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Cornish rex |
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TranslationFrancis Vandersteen |
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OriginThe Cornish rex, also known as the Cornish rex, is a breed of cat native to the United Kingdom. |
This cat is characterized by its very short, notched, soft coat. |
A brief historical overview |
The Cornish rex, originally from Great Britain, is the result of spontaneous mutation. The breed's founder was a male named Kallibunker found in Cornwall in the early 1950s. The breed's name is a reference to its region of origin and its coat, which is similar to that of the rex rabbit. Kallibunker was bred with his mother to create a new line, which was later exported to the USA. The breed was officially recognized in England in 1967. |
Behavior / characteristics |
The Cornish rex is often described as a very sociable cat that hates solitude. It enjoys the company of other cats and dogs. It is also said to be lively, restless and very playful. It is said to be affectionate and sensitive, constantly seeking petting and attention. He's usually very attached to his master, following him everywhere. He would adapt very easily to apartment life. He also hates the cold. However, these traits are entirely individual and depend above all on the history of each individual. |
Health |
Despite its vulnerable appearance, the Cornish rex is no more fragile than any other cat. However, given its short coat, it tends to be rather chilly. So keep him warm. He'll appreciate wrapping himself in a blanket or lying under the sheets. You should regularly clean his ears and eyes, which tend to clog up with secretions. This is not a sign of illness (otherwise, the secretions would be green or yellow), just a breed peculiarity. |
Head |
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Cranial region |
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Head |
The head is medium-sized, longer than it is wide. The profile is described as “Roman”, i.e., the head is formed by two convex arches, one from the skull to the nose and the other from the nose to the muzzle. | |
Skull |
The skull is egg-shaped, with a prominent occiput. |
Facial region |
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Nose |
The nose is broad and rounded. | |
Eyes |
Medium-sized, wide-open, oval-shaped eyes. Set at an angle, they should be spaced the width of an eye. Their color should match that of the coat. | |
Ears |
Large, conical and set high on the head. |
Neck |
The long, fine, muscular neck is also arched. |
Body |
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Generality |
Cornish Rex are described as greyhound-like, elegant and athletic. Oriental in type, the body is long and slender, with an arched back. The bone structure is very fine, but not brittle. | |
Chest |
Deep ribcage. |
Tail |
Long and fine, whip-like. Preferably covered with fine, notched hair. A bare tail base is considered a tolerable fault in cat shows, especially for males. |
Limbs |
The legs are high and slender, muscular with small, oval paws, giving the impression that the cat is walking on its toes like a dancer. | ||
Forequarters |
Hindquarters |
Coat |
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Coat and texture |
Notched hairs give the impression of waves, and the coat is compared to astrakhan. The coat is composed solely of guard hair and undercoat, with no guard hairs. The guard hair resembles down. The coat is soft and short. It is shorter and denser on the legs and head. Large bare patches are penalized by exposure. All colors and coats are acceptable. |
Size and weight |
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Height at withers |
Male height at withers: between 23 and 25 cm. Female height at withers: between 23 and 25 cm. |
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Weight |
Average adult male weight: between 2.5 and 4.5 kg. Average adult female weight: between 2.5 and 4.5 kg. |
Tolerances |
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Penalties |
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Refusal of any title |
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Authorized marriages |
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