Cornish Rex

Temperament

The Cornish Rex has the temperament of a perpetual kitten. It runs, jumps, fetches and can play with a ball for many minutes, then snuggles up to you under a blanket in search of warmth. Breeders call it a Velcro cat because it sticks to its people and follows them step by step. It is very intelligent and quickly learns tricks, how to open doors and cupboards, and how to walk on a harness. It gets along well with children and dogs and usually greets strangers with interest. It is not especially loud, but it likes to chat. It has a huge appetite and is known to steal food off plates. It copes badly with long periods alone, so if you work away from home, think about a second cat or a different breed.

Energy

calmvery energetic

Affection

independentvelcro pet

With children

not idealgreat

With other pets

difficultgreat

Trainability

stubborneager to learn

For first-time owners

for experienced ownersyes

With strangers

waryoutgoing

Playfulness

dignifiedeternal puppy

Shedding

minimalheavy

Grooming

easydemanding

Being left alone

strugglescopes well

Apartment living

needs a house and yardgreat in a flat

Talkativeness

quietchatterbox

Indoor-only life

needs outdoor accessgreat

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Cornish Rex for?

The Cornish Rex suits people who want a very active, cuddly and intelligent apartment cat and have time for it every day. People with allergies sometimes tolerate it better because it sheds very little, but no cat is hypoallergenic, so check your reaction before you buy. It is not a good choice for someone looking for a calm, independent cat or someone who is away all day.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

The Cornish Rex's coat consists only of soft undercoat arranged in fine waves, so it does not need brushing; brushing too hard can actually damage it. Instead, give the cat an occasional stroke with your hand or a chamois, and when the skin gets oily, bathe it with a mild shampoo and towel it dry thoroughly. The CFA warns against hair dryers, which ruin the curls. The ears collect wax faster than in other breeds, so clean them often, and trim the nails about once a month. The Cornish Rex gets cold easily: on chilly days a warm bed or even a sweater helps, and in summer it needs protection from strong sun. It has a fast metabolism and a big appetite, but it also needs vigorous daily play and cat trees to climb.

Health and breed-related conditions

The CFA describes the Cornish Rex as a sturdy breed with no known inherited diseases, and VCA lists no breed-specific conditions. The skin needs the most attention: without guard hairs, the coat is delicate and offers little protection from the sun, so the cat can get sunburned, and in winter it chills easily. The ears get dirty quickly, and sparser areas in the coat can occur, although bald patches are a fault under the standard. Sources disagree on lifespan: TICA gives 9–13+ years and VCA 15–20 years, which shows that large population studies of the breed are lacking. Before buying a kitten, ask the breeder about the parents' blood types and heart screening.

• sunburn and chillingWith no guard hairs, the skin is poorly protected from sun and cold.
• excess ear waxThe ears get dirty faster than in other breeds and need frequent cleaning.
• thin coatThe delicate, wavy coat can have sparser areas; bald patches are a fault under the standard.

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The breed was born in 1950 on Nina Ennismore's farm in Cornwall, England. An ordinary queen's litter included a cream male with a curly coat, named Kallibunker. Bred back to his mother, he produced more curly kittens, and test matings with Burmese, Siamese and British Shorthairs showed that the mutation was recessive. In 1956 a breeder from California bought a pair of cats, starting the breed in the United States. In America, the breed gradually took on a more slender, greyhound-like type. The CFA accepted Cornish Rexes for registration in 1962 and granted championship status two years later. The Cornish mutation is different from that of the Devon Rex, which appeared a few years later in the neighboring county.

Fun facts

• The breed's founder, a male kitten named Kallibunker, was born in Cornwall in 1950.
• The Cornish Rex has no guard hairs: its coat is pure undercoat.
• The Cornish Rex mutation is different from the Devon Rex's, even though both come from neighboring counties.
• The CFA warns against blow-drying a Cornish Rex, because it straightens the curls.

Frequently asked questions

This breed also appears in

• Cats for allergy sufferers

Sources

1. 1CFA – Cornish Rexcfa.org
2. 2TICA – Cornish Rex breedtica.org
3. 3VCA Animal Hospitals – Cornish Rexvcahospitals.com
4. 4FIFe – Breedsfifeweb.org
5. 5WCF – Breed standards shorthairwcf.de

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.