Description and maintenance of Devon Rex cats

Devon Rex is an amazing breed of cats with an unusual exterior and a unique texture of wool. Despite the low prevalence among Russian breeders, this breed is calm, peaceful and inquisitive in nature, and also does not require special care efforts. The article will describe in detail the description and maintenance of Devon Rex cats, as well as give tips and advice on feeding and breeding these pets.

The county of Devonshire in South West England is considered to be the historical homeland of these extraordinary cats. Around the 1960s, a cat was seen in these lands with an amazing appearance for that time. The animal managed to hide from people due to its extraordinary speed, however, the female that traveled with him managed to be taken to the farm. In the near future, she walked around, and among the kittens there was one unusual dark baby with short and curly hair.

The cat was named Kirlie, and its owner decided that he was a representative of the rare Cornish Rex breed. Kittens of animals had approximately the same exterior, profile and long thin legs. With the growing up of the cat, the owner had the idea to start breeding the breed, however, mating the pet with her relatives did not give any result. These were still the most ordinary cats without the coveted curls in their hair and large ears.

At this time, there was a real crisis among the entire Rex breed - there were fewer and fewer individuals, and few breeders wanted to buy them. However, several breeders managed to preserve the varieties. Kirlie’s mating with these representatives did not give any results, however, in the course of selection studies with an ordinary domestic cat, kittens soon appeared with the right type of coat, eyes and ears.

Only in the second half of the 20th century the Devons acted as a full-fledged breed (in the USA), and already in 1972, individual individuals won champion status. High rates and official recognition did their job - Devon Rex began to appear in homes and nurseries more and more, many American and British families became interested in them. The population of these cats on the current day is negligible due to the small fecundity and many flaws in the born individuals. Large nurseries regularly make the decision to interbreed individuals of this species with others to preserve a whole variety of Devons.

With their physique, Devon Rex resembles noble leopards. In fact, this breed is the result of breeding numerous varieties of cats.

Today, there is a certain standard of external characteristics of this breed of cats. You can find it below.

• The average weight of a healthy animal, as a rule, is from 3.2 to 4.5 kilograms. Males often have slightly less weight than cats.
• The average growth at the withers is up to 35 cm. However, some prefer to measure this breed precisely in length, taking into account the size of the limbs.
• Colors in color. There are completely different shades, however, pure monochromatic individuals are considered purebred Devons: black, white, whitish, brown. The most common variegated colors are tortoiseshell, Siamese and golden-red shades.
• Average life expectancy. Under ideal conditions, a typical Devon Rex can live for 14-16 years.

Here is a detailed description of the external characteristics and the exterior of the breed.

• The head is a wedge-shaped triangular type with defined cheekbones and a clear “pinch”. If you look at the head in profile, you will clearly notice the stop (or a sharp transition from the forehead to the back of the nose or muzzle). The skull itself is flat, but the transition from nose to forehead is smooth and rounded.
• Muzzle. Short, however, stands out from the rest of the profile. Marked pads of whiskers, the chin is large, slightly rounded.
• Eyeballs. The eyes are unusually large, set wide, round in shape. The iris is often bluish, golden, green or ashen, with dark and white colors. It is believed that there is a correlation between eye color and color in Devon Rex, however, the iris in any case should be clean and not fogged.
• The ears. Thin, covered with a small layer of wool, set low, the base practically borders on the line of superciliary spirits. The tips of the ears are rounded, the ears are facing forward. Tip brushes are usually absent, but may be in mixed breeds.
• Torso. Strong, powerful, but not particularly thick and short. The chest is wide, the limbs are long, elastic and powerful. The front legs are usually slightly shorter than the hind legs, which allows the animal to make large jumps in length and height.
• Mustache and eyebrows. Almost undeveloped and invisible, short.
• Limbs. Despite the great length, the legs of this breed are thin, and the pads are extremely small, usually rounded. The tail is long, covered with a uniform but thin layer of hair. At the end it is pointed.
• Neck. Oblong, but thin. In adult cats, it is characterized by small leathery folds along the larynx.
• Hairline. Contrary to popular belief, Devons have very dense curly hair on all parts of their body. An exception may be the ears, chest and neck, where the hairline is standardly slightly less. If an individual has bald parts of the body or bald patches, it is likely to have health problems. You must also be able to distinguish the difference between thin hair and color, in breeds with a dark color, the coat always seems thicker.

