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The world of domestic cats is so diverse and beautiful that one can only be amazed at the beauty and uniqueness of purrs. Curly-haired cats, unusual in their uniqueness, deserve special admiration.
. To the eye of a person uninitiated in the issues of felinology, it seems that cats can only have a smooth coat. However, curly-haired pets are no longer a fiction - they have managed to prove their right to exist among other purebred animals.
The vast majority of cat breeds with curly hair are called "Rex". Translated from Latin it means “king”. But there is another meaning - “curly hair”, which is what formed the basis for the name of these unusual cats. Their appearance first became known in the 19th century. However, at that time there was no interest in such animals; moreover, they were considered sick and imperfect creatures. But still, curly-haired cuties have not disappeared from the face of the Earth. Thanks to spontaneous natural processes, kittens with wavy fur continued to be born periodically.
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Their new life and wave of popularity began in the second half of the twentieth century, when breeders paid attention to them. It turned out that fur curls are caused by a mutated gene. At the same time, different representatives in different regions have their own gene for curly hair. This explains the fact that when different lines of cats with curled fur are crossed, straight-haired kittens are born. Genetics of curly cat breeds
has not yet been fully clarified; experts have yet to learn about all the secrets of cats with permanent perms. Today, there are both recognized types of cats with wavy hair, and those that are only on the way to official success.
Cornish Rex
One of the oldest breeds of curly-haired cats appeared in 1950, and 17 years later, felinologists officially approved its standard and registered it. When breeding this variety, breeders used mating with Siamese and outbred pets, as a result of which they managed to achieve stable characteristics.
Cornish Rex cats have an elongated muzzle and large ears like a sphinx. The fur coat of these cats resembles astrakhan fur. These properties are due to the soft short undercoat and the almost complete absence of main hair.
Cute handsome men have an easy-going character and high intelligence. They love people very much and are ready to spend a lot of time in their arms. Curly-haired handsome men get along well in families where they are willing to pay a lot of attention. They are always obedient, easy to train and readily perform simple tricks.
Devon Rex
The kitten that gave rise to this species was found in the English county of Devonshire in 1960. Outwardly, these pets resemble another breed of curly-haired cats - the Cornish Rex. However, they are distinguished by their characteristic features.
Devon Rex cats have a rather graceful body and an unusual flat head on which large ears are located. The look is completed by slightly slanted eyes and a slightly snub nose. Their fur is soft and pleasant to the touch, but it is worth noting that there are very few guard hairs. One of the positive features of this breed of Rex cats is their reduced allergenicity.
Little elves, as Devon Rexes are sometimes called, are very active and love to play. In addition, they are easy to train - these cats, like dogs, are able to carry out the owner’s commands.
Description of the breed
The unusual-looking cats appeared as a result of a stable genetic mutation. Cats with fur like a sheep have excellent health and are unpretentious in their maintenance. For their protruding ears and external resemblance to their naked counterparts, the Cornish are called astrakhan sphinxes. The Cornish have a twin brother, the Devon Rex, but these breeds are not crossed with each other due to differences in genotype.
Appearance - what does a Cornish Rex look like?
Not too large, elegant and graceful cats with curly hair, large ears, a triangular muzzle and well-developed muscles.
American type
The American Cornish is distinguished from its English-type counterparts by its ovoid head and lighter bone structure.
The muzzle is wedge-shaped, the profile is rounded, the features of the muzzle are clear, the cheekbones are well defined, the stop is moderate or even, the skull is convex. The ears are wide at the base, rounded at the tips, resembling a cone in shape. The ears are set wide apart.
The forehead is rounded, the nose is “Roman”, the chin is courageous. The jaws are strong, with a scissor bite; a straight bite or a slight overshot is allowed. The head is set on a flexible and muscular neck of medium length. The body is slender, elongated, the stomach is tucked. The chest is well defined, looks strong, of moderate width. The long, whip-like tail gradually tapers towards the tip.
Relative to the body, the limbs look rather thin - the legs of the Cornish Rex are distinguished by lightness and thin bones. The paw is small, graceful, gathered in a tight bun. The fingers are long, the pads are shaped like an oval.
European type
“Europeans” differ from “Americans” in having heavier lines - they are less light and graceful, they have more powerful bones and the ovoid shape of the head is not as pronounced as their counterparts of the American type. In general, the differences between the two types are minor.
Size and weight
The height of an adult animal is 23-27 cm. The weight of an adult cat is 3-5.5 kg, cats are more graceful and weigh less than cats - 2-4.5 kg.
Wool
The curly Cornish Sphynx or astrakhan cat has soft and delicate, wavy, spineless fur like astrakhan fur. Cornish Rexes are cats with fur like a sheep's. On the chin, chest and tummy of the Astrakhan Sphynx, the fur is shorter and more curled than on the rest of the body. The Curly Cornish coat has no awn, the fur fits tightly to the body, forming uniform waves that are soft to the touch.
