Imagine if a Whippet turned into a cat — and , along the way , it decided to get a perm . That ’s the overall look of a Cornish rex , a rangy felid with curly pelt that to begin with hail from Cornwall in southwesterly England . Here are eight fact about the endearingly unusual cat breed .
1. The first Cornish rex was a farm cat named Kallibunker.
In 1950 , a cleaning lady name Nina Ennismore who lived in Cornwall , England , discovered that her domesticated British shorthair had given birth to aquirky - looking male kittenwith tightly curled pelt . As the cat develop one-time , he also break big , bat - like ears , and a lithe skeletal frame evocative of an English Greyhound .
rumor swirl that radiation from the local canister mines had caused the kitten ’s remaining appearing . However , Ennismore , who call the jackpot Kallibunker , consulted with a geneticist , who told her that Kallibunker ’s odd appearance stem from a genetical mutation , and recommended that she breed him back with his female parent to perpetuate the look . Kallibunker bring forth more curly - hirsute kittens , and a new strain was born . Since Ennismore also engender curly - hairy rex rabbits , she decided to name her hombre the Cornish rex in purity of their bunny girl counterparts and position of beginning .
Over the age , stock breeder have outcrossed the Cornish rex breed with other types of cats , includingSiamese , Burmese , Russian Blue , andBritish Shorthairs , to meliorate the rex ’s wellness and toughness .
2. Scientists have researched the Cornish rex’s genes.
scientist from the Lyons Feline Genetics Research Laboratoryhave discoveredthe recessive mutation that ’s responsible for the Cornish rex ’s tightly curled coat . The chromosomal mutation reportedly touch on the role of a factor that ’s responsible for hair formation and upkeep . The researchers also pop the question a DNA test so Cornish king breeders can confirm that all cat they match behave this particular gene .
3. The Cornish rex is curly all over.
Since the Cornish rex ’s fur is reminiscent of a tightly - curl retro hairdo calledMarcel waves , the kitty were once nicknamed Marcel African tea . However , a Cornish king ’s tight lock are n’t limited to its coat — the guy also has curly whiskers and brow . Watch out , poodles !
4. The Cornish rex is not hypoallergenic.
Sorry , bozo devotee with allergy : the Cornish male monarch ’s inadequate , downy fur does n’t make ithypoallergenic . When a pussycat walks into the way and you start sniffle and bust up , you’renot actually reacting to its coat . The real source of most hoi polloi ’ discomfort is the Fel d 1 glycoprotein , which be sick let loose from the sebaceous glands of the tegument , saliva , and urine . While some masses with allergies may have fewer symptom with cats that shed less , a Cornish king is n’t the answer to your woe .
5. The Cornish rex has an unusually proportioned body.
The Cornish male monarch is often compared to aGreyhound , thanks to its tucked - up stomach , arch back , long wooden leg , and tiny waist . It also has a perceptibly large , egg - shaped head that ’s aboutone - third longerthan it is wide .
6. Cornish rex cats get hot—and cold—easily.
Most kitty have a fur pelage that consists of a longer outer layer , a middle layer , and a downlike undercoat . Cornish rex cats only have the priming — mean they ’re often muchmore temperature - sensitivethan the average computed axial tomography . verify to allow them with plenty of intimate dormancy spaces during the wintertime , but also keep in judgement that that they can get overheat in a too - warm house .
7. Cornish rex cats come in all kinds of colors.
Cornish rex cats can have blue , atomic number 79 , green , or blue - green heart . As for their coat , the strain comes in a panoptic assortment of whole colors , including ashen , grim , umber , orangish , blue , and lilac . You ’ll also find tabby cat , calico cat , bicolor , and shaded silver and gold Cornish rexes [ PDF ] .
8. Cornish rex cats have dog-like personalities.
Looking for anenergetic petthat will play fetch , snuggle with you , and follow you around the house ? If you ’re more into cats than dogs , consider the Cornish rex .
A version of this story in the beginning ran in 2016 ; it has been update for 2022 .
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