Let's start with the pros.

• Bright and extraordinary appearance that will be remembered by each of your guests.
• Despite the thin hair, they have good and good health, rarely get sick.
• Ideal for lovers of active cats who are with you constantly, and do not sit out somewhere in the corner or sleep for days on end.
• Extraordinary intelligence, excellent mental abilities and a predisposition to training and training.
• Great for children, the breed is not prone to jealousy. Get along well with other pets.
• Love for cleanliness, which is why he often likes to lick himself.
• The breed is considered by some to be hypoallergenic, however, this is not so. Due to the short hairline, it leaves extremely little hair and rarely sheds, which reduces the risk of allergic reactions in the owners. Thanks to the short coat, it does not require much care.

Some cons are also noted.

• Extremely difficult to end parting with the owner. Ordinary Devon can fall into a real depression with a long absence of the owner of the house. That is why the breed is not advised to start people with a busy schedule and a small amount of free time.
• Excessive activity, which leads to damage to home furniture and other unstable things. At an early age he loves to gnaw all the wires and fabrics he meets on his way, and the Devon, who is not trained in manners, will spoil wherever he wants.
• Without constant stress and entertainment, she feels depressed. Needs a large number of games, tunnels, balls and racks for recreation. Love for jumping, as well as extreme curiosity can lead to injury to the pet. Try to wean him from jumping onto cabinets and tall chests of drawers.
• The breed is considered to be rare in Russia and the CIS, and therefore is expensive, and it is difficult to find healthy individuals.

The rarity, grace and natural beauty of the breed did not develop in the Devons of any aggressive or arrogant nature. Quite the opposite, such cats do not tolerate loneliness and try by all means to attract the attention of the owner. The loyalty and affection of this species to humans is sometimes compared with those of dogs.

This cat will always be with you. As soon as you get home, he will meet you and will rub quite at your feet. When you go to the kitchen - he will follow you tail, but in anticipation of not food, but approval and affection. When you rest, he will sit on your hands, on your knees, or even try to climb onto your shoulders. This is an incredibly sociable cat breed.

Let us consider in more detail the quality of representatives of this breed.

• Activity. From birth to the old age, the Devons are incredible fidgets. They stick their nose everywhere, they care about everything. They never get tired, rarely rest, and generally behave like real children.
• Socialization. Love for human communication, patience for children and loyalty to other pets puts this breed much higher than other cats. In addition, the Devon does not apply to those cats who, when they see new people in the apartment, simply run away and hide under the sofa. They will try to get to know each other and attract attention to themselves.
• Empathy. Despite their activity, the Devons have a wonderful sense of the state of the owner and are prone to empathy. At the same time, if the owner is angry or very tired, they will understand this and will not be bored.
• Learning ability. Under favorable conditions, the cats and the owner of the Devon show remarkable results in training, they can learn up to a dozen tricks in a lifetime.
• Dangerous adventures. The increased activity of the Devons makes them quickly tired, so cats very often need food. The need for additional food leads to theft of food directly from the owner’s plate or to the search for edible throughout the apartment. This can lead to damage to property or to poisoning (if the cat eats some lying bread crust or a piece of old fruit).

As already mentioned, most Devon Rex live on average up to 14-16 years, however, there are cases when individuals survived to 20. Life expectancy also depends heavily on heredity, as well as on the conditions of detention.

The main factors affecting the life span of the Devon Rex are several points.

• The quality of care and care for the pet, the conditions of detention.
• Regularity, variety and quality of food.
• The general psychological state of the animal. Intimidated, aggressive and unsatisfied individuals live much less.
• Heredity - when buying Devons, one should check his documents, as well as the documents of his parents for the identification of rare hereditary diseases.
• Socialization. Communication is an important factor in life for the Devons, with a long absence of hosts, it is prone to depressive disorders and imminent death.
• Climate and territory.

This breed does not have any specific coat color standard. During the selection, the breeders use a huge amount of gene material of different breeds to identify unique colors and shades. The main condition in crossing is the preservation of the texture of the wool in the form of short and dense curls. There are both white, black, brown individuals with a solid color, and cats with bicolor and variegated coat color. The most common color options will be listed below.

