellfolio.
English
DeutschEnglish
Download on the App Store

Curly-coated cat · Great Britain

Cornish Rex

A slender, highly active cat with close waves in its coat. The Cornish Rex seeks games, warmth and often a place close to its people.

Size: SmallActivity: Very highCare needs: Low
At a glance Compare breeds ↗
Adult Cornish Rex cat with a clear view of its face
Cornish Rex sitting side-on against white, showing the waves in its coatSide viewBlack-and-white Cornish Rex male Selena Lights Wind of Change at just over five monthsYoung catGrey Cornish Rex portrait with large ears and a narrow headCoat and features

At a glance

Size
Small
Weight
2.3 to 4.5 kg
Lifespan
Not sufficiently documentedWhy is there no reliable range?
Activity
Very high
Care needs
Low
Enrichment
Plenty of variety
Owner experience
Experience recommended

Enduring enthusiasm for play

Many Cornish Rex cats enjoy playing with toys and people. It may pick up a toy in its front paws, carry it about and sometimes bring it back. Many remain lively into adulthood and seek out their people. This suits a home where someone really plays with the cat. A cat tree gives it room to move, but it still needs play and company from you.

Jump and retrieve

Keep landing spaces clear and secure a tall cat tree so the cat has somewhere to use its athleticism. A cat wand lets you move an attached toy on the end of a rod. Start at floor level, then try a low, non-slip platform. Let the cat catch the toy regularly and put the wand away after playing together. A small toy to throw and retrieve offers a different game. Afterwards, a warm resting place away from draughts is welcome.

For practical play, food searches and quiet retreats, read Indoor Cat Enrichment: Play, Food Puzzles and Safe Retreats ↗

Waves without a coarse brush

The Cornish Rex lacks the usual firm guard hairs; its very short, soft coat lies in close waves. A coarse brush offers little benefit to such fine hair. Lift loose hair gently with your hand or a soft cloth. Skin oils can collect around ears and toes, so wipe away visible dirt carefully. The thin coat offers little protection from cold or sunburn. Provide warm resting places away from draughts and shade beside sunny windows.

Grey Cornish Rex portrait with large ears and a narrow head
Head and ears in portrait

Lean but firmly muscled

It looks long-legged and delicate, but the body is firm and muscular. An arched back, tucked-up waist, long legs and slim tail give it a slender outline. The head is rather egg-shaped, with high cheekbones and large ears. The waves can be tight or looser, even extending to the whiskers, and differ from a Devon Rex's coat. The International Cat Association (TICA) gives adult females at about 2.3 to 3.2 kg and males at roughly 3.6 to 4.5 kg. The breed began with Kallibunker, a kitten born in Cornwall in 1950 with an unusually curly coat. Other breeds and domestic cats were later introduced to broaden the small founding gene pool.

Cornish Rex sitting side-on against white, showing the waves in its coat
Body shape and wavy coat

Heart, knees and skin

TICA lists hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a thickening of the heart muscle, and patellar luxation among possible concerns in Cornish Rex. Patellar luxation means the kneecap slips out of its normal groove. Ask a breeder about heart ultrasound results and whether either parent has limped repeatedly. If your cat favours a leg after a jump or limps repeatedly, have a vet check its movement. Watch the less protected skin after sun exposure or friction as well. Redness or broken skin calls for veterinary advice rather than human skin cream.

Lifespan

TICA gives the Cornish Rex 9 to more than 13 years, while GCCF suggests around 16 years or more. The figures differ substantially and provide no comparable underlying data, so a single range would mislead.

Could this breed fit your life?

Could work well if …

  • You want a highly playful cat and have time for active games each day.
  • You can provide warm resting places and safe jumping routes.

May be more difficult if …

  • You mainly want a very quiet animal that entertains itself.
  • Strong sun or cold draughts are hard to avoid in the cat's resting places.

Meet other cat breeds.

Selected by size, activity, care and play needs.

Shorthair · Singapore

Singapura

Small11 to 18 years

The Singapura is small, fond of climbing and often seeks out people. Individual hairs in its sand-coloured coat have darker bands.

Shorthair cat · Great Britain

Abyssinian

MediumNot sufficiently documented

An agile, curious cat that enjoys climbing and joining in household life. Light and dark bands on individual hairs give its short coat a finely shaded appearance.

Shorthair cat · spotted or marbled

Bengal

MediumNo reliable range

Bengals are active, curious cats with a muscular build. Climbing opportunities and daily enrichment are part of life with the breed.

Sources and photograph credit

  1. Skin Problems in Cats

    Used in this profile for: Health

  2. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

    Used in this profile for: Health

  3. Cornish Rex

    Used in this profile for: Lifespan

  4. Cornish Rex

    Used in this profile for: Size / Weight, Temperament, Everyday life, Day-to-day care, Size and build, Health, Lifespan, Could this breed fit your life?

Portrait · CRX Family Gem's Dearest Desire (3439058366) · Nickolas Titkov from Moscow, Russian Federation · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Edited

Side view · Cornish Rex · Heikki Siltala / Catza.net; Freistellung: Desaix83 · CC BY 3.0 · Edited

Young cat · Cornish-rex kitten male Selena Lights Wind of Change (4488234493) · Nickolas Titkov · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Edited

Coat and features · 20170604 kot wystawa Kraków 8006 · Jakub Hałun · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Edited