Colors
In addition to the common coat colors - black, white, red, blue, lilac, chocolate, etc., the breed standard allows almost any color. These are all varieties of tortoiseshell color, tabby, intricate torby - the Cornish Rex can have any coat color.
Astrakhan Sphynxes of Siamese color are called “C-Rex”.
Eyes
Large or medium-sized Cornish eyes resemble an oval in shape and look slightly slanted. The pigment of the iris must match the color of the representative of the breed.
German Rex
The origin story of this curly cat began in East Prussia before World War II. It was there that an Angora cat and a blue cat gave birth to unusual kittens with curls. The German Rex breed standard was finally developed only in the 70s.
Today this is one of the most popular varieties. Its representatives are distinguished by a round head with a slightly protruding muzzle. The ears of German cats are of medium size and not as mobile as those of other cats. Short hair is very delicate and soft. The greatest number of curls is observed on the back of animals.
Once in the house, these purrs very quickly accept the rules of behavior in it and also quickly find a common language with all family members. Their sociability, activity and playfulness are organically combined with musicality. Pleasant talkativeness is one of the characteristics of the breed.
Oregon Rex
This extremely rare breed of Rex cat is considered almost extinct in the world. Appearing in the mid-twentieth century, more precisely in 1944, it was popular for some time in the United States of America. But individuals of this curly breed began to be mixed with cats of other Rex cats - Cornish and Devon. As a result, the Oregonian traits began to dissolve. The last purebred cat of this variety died in 1972. Today, cats with characteristics of the Oregon Rex breed exist, but their number is extremely small on the planet.
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The body of these cats is similar to the American Shorthair. But they are distinguished by the quality of their coat: it is shorter than that of their German counterpart or the Cornish Rex. The guard hairs are not very dense and are noticeably longer than the undercoat. The curly-haired Oregon cat breed also stands out for its gentle character. This cat is an affectionate and gentle friend, especially for kids.
Laperm
These unusual pets can be fully called magnificent. Standing out among other curly-haired cats due to their large size, Lapermas captivate with their beauty. Long-haired pets have wavy hair, and short-haired ones are decorated with curls - enticing hair. Behind the ears and on the chest, the hair curls into rings, and along the rest of the body the curl is random.
An interesting feature of this breed of astrakhan cat is that kittens can be born with straight hair or even without it at all. By about one year of age, cats acquire characteristic curls. Another pleasant feature is the hypoallergenic nature of wool.
Beautiful Laperm cats captivate with their disposition. They are so loving that they do not leave anyone unattended and affectionate, including guests in the house. They express their feelings through loud purring and the desire to climb into their arms.
Conditions of detention
Curly-haired pets do not require special living conditions from other cats. They need a litter box, a place to sleep, a nail clipper and toys.
Once a month you need to trim your cat's claws. If your pet leads an active lifestyle, then the procedure will not be necessary at all, because... the claws grind down by themselves.
These cats are very attached to their owners, so you need to give them enough attention. Pets need to be petted, hugged and played with often. It is important for them to receive love from their owners.
Curly cats are loving
Cats' nutrition should be balanced. You can feed them natural food or dry food. Boiled meat, porridge, cottage cheese and other fermented milk products can be given as natural food. If you choose dry food as food, then you need to buy premium, super-premium and holistic food. It is important to maintain water balance, especially if the animal eats dry food. You cannot mix natural food and store-bought products.
Important: if your pet is male, then you should give up fish in your diet. Seafood can lead to kidney stones and urinary tract problems.
Bohemian rex
According to one version, the Bohemian Rex breed originates from the Cornish Rex. But these gorgeous cats also have a touch of Persian in their blood. Rare kittens first appeared in Czechoslovakia in 1981, and from that time selection work on their breed began.
A distinctive feature of the Bohemian line is the curly coat of long or medium length. It is especially chic around the neck and on the “pants”. There is no curl only on the face and ears. What is memorable in the appearance of cat cats is their very large, expressive eyes, the color of their fur.
Bohemian curly cats, with their powerful physique, display a very calm character. Friendliness, goodwill and peacefulness make these pets desirable in families with children, as well as in houses where other animals already live.
Choosing a little curly haired boy
Reservation of purebred kittens often begins long before the birth and even pregnancy of their mother, especially in small towns. In addition, Cornish Rex dogs are not yet sold in every locality. Plan to purchase your baby from a special nursery or a reputable breeder, even if this means making a short trip.
Cornish Rex kittens are born with curls that straighten out when the babies are a week old. The curly coat will not be formed until six months. Taking advantage of this, dishonest breeders can sell a Sphynx to buyers under the guise of a Cornish.