• Siamese coloring. It involves white or gray hair on the chest, back and stomach, along the limbs and on the head. However, it is characterized by characteristic brown spots on the muzzle and nose, as well as dark paws and ears. The tail is usually the same color as the muzzle.

• Cinnamon. Honey or pale brown shade with fuzzy dark tiger stripes throughout the body and limbs. The chest and ears are several shades lighter, the nose and muzzle, on the contrary, are darker.

• Point Gray or pale color along the whole body. From the ridge begins a fuzzy wide dark line that goes right up to the tail. The tail is covered with black and white stripes on the outside, mostly dark on the inside. The same goes for the inside and outside of the limbs and legs. The muzzle shows characteristic darkening along the nose and eye line.

• Bicolor. It is characterized by two dominant colors with sharp contrast - most often these are white and black spots along the entire body. The back, as a rule, is dark, the chest is lighter with rare spots. The muzzle and the outer side of the limbs are also most often light.

• Tabby. It resembles the color of cinnamon, however, in the light, the hair is cast with a specific red or light chocolate shade. The tail is covered with black-brown stripes, the inner side of the limbs is dark, the legs themselves are light. Above the eyes in the area of ​​the superciliary arches, distinctive thin black vertical stripes can be seen.

• Tortoise color. Variegated and non-continuous color, which includes four separate tones at once: black, brown, white and yellowish. As a rule, shades are located as promiscuous spots throughout the body, including the tail, limbs, and breast.

• Black Color with a strict dominance of dark and black shades. Dark hair covers the entire body of the pet, light areas are absent.

Most owners are afraid to start Devon Rex due to difficult conditions. This myth has developed due to the external similarity of the animal with the sphinx, which, indeed, requires special care. Devons are far less picky about food and place of residence, the main thing is to love a pet - this will be for him the best remedy for all adversity.

We will deal with some recommendations and conditions for caring for this breed. Most of the tips will deal with general grooming of cats, so for most owners they will not be difficult or impossible.

Regular care should include several mandatory steps.

• The washing up. Most domestic cats do not need frequent bathing - water harms the skin, can get into the ears and cause suppuration and irritation, and they prefer to wash themselves. This rule also applies to Devon Rex - a thin layer of wool does not get dirty so quickly and almost does not lose its appearance. Ideally, these cats should be washed no more than a couple of times a year. The optimum water temperature should be around +38 degrees, do not allow moisture to enter the ears, eyes and nose.

• Ear Care. Due to its large size and upright position, a large amount of dirt regularly accumulates in the Devonian ears. Experienced breeders prefer to clean every day to reduce the risk of inflammation. In this case, cotton wool or special swabs are used to clean the ears. A pet is unlikely to like this procedure, especially if you are doing it ineptly, so it is advisable to take it with some kind of game, a treat or just stroking and telling something during cleaning.

• Eye Prevention Devon's eyes are very large and delicate, since the Devon himself loves an active lifestyle, they almost always remain open. That is why some of the diseases of these cats is associated with the eyes.

• Claws. Since adolescence, the claws are actively growing in young Devons. As a rule, they come from games and entertainment, and the pet itself often likes to bite them on its own. However, adults or elderly individuals may not care about claws, which even cause them discomfort. In this case, it is worth using special tweezers.

• Teeth and oral cavity. Not all owners resort to brushing their teeth, but this does not make it less useful. As in humans, the Devonian may cause tooth decay and accumulation of food debris in the teeth. In this case, there is a chance of getting sharp bones or other elements in the gaps between the teeth of the animal. For regular cleaning, you will need a special toothpaste and a toothbrush, if you do not have time for this, you should at least once every couple of weeks examine the cat’s mouth for any suppuration or bad teeth.

• Hair care. Most of the cares of any catman are to care for the hair of the animal: combing, examining for fleas, cleaning excess and faded hair. Devons have very little wool, and shed excesses are unlikely to cause much trouble.

• Vaccinations. Do not forget about regular vaccination sessions - this will protect your pet from many dangerous diseases.

It is also worthwhile to understand the conditions in which a competent breeder will correctly arrange his apartment for such an exotic and active pet as Devon Rex. Understand that a new space for such cats is always an adventure. Do not try to wean an adult pet from going to some place or not jumping somewhere - this species will follow its goal to the end until it hits a lump.

The following recommendations will help you not only protect your pet from all potential home threats, but also from him.

