This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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The most obvious feature of a Cornish Rex is its short, wavy, and silky coat. Other than its characteristic waves, there are a number of other traits that help identify the breed. Its long, slender body is curvy and graceful. Its head is egg-shaped, and its eyes and ears are large. Its strongly bridged nose and well-defined chin and cheeks give its profile a squared shape. A Cornish Rex is social, energetic, and is known for acting more like a dog than a cat. It’s agile, active, and even likes to fetch.
Steps
Identifying Physical Features
Make sure it has a short, wavy coat. The most distinctive trait of a Cornish Rex is its short, curly coat. The coat should be soft and fall in tight, uniform waves. The breed comes in a variety of colors and patterns, including solid colors, bicolor (one color and white), and tortoiseshell.[1]- The wavy coat results from a genetic mutation that originated in 1950.[2]
Check for graceful body curves and arches. The Cornish Rex is long and slender with curved body contours. Its naturally arching back and deep chest make its profile dramatically curvy. Its body shape is often compared to that of a Whippet.[3]- A medium sized cat will typically weigh around 6-10 lbs (2.72-4.54 kg).
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Look for long, slender legs with muscular thighs. A Cornish Rex has thin legs and dainty paws. It stands high on its legs, which appear to be unusually long in proportion with the rest of its body. Its thighs and hips also appear disproportionately muscular for its slender frame.[4]
Look for a long, tapering tail. The arched back and tucked up hips flow into a long, thin tail. The tail should be whip-like and flexible. It should taper, or slightly narrow, toward the end. [5]Advertisement
Examining the Head and Face
Look for curly whiskers. The same gene that gives the Cornish Rex its characteristic coat causes its whiskers to curve. Their whiskers can be very curly or just gently curve at the ends. The whiskers are often brittle or prone to breaking because of their curled shape.[6]
Check for large ears and eyes. The ears should be large, bat-like, and sit on top of the head. The eyes are also large and oval in shape. The eyes should be set one full eye’s width apart.[7]
Make sure the head is egg shaped with high cheeks. Compared to the rest of its long body, the head of a Cornish Rex appears somewhat small. The head is egg-shaped, and its length should be about one-third greater than its width. Its cheeks should be high and well-defined.[8]
Look for a strongly bridged nose and well-developed chin. The bridge of its nose should be strong and appear to be a straight line when viewed in profile. The chin should also be well-defined. In combination, these features gives its face a squarish appearance when viewed from the side.[9]Advertisement
Recognizing Personality Traits
Look for social, highly active behavior. Most cats of this breed enjoy being petted and interacting with people. Their well-muscled thighs make them agile, powerful leapers.[10]- With such a social personality, these cats make great family pets. They love company, enjoy play time, and can be very affectionate with children.
See if it likes to fetch. The Cornish Rex is often described as “dog-like”. This breed loves to play, and is known to fetch and return objects. If you suspect a cat is a Cornish Rex, toss a toy and see if it brings the toy back to you.[11]
Notice if it loves warm places. Most cats like to bask in sunlight, but the Cornish Rex is especially fond of warm places. A Cornish Rex will constantly seek out warmth due to its short, thin coat.[12]- Because of its thin coat, a Cornish Rex also feels surprisingly warm to the touch. If you’re caring for one, consider buying it a sweater to keep it warm.
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Using Other Methods
Check the cat's breeding papers. If a cat came from a breeder, check its pedigree, which is a document the breeder supplies to identify the cat's breed and parentage. If you're purchasing a kitten from a breeder, make sure they provide its breed registration numbers and information about its parents.[13]- You can find a breeder using The International Cat Association's listing.[14]
Get a DNA test. There's an affordable test available that identifies the recessive gene that causes the Cornish Rex coat. If you want to verify that your cat is a Rex or was cross-bred with a Rex, you can order a test online and send a sample to a lab, or just talk to the cat's vet about administering the test.[15]- A Cornish Rex coat test costs around $40-50 (U.S.) per animal.
Observe common illnesses and conditions. The breed is prone to specific health conditions that don't affect most other cats and is at a higher risk for other species-wide issues. The most easily recognized health condition is hypotrichosis, or hereditary baldness. Look for patches of thin hair or bald spots, which are signs that your Cornish Rex is hypertrichosis.[16]- Other common issues include thickening of the heart muscle, which can only be detected with an echocardiogram, and patellar luxation, in which the kneecaps slide out of place and make it difficult for the cat to walk.[17]
- The thin coat also offers little protection against UV light, so the breed is also susceptible to sunburn.[18]
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Expert Q&A
References
- ↑ http://cfa.org/Breeds/BreedsCJ/CornishRex.aspx
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3694948/
- ↑ http://cattime.com/cat-breeds/cornish-rex-cats#/slide/1
- ↑ http://cfa.org/Portals/0/documents/breeds/standards/cornish.pdf
- ↑ http://tica.org/cat-breeds/item/200-cornish-rex-introduction
- ↑ http://tica.org/cat-breeds/item/200-cornish-rex-introduction
- ↑ http://www.vetstreet.com/cats/cornish-rex#overview
- ↑ http://cfa.org/Portals/0/documents/breeds/standards/cornish.pdf
- ↑ http://cfa.org/Portals/0/documents/breeds/standards/cornish.pdf
- ↑ http://cfa.org/Breeds/BreedsCJ/CornishRex.aspx
- ↑ http://cattime.com/cat-breeds/cornish-rex-cats#/slide/1
- ↑ http://tica.org/cat-breeds/item/200-cornish-rex-introduction
- ↑ http://cfa.org/Registration/FAQs/RegistrationFAQs.aspx
- ↑ http://forms.logiforms.com/formdata/user_forms/17237_4346552/78856/page1.html?cachebust=4945
- ↑ https://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/cat/CornishRex.php
- ↑ http://cattime.com/cat-breeds/cornish-rex-cats#/slide/1
- ↑ http://www.vetstreet.com/cats/cornish-rex#health
- ↑ http://www.vetstreet.com/cats/cornish-rex#health
About this article
To identify a Cornish Rex, look for a short, curly coat that's soft and falls in tight, uniform waves. Additionally, see if its body has graceful curves and arches with a deep chest, long and slender legs, and muscular thighs. You can also check for a long, tapering tail that’s whip-like and flexible. When you examine its face, look for curly whiskers, large ears and eyes, and an egg shaped head with high cheeks. In addition to its physical characteristics, you'll note that a Cornish Rex has a social, energetic personality that's more reminiscent of a dog than a cat. For more tips from our Veterinary co-author, including how to obtain a DNA test for your cat, keep reading!
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