When buying a kitten, look at the pedigree so that there are no family ties in the line. Pay attention not only to the baby, but also to the parents, their compliance with the breed parameters, healthy and energetic appearance. If among your friends there are expert felinologists, it would not be a bad idea to invite them to the show.
It must be remembered that Cornish Rex mixes with other breeds cannot participate in exhibitions; worse, they can inherit serious genetic diseases. Therefore, pay special attention to the choice of nursery or breeder. They also care about whose hands the kitten is given.
A conscientious breeder will not sell a kitten that is under 12 weeks old. Felinologists do not advise bringing such kittens to a new place of residence. Unfortunately, buyers willingly take 6-7 week old babies because they believe that such a cat will become more attached to them. This misconception sometimes turns into unexpectedly unpleasant and tragic consequences.
Six-week-old kittens need their mother's care and breast milk, and moving to a new home can cause severe stress, illness and death for the baby. Three-month-old babies are usually already vaccinated, accustomed to communicating with people, eating solid food - it’s time to explore a new space and get to know the owner.
The following package of documents must accompany the kitten's move into the home:
- metric or pedigree (sometimes together with a transfer - regulations for the transfer of rights),
- veterinary passport,
- agreement on the transfer of a kitten (or ownership rights),
- written recommendations on feeding, care, veterinary care, exhibition career.
The cost of a Cornish Rex kitten is determined by its exhibition value:
- if the baby’s parents are titled champions, their offspring can hardly be bought for less than 40 thousand rubles,
- Breed-class animals (for breeding) will cost less - from twenty thousand to forty thousand rubles,
- Pet-class kittens are not intended for participation in exhibitions and breeding; they cost about fifteen thousand rubles and are usually sold with the condition of mandatory castration.
Selkirk rex
Not long ago in 1987, non-standard kittens were discovered in the offspring of a Persian and a Rex with short hair. They served as the starting point for the development of the curly-haired Selkirk Rex breed. Despite the fact that the coat of the Selkirk, like other Rex cats, is wavy, these cats are unique. Their fur consists of three types of hairs: absolutely straight, slightly wavy and distinctly curly.
In appearance, the Selkirk Rex resembles a small sheep, their coat is so long and curly. Nature has awarded these individuals with changeable curly hair. It has been noticed that kittens are born with curls, then the hair on their body straightens, but by about 8-10 months it again acquires a natural curl.
This curly breed of cats has given the world many true domestic friends. Cats are not only cute and loving, but also do not lose their mischief and activity in adulthood.
The history of cats with curly hair
Typical domestic cats have two types of hair:
- awn or cover hair. Hard, straight and relatively long guard hair with a conical tip. Covering hair is intended for protection, including from getting wet.
- Undercoat or down. Soft, short and thin hairs surround and support the guard hairs, so there are 10 times more of them. Downy hairs are thin and crimped and are responsible for thermoregulation.
But in curly-haired cats, during the course of the mutation, the texture of the coat has changed: there is practically no hair, and the downy hairs curl into curls with varying degrees of elasticity.
Skookum
Cute small cats were obtained by breeders as a result of mating laperms and munchkins. In addition to dwarfism, these curly-haired cats are distinguished by a beautiful collar. Some unique Skookums have short hair, some have long hair. In the latter case, the “permanent wave” is more pronounced. Looking at these babies, one cannot help but notice the wavy mustaches and eyebrows, which are mandatory according to the standard.
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Little curlies, as skookum is sometimes called, love to run, play and, unlike many other cats, swim in the water. Despite all their affection for their owners, they never make themselves known with a loud, intrusive voice. Skookum cats are unique among their furry cousins for another reason - they don't shed. Although, despite this, combing is a mandatory weekly procedure for them.
Ural rex
Aboriginal curly-haired cats were first recorded in the Urals in the 40s of the 20th century. Their appearance is associated exclusively with natural processes. Once in the hands of breeders, the new line of cats was only brought to perfection through intrabreeding. The genetics of animals is so stable that they do not have hereditary anomalies.
Muscular and slender, Ural Rex cats are distinguished from others by their silky medium-length coat, which curls in beautiful waves and curls throughout the body. All representatives of the breed are distinguished by a small mane and a tail covered with curls.
Cats of this breed are distinguished by a gentle character and a trusting attitude towards people. They readily go into the arms of even strangers and willingly join in the play with children.
Cost of kittens
The price of a baby from a cat-lamb depends on factors such as the health of the kitten, the absence of defects, the birth of the parents, the presence of breed characteristics and exhibition titles.
A small Sphynx Rex without documents will cost the owner 5-20 thousand rubles. Buying a Cornish Rex kitten with a pedigree will lighten your pocket by 20-65 thousand rubles.