• As much as possible, remove from the open places all small things, as well as equipment that can be easily damaged. These things include: cables from the TV, charging from the phone, ordinary shoelaces, threads and needles, remote control. All these things can potentially harm your animal, whose self-preservation instinct is completely disabled when learning something new.
• There should not be any liquids or household chemicals (laundry detergents, bleaches and conditioners) in the open. This also applies to first-aid kits, various mixtures of pests, ointments and creams. With all this, Devon Rex can easily be poisoned, as, indeed, any cat.
• It is in your interests to remove from the shelves, chests of drawers and cabinets all decor elements that can easily fall, break or break. This, for example, vases, shelving, frames, books, lawns. The adventures of Devon Rex are nothing without climbing and active hide and seek, especially on the hills, which can cause significant harm to all these things.
• Either completely remove it or replace ordinary curtains with blinds - the Devons simply adore climbing on them, which is why even the most durable curtains and tulle can turn into real rags.
• These cats' unique abilities for parkour and curiosity make Devon Rex potential victims of open windows and balconies. Despite the fact that the cat can transfer the fall from the 2nd or 3rd floor painlessly, it will be better to protect itself and not leave the windows open.

The number of personal items for Devon Rex should include several items that must be purchased before buying the pet itself.

• Shelving, house or any other place convenient for the cat. There should not be other pets or any of the owners. The Devon must have his own personal space, in which no one but him could get into. A house or a couch should be placed in a well-lit place, where one of the owners would constantly be (this is a very important point). These cats love warmth - after all, their fur coat is not so thick as to tolerate frost, so choose a place near the heating elements and make sure that there are no drafts.
• When the Devons are hungry, they can easily flip all your prepared bowls of water and food. Therefore, avoid buying light polymer models - it is better to turn to metal or ceramic options.
• All toilet affairs of your pet should take place from the very first day in only one particular place. If this is some kind of room, then try to always keep the doors open there so that the pet has round-the-clock access there. You can choose any filler, however, avoid products with a pungent and specific smell (such a smell will drown out the excrement, but it will scare away the cat itself).
• The device for hair care and clipping, cotton swabs for the ears, massage brushes.
• You should take care of carrying - especially if you are going camping in the winter. Carrying should be quite large so that the animal feels comfortable there, should have direct access to air, as well as insulated walls.
• Buy a clawcloth or item where the animal can stretch its legs and grind overgrown claws.This thing can be found in any pet store, often the design of the claw point includes balls for games, a sunbed or even the house itself.
• Not a day without entertainment - immediately stock up on a large number of different toys with which your pet will play during leisure hours. Toys should be given sequentially - a large amount of entertainment disorientates the pet, and they themselves may soon get bored with prolonged contact. Tunnels, various moves or special regiments will also be a good addition, because the Devons are born climbers.

The feeding process of these cats cannot be called complicated, with due patience even an amateur breeder will cope with it. There are 3 types of feeding for these pets: natural food, prepared food and mixes, a combined version. Features, pros and cons of each type will be discussed below.

In this case, you need to regularly buy certain foods in the store, this should be a specialized feed for cats of fairly high quality - Devon may be dismissive of low-grade feeds. Feed can be either dry, or in the form of canned food or a mixture, the choice will depend on the price and usefulness of the individual feed.

The advantages of such food are obvious.

• These feeds are pre-balanced, they do not need to add any other vitamins. Quality feed contains all the necessary elements for a young Devon.
• Dry feeds can usually be stored for months in the right packaging and in a dry place. As for the mixtures and canned goods, they are sold in vacuum packaging and can also not deteriorate for a long time in the refrigerator or freezer.
• There is no need to rack your brains over such food. You just pour the next portion of food for your animal and know that it will be useful for him.

Cons of dry food and canned goods also exist.

• Even wholesale regular purchase of high-quality feed will greatly affect your wallet.
• Devon Rexes need a variety not only in terms of entertainment, but also in food. Disposable foods over time can simply bother them, which will lead to health problems.
• Manufacturers of such feeds usually recommend a certain dose of food per meal. The problem with this food is that it may not be enough for a specific individual - for kittens, pregnant females or elderly cats. At the same time, even slight overeating can lead to obesity and gastrointestinal problems.

