The origins of the Cornish rex are quite curious. In the summer of 1950, a short-haired domestic cat gave birth to a litter of kittens, of which there was one with a very particular short curly coat. The cat’s owner contacted a geneticist, who explained that this coat was very similar to that of the rex rabbit (hence its name).
Therefore, the origin of this peculiar breed is in a spontaneous mutation of natural origin, in which the human hand did not intervene, but later several crosses were carried out with the aim of establishing and perpetuating the breed. In the 1960s, the Cornish Rex spread throughout the United States and was officially recognized.
Within the group of rex there are other variants: the devon rex, the german rex and the selkirk rex are the best known. Apparently, the mutations that caused the type of hair in each of these races are incompatible, since the crossing attempts were unsuccessful. The Cornish Rex, in particular, is believed to have come from crosses of various breeds of shorthair cats. Curious, right?
It is a cat that has a great capacity for adaptation, although it prefers the home, and in general indoor places. It is not a cat, like many others, that loves the outdoors and exploring. Although they are playful (and therefore they are good companions for children), they are quite calm felines that enjoy the house and the family.
Its great characteristic, that short and curly coat with a slightly woolly texture, makes it one of the most peculiar cats in the world, and that is precisely why it is very popular. Among the breeds whose crosses were carried out to perpetuate the breed, and which have produced the Cornish rex that we see today, are the Burmese cat and the British shorthair cat.
This feline is an independent but affectionate animal, with leadership skills and good with children. If you are considering adopting one, we will tell you some curiosities about this cat and its care.
