the devon rex, reviewed

that is my verdict. now see if you can even recognise this breed →

The Devon Rex is a mischievous pixie of a cat, with huge ears, big eyes, an elfin face, and a short, soft, wavy coat unlike almost anything else. It is playful, clever, and relentlessly social, often called a monkey in a cat suit. It scores high on gremlin energy, and every point is earned. Here is the honest review.

what is a devon rex

The Devon Rex began with a single curly-coated kitten born in Devon in the 1960s, carrying a natural genetic mutation that gives the breed its distinctive soft, wavy coat. It is a small, elfin, big-eared cat with an impish face and an even more impish personality. Often likened to a pixie, an elf, or a monkey, it is one of the most playful and people-loving breeds there is.

the look

The Devon Rex is unmistakable. It has a small, wedge-shaped face with enormous low-set ears, large mischievous eyes, and prominent cheekbones that give it a permanently curious, elfin expression. The coat is very short, soft, and rippled, so thin in places that the skin shows through, which means there is very little fluff here at all. The body is slim but surprisingly muscular, built for leaping. It looks like a tiny gremlin, and it behaves like one too.

temperament: the monkey in a cat suit

This is where the Devon earns its high gremlin score. It is astonishingly active, agile, and clever, forever climbing to the highest point, perching on shoulders, investigating everything, and inventing games. It is also intensely affectionate and people-obsessed, wanting to be with its humans constantly, often riding around on them and burrowing under blankets for warmth. Because that thin coat gives little insulation, Devons are famous heat-seekers who will find the warmest lap, radiator, or patch of sun in the house. It is a wonderfully entertaining, engaged companion, but it is not a quiet or independent one.

care and health, the honest part

The delicate coat needs little brushing, since vigorous grooming can damage the fine hairs, but the skin can get greasy and some Devons need occasional gentle bathing and ear cleaning. Because of that sparse coat they feel the cold and need a warm home. They shed little, which also keeps airborne allergen a touch lower, though they still produce the Fel d 1 protein, so they are not truly hypoallergenic. On health, the breed can carry certain inherited conditions, including a heart condition and a muscle disorder, and responsible breeders screen for them. As always, buy from a reputable, health-testing breeder or adopt and keep up with veterinary care.

is a devon rex right for you

If you want a playful, clever, endlessly affectionate cat that will be your shadow and your entertainment, and you can keep it warm and give it plenty of company, the Devon Rex is a delight. It is not the breed for someone wanting a calm, independent, low-interaction cat, and it should never be left cold or alone for long stretches.

the chairman's verdict

Seventy-seven. The Devon Rex is a clever, hilarious, affectionate little imp, scoring high for mischief and personality while cheerfully forfeiting all the fluff points its wispy coat cannot win. A superb companion for a warm, lively home. High marks for the pixie, delivered warily, since it is probably already on my shoulder.

Related reading from my desk: the curly-cousin Cornish Rex, more breeds in the cat breeds guide, and why does my cat get the zoomies.

Scores are the Chairman's opinion, offered in good fun. For real advice on a Devon Rex's needs, warmth, health, or suitability, speak to a reputable breeder, a rescue, or your vet. I am a cat with opinions, not a veterinarian.