The method involves the inclusion in the diet of only natural food or food prepared by the owner of the pet in person. This includes meat with a low percentage of fat, offal (necessarily boiled), salads from boiled vegetables, cereals (buckwheat, rice). From time to time, you can add sour-milk products (cheese, cottage cheese, kefir), eggs and fish (preferably marine) to the diet.

Natural feed has several advantages.

• If you are a skilled cook and know how to handle even a small amount of food competently, then this method will be cheaper for you. You yourself monitor the quality of the products provided, their freshness and cooking conditions.
• In such a diet, it is very easy to diversify the diet yourself. You can add some vegetables or fruits to the serving if you are sure that the pet needs certain vitamins.

But there are also disadvantages of such feeding.

• The difficulty of balancing vitamins and calories. The more foods in the portion, the more carefully it is necessary to calculate the ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
• Cooking natural food will probably take you a lot of time.And if for the first time after buying a pet you can easily stretch out on one enthusiasm, in the future the preparation of such food will become something of an unpleasant duty.
• Natural food is much less stored. This food should be given immediately after preparation, so that all the nutrients do not evaporate.

The secret here is to alternate ready-made feed and canned food with natural food, but avoid feeding different feeds in one serving. The ideal option would be to feed the finished food in the morning - to gain energy for the next day, and postpone the supply of natural food in the evening, so that all natural elements are absorbed during the rest and sleep.

The advantages of such a scheme:

• less waste of time and money;
• easier to choose a balanced diet;
• a constant variety of food, because of which it can not bother the pet.

Given all the above, you should follow the general rules for feeding cats.

• Use only fresh and quality products.
• Do not give your pet food from your table, especially pickled, salted or fried foods. The body of cats is not adapted to the processing of food in this form.
• There should always be clean water in the public domain. This applies primarily to those cats whose diet consists mainly of dry food.
• For feeding, you should choose a strictly defined time, so that the cat's body gets used to the food delivery schedule.
• Wash dishes and bowls regularly, otherwise the old food will deteriorate, which threatens the pet with poisoning.

Unfortunately, breeding this breed at home is not an easy task. Initially, the Devons were created thanks to a mutation, and the first individuals crossed exclusively with their relatives, which negatively affected the preservation of the gene pool.

New individuals had fragile immunity and often died at a young age from neurological pathologies and diseases of the muscular system. After the selection of completely healthy individuals, a painstaking selection process began, which does not stop to this day.

For breeding Devons today, material from British and American shorthair breeds is involved. The main problem in breeding this species is the incompatibility of blood groups in the mother and kittens. Well-known 3 blood groups in domestic cats: A, B, AB. Blood type depends primarily on the area of ​​distribution and origin of the breed itself. Most often, animals with blood type B are found - in Devon Rex it is about 50% of all individuals, respectively, about 40-50% of group A. individuals. Blood type AB is extremely rare, so few people take it into account when breeding.

The fact is that blood type A is dominant, and when mating parents with A- and B-type, cubs of type A blood are always born (if both parents are type B, then kittens will only have B-type blood). The type of blood as such does not affect the health of young animals, however, there is a frequent problem of the incompatibility of the mother with type B blood with A-type cubs. The problem is that the cat's body produces special antibodies that are designed to suppress the cells of A-type cubs. At the time of the birth of the fetus right up to birth, these antibodies do not enter the placenta, which means that healthy babies are born.

In the first few days after birth, the cat, along with milk, releases the so-called colostrum, or primary milk. If we admit the cubs to the mother these days for feeding, then there is a good chance that their body simply can not cope with so many dangerous cat antibodies. There are times when kittens resistant to these antibodies are born, but these cases are more likely an exception to the rule - young animals develop a special immunity to antibodies. One Devon Rex litter can contain up to 5 kittens, which means that approximately one kitten from them will be resistant to these antibodies. Breeders believe that the percentage of deaths among litters increases with the frequency of mating of the same incompatible parents.

To avoid such mortality among litters, some breeders recommend immediately taking the kittens away from their mothers. However, this has its drawbacks.

• Mother’s milk contains all the elements necessary for growth and development, a person, even with all the desire, will not be able to completely balance a diet like this food.
• The cat will experience great depression if you take the kittens away from her. This can lead to serious disorders and illnesses.

