German Rex Cats: A Look at This Rare Breed

The German Rex cat is a very rare cat. Like all Rexes, see Cornish Rex and Devon Rex, it has the characteristic curly coat. The difference is that in the German Rex the Rex gene is dominant, whereas in the other two Rex breeds it is recessive. Which means that it only takes one of the parents having curly hair to give birth to kittens with the same hair.

The history of this breed is quite young, in fact in Germany, by Dr. Scheuer-Karpin, around 1946, kittens with curly hair were born from several matings. Subsequently, two specimens of this breed were also brought to France by Professor Etienne Letard, but they were never successful. In fact, very few specimens of this breed can still be found today.

What differentiates the German breed from the other two Rexes apart from the gene is the upper part of the coat, which is generally pigmented.

Character of the German Rex Cat

The German Rex cat is characteristically very similar to its cousins Devon and Cornish, so they are sweet, affectionate and have a great need for affection even though they can be independent. He is very attached to his family and especially to children if there are any. If he is offered stimulating games he can entertain himself very well even on his own, but he loves to play with his humans and especially with his favourite.

This kitten is the classic flat cat, loving to lounge on sofas and beds and enjoy all the comforts they are given. However, they are also cats who love to run, jump and climb. Their absolute sociability leads them to get along well not only with humans but also with other cats and dogs. They are also very accommodating with strangers and tend to put even those who are not very familiar with pets at ease.

They are very intelligent cats and can easily be trained to fetch or play simple games.

Appearance of the German Rex Cat

As far as its appearance is concerned, the German does not resemble the Devon but rather the Cornish from which it only differs in profile and the size of its eyes. It is a medium-sized cat between 4 and 6 kilograms.

The body is muscular and heavy with a rounded chest, thin paws and average length, the tail is broad at the base and rounded at the tip. The head is rounded with well developed cheeks, the whiskers and eyebrows are rippled, shorter than usual and curly. The ears are wide at the base, slightly rounded at the tips and with the exterior well provided with fine hairs. The eyes are medium sized and well open, of a very bright colour in harmony with the colour of the coat.

The coat is short, soft, velvety and very silky. As for the colours these can be of all varieties both in colour and pattern including white.

Care and health of the German Rex Cat

Certainly, the German Rex is a cat that must be treated with great care. It is quite delicate and needs appropriate care in various areas. One of these is alopecia, which consists of the