Cornish Rex

The breed began in July 1950 at Bodmin Moor, when a farm cat produced a curly-coated male kitten. On veterinary advice the owner bred him back to his mother, establishing the recessive gene that defines the breed. British breeders later outcrossed to Siamese and Burmese to widen the gene pool, which is where the Cornish Rex's elongated body type and talkative nature come from. The breed was recognised by the GCCF and has been a small but devoted presence in the UK ever since.

Cornish Rex are among the most interactive of all pedigree cats. They are dog-like in their attachment, frequently following owners from room to room, learning to fetch, and responding to their name. They stay kitten-like well into adulthood and remain physically busy into old age. They are also chatty, though generally in a softer voice than a Siamese.

• Extremely people-oriented — dislikes being left alone all day
• Athletic and vertical — will be on top of the wardrobe within a week
• Highly trainable, including clicker training and harness walking
• Warmth-seeking — the sparse coat means they gravitate to radiators, laps and duvets
• Very low shedding, though not hypoallergenic

1. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) — the most serious concern in the breed. Screening by echocardiogram costs £250-£500; managing diagnosed disease means lifelong medication and repeat scans.
2. Patellar luxation — slipping kneecaps are recognised in the breed; surgical correction typically costs £1,500-£3,000 per knee.
3. Hereditary hypotrichosis (baldness) — a small number of lines carry a gene causing progressive hair loss, leaving skin very vulnerable.
4. Excess ear wax and otitis — the large open ears produce a great deal of wax and need routine cleaning; an infection means a £60.23 consultation plus medicated drops.
5. Skin sensitivity and sunburn — sparse coat over thin skin means real risk on sunny windowsills, particularly on the ears.
6. Anaesthetic and cold sensitivity — very low body fat means they lose heat fast; tell your practice the breed before any procedure.

Ask any breeder for a recent cardiac ultrasound (echocardiogram) screening for HCM on both parents, ideally repeated annually. PKDef (pyruvate kinase deficiency) DNA testing is available and widely used in Rex lines. Knee examination for patellar luxation is worth requesting, as is confirmation that the line is free of hereditary hypotrichosis.

Contact a vet urgently for open-mouth breathing, rapid or laboured breathing at rest, or sudden hind-leg weakness or paralysis — these can indicate heart disease or a clot and are emergencies. Also seek prompt advice for a cat straining in the litter tray, persistent head shaking or a foul-smelling ear, or any sore, red or flaking patch of skin.

Very good. They are robust in personality if not in build, enjoy games and rarely scratch in play if handled properly. Because they are slight and fine-boned, children should be shown how to support the body when lifting rather than scooping under the front legs.

Sociable and adaptable. Cornish Rex typically live happily with other cats and with cat-savvy dogs, and many owners deliberately keep two so the cat has company while they are out. They will chase small caged pets, so keep those securely out of reach.

An indoor life suits this breed best — the thin coat offers little protection from British weather, and their trusting nature makes them vulnerable outdoors. In exchange they need a stimulating indoor environment: tall cat trees, shelves, window perches, puzzle feeders and a warm spot to retreat to. Keep the house comfortably heated; a Cornish Rex will genuinely feel a cold room.

Plan on at least two dedicated interactive play sessions a day with wand toys, plus rotating puzzle feeders and climbing opportunities. A bored Cornish Rex opens doors, empties shelves and shouts about it. Vertical space is not optional for this breed — they use height constantly.

One of the easiest cats to train. Clicker training, fetch, harness walking and simple cued behaviours all come readily, and training is an excellent outlet for their intelligence. Get them used to ear cleaning and nail trimming as kittens, since both are lifelong routine tasks in this breed.

The wavy coat needs almost no brushing — in fact vigorous brushing can damage the delicate hairs. A gentle stroke with a soft cloth or your hand once a week is enough. They shed very little, which is why they are often suggested to allergy sufferers, though they still produce the Fel d 1 protein and are not hypoallergenic.

Because there is so little coat to absorb it, natural skin oil builds up and can leave a Cornish Rex feeling slightly greasy; an occasional bath with a mild veterinary shampoo helps. Ears need cleaning roughly weekly with a vet-approved solution — wax build-up in this breed is considerable. Trim nails fortnightly and brush teeth daily, as with any pedigree cat, to head off the dental disease that leads to expensive extractions later.

These cats run hot and burn a lot of energy, and many need noticeably more food per kilo than a placid domestic shorthair. Feed a high-protein complete diet, split across several small meals or offered through puzzle feeders to combine feeding with enrichment. Keep fresh water available and monitor weight monthly — the sparse coat means changes in condition are visible early, which is a genuine advantage.

Current UK averages from our live database of veterinary practices:

Compare local practices before you register — the spread on identical treatments is wide.

Routine care runs at roughly £200-£400 a year: an annual booster at £72.92, a health-check consultation at £60.23 and regular parasite treatment. Add an annual cardiac screening echocardiogram at £250-£500 if you want to stay ahead of HCM, which many Cornish Rex owners choose to do from middle age onwards.

Routine care is predictable; illness is not. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and patellar luxation are the two conditions most likely to generate a large claim, with cardiology workups and orthopaedic surgery both running well into the thousands. A single referral-level workup can run into four figures before treatment even begins, which is why lifetime cover is the sensible default for this breed rather than an accident-only or annual policy.

Insure from the day you bring your Cornish Rex home, before any condition can be recorded as pre-existing. Choose a lifetime policy with a per-condition limit you would actually be comfortable with — £7,000 or more is a realistic benchmark in 2026. Check the excess structure carefully, confirm that dental cover and behavioural treatment are included, and read the exclusions for breed-specific conditions, which some insurers list explicitly.

Not every practice charges the same, and the gap is far wider than most owners realise. Our data shows routine consultation fees across UK practices ranging from under £30 to well over £90 for the same fifteen-minute appointment, so it genuinely pays to compare before you register.

For this breed, ask whether the practice offers or can refer for cardiac ultrasound, and whether they run cat-friendly appointments or a separate feline waiting area — Cornish Rex are sensitive to stress and to cold, and a practice that warms its consulting rooms and handles cats gently makes a real difference.

• Compare published prices for consultations, boosters and neutering using our directory rather than ringing round one practice at a time.
• Ask about health plans. Monthly plans covering vaccinations, flea and worm treatment and a discount on other services often work out cheaper for a Cornish Rex.
• Check out-of-hours arrangements. Find out whether emergencies are handled in-house or referred to a separate provider, and what that costs.
• Look at independence. Independent and corporate-owned practices price very differently — our listings show who owns each one.