Devon Rex is fully strengthened by three months, during which time they form a spine, muscle tissue grows stronger, the digestive and cardiovascular systems work.

Since you are unlikely to be able to sell Devon Rex kittens up to three months of age, you should take care of their upbringing. Many breeders are interested in the nature of the animal, its socialization and activity, because somewhere they will become real family members.

The established rules in your apartment should be indicated from the very first days, they may include a number of installations.

• Closed access areas in the apartment should be immediately marked. If this is some kind of room - close the doors there, not allowing the animal to go there. If it’s a work or kitchen table with lots of food and delicate supplies, clean the animal as soon as the Devon gets on it. Weaning from the kitchen table and stealing food will not be easy. Try to feed the animal more often until you yourself go to breakfast or dinner.
• It is easiest to accustom young animals to the toilet if the cat in the house already has its own separate latrine. Young kittens are looking for such a place by the smell of their mother, so it’s worth putting a part of the filler from the cat’s tray in the kitten’s own tray. The kitten will not be able to get used to this place right away, in the first weeks, and sometimes even months, you will have to direct the pet yourself.
• Almost from birth, claws begin to grow actively in kittens, which can interfere with movement or climbing. To get rid of discomfort, the cats tear furniture and home decoration. Immediately take your pet to a scratching post, and to make sure that this toy is as comfortable to sharpen as your fabric sofa - just swipe it with your foot on the surface of the accessory.
• A very important point in raising young kittens is to teach them hygiene. First of all, this applies to cleaning the ears, eyes, clipping, washing. Before the procedure, the animal should be calm, it is best to do this in the evening, then the activity of cats decreases significantly. Hygiene items should not be stored in a specific place, they should always be kept visible so that the pet is not afraid of them. During the procedure itself, talk more with the cat, praise him and calm him down. You can give him some small treat from time to time so that the pet is distracted. A calm environment without stress and aggression will lead to the fact that the kitten will get used to and will take such procedures as something for granted, but safe.
• Few owners like to take cats out into the street, where animals can feel severe stress (especially if you have never taken him to the yard before). If you want your pet to have a chance to unwind and frolic on fresh grass - you should accustom him to a leash and a collar. Without them, you should not let the cat go outside; out of curiosity or fear, the Devon can rush in any direction and simply get lost. This is especially dangerous in the winter season, when even a couple of hours of frosty air can disastrously affect the Devonian. And in general, without blankets in winter, this breed is better not to walk.
• In education, avoid using rude words, complaints, and other expressions with vivid expression. These animals respond to negative only negatively and grow up aggressive, evil and revengeful animals. The same goes for physical abuse. Try to approach education through the promotion method. For every trick done - a treat, he brought a sneaker - delicious, responded to his nickname - even a simple affectionate word will show the cat that you are happy with it.

Despite the relative underdevelopment of the breed itself, the Devons have simply excellent health and rarely get sick with something. The most common Devonian diseases are common feline diseases. But there are also some hereditary diseases that can seriously affect the life of the pet. You will find them below.

• Congenital hypotrichosis. In other words, the common baldness that this breed inherited from the Sphinxes. Baldness most often speaks of an unclean individual, but if it is local, it most likely concerns health problems and a lack of vitamins.
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Pathological change in the cardiovascular system. Identifying the disease at an early stage allows you to determine the right treatment, in which the animal lives a long life calmly.
• Myopathy It is both a hereditary and an acquired disease due to improper metabolism in the body. With it, a certain part of the muscles in the body ceases to function, and over time completely refuses to work. It can affect either one part of the body or limb, or the whole body. It is rare, but cannot be cured in the final stages, which is why many Devons die from this disease.
• Hip dysplasia. In other words, a disease of bones and cartilage. It is very difficult to determine the primary symptoms are easily confused with the fatigue of the animal. As a rule, it is determined upon reaching six months of age by experienced veterinarians. In the first stages it is possible to cure.
• Coagulopathy is a disease in which blood coagulation processes are disturbed. Appears from malnutrition and lack of vitamins in the feed.
• Obesity and gastrointestinal pathology. It occurs due to irregular and unhealthy diets. Weight gain leads to more stress on the heart and other organs. In addition, skin diseases are possible.
• Malassesious dermatitis is almost the same as baldness, but is characterized by hair loss on the background of rashes and itching. It is treated the same way - by modifying the diet for proper and balanced nutrition.

