Background of the Rex Cat

The cat breeding world is one that stretches far and wide with cats being introduced from all over the world. The common goal is to create a unique breed from a cross of selected breeds and gene pools in an effort to realise a stable breeding pattern. Looking at the Rex cat, there are many variations in this breed. Most of them possess similar characteristics but their lineage and history varies greatly. The Cornish Rex is another variant which has been recognised by various organisations. Perhaps one of the most distinguishable features of this cat is the fact that is does not have hair except for its undercoat. Cats will often have different tiers of hair that cover various parts of their body but the Cornish Rex has fine furs that make up its undercoat only. The lack of hair does not end there either as they are known to be susceptible to hair loss and will be expected to go bald in areas during their lifespan.

The Cornish Rex as its name suggests, hails from Cornwall in the United Kingdom. It was first discovered in the early 50s and would be the result of a genetic mutation. The discovery of these cats came when the new litter of kittens were inspected when one outlier would exhibit a fine yet curly coat.