Thanks to their extraordinary appearance, the Devon Rex deserve the same extravagant and unusual name. Here, the owners' imagination is absolutely unlimited, however, there are still certain recommendations when choosing cat nicknames.

• The nickname should be moderately short.Cats don’t remember complex and long phrases; even in training, they react to strictly defined short commands: up, to me, to stand, somersault. If your cat’s documents contain some intricate or unpronounceable name, just shorten it to an option that you can easily pronounce and remember.
• The name should be sonorous and loud. Despite the fact that the Devons respond favorably to hissing and whistling sounds, the best option is to select nicknames with hard and loud consonants: k, h, c, d, g.

In their small homeland, the names and nicknames of Devon Rex are associated with several aspects: the territory of birth, associations with a famous historical or literary person, associations with sheep due to the non-standard texture of the coat. Next, you can find a list of Devon names that are most common in the UK.

• Nicknames associated with the territory. In Devonshire itself, many old and even ancient estates and castles with bizarre and non-standard names have been preserved. To distinguish their pet from others, English breeders prefer to call pets the following names: Podham, Totnes, Compton and Haldon and Pomera. All these are the names of famous castles and territories, known to everyone within the boundaries of modern England.
• Few people know the attraction of the famous writer Arthur Conan Doyle to this English county. It was in these swamps that the mysterious Hound of the Baskervilles lived. That is why you can associate your pet's nickname with this wonderful detective story. Here the names Barimore, Laura and Baril will be appropriate.
• Of the famous historical figures on the land of Devonshire, Francis Drake was born - a world famous navigator who, according to the records, had fiery red hair (which is why the nickname Drake is ideal for an animal with a red or purple color). If your Devon loves to purr fancy tunes, you can call him by the name of Chris Martin - the lead singer of the famous rock band Coldplay, who was also born in these lands.
• Associations with English transliteration of names. For example, for noisy, active and curious pets, the nicknames Noisy (curious), Bizar (extraordinary, unusual), Light (light, light, graceful) and Brave (brave, brave, fast) are suitable.

If you did not like any of these names (which is no wonder, because they are not typical for a Russian breeder), you can come up with it yourself. When choosing a nickname, several factors are taken into account.

• Thoroughbred breed. If your Devon Rex has wonderful documents and certified parents with good performances at exhibitions, perhaps you should call it a noble and sonorous name: Earl, Lord, Lady, Lady, Duke, Prince (and derivatives of these names).
• The color of the breed also plays a significant role in choosing a name for the pet. For dark pets, nicknames are suitable: Black, Dusk, Night, Bagheera. For light ones, it may be suitable: Diamond, Snowball, Albus, Cloud, Gray, Dew. If you have a pet with multi-colored wool, then consider universal or colorful names like Spark or Dawn, Rainbow, Tortilla.
• Character. Already at a young age, the Devons begin to show activity in the moral sense, precisely due to such features as restlessness, calmness or playfulness, names are often given. For active pets, pick up quick and clear names: Lightning, Whirlwind, Buyan, Fidget, Tramp.
• The ears. Often the basis for inventing names for this breed was made up of fantastic and fantasy stories and compositions with elves, wizards and monsters (because of the unusually large ears of this breed). Good names in this case can be: Legolas, Haldir, Elrond, Penlod, Galion (boys).For girls, the names are suitable: Arwen, Anaire, Aredel.
• Any other associations with animals, plants, natural phenomena, famous people: Caesar, Chamomile, Bars, Grad. Here, the choice already depends on the owner himself and his hobbies, as well as on certain events that contributed to the birth or upbringing of the pet.

Most experienced owners of the positive features of this breed indicate extreme activity, curiosity, desire for communication and friendliness towards the owner and his family. And also many note excellent health and resistance to many colds and viral diseases.

Of the negative and negative traits, breeders do not like stubbornness and importunity, excessive obsession of some individuals, as well as the Devonian habit of constantly poking their nose everywhere.

Anyway, but most families prefer to bypass this breed. The arguments that are most common:

• such cats are expensive;
• their unusual appearance does not seem successful and pleasant to everyone;
• the breed is extremely complex in terms of breeding and demanding on the experience of the owner.

About the Devon Rex cat: description, care and maintenance of the Devon Rex cat breed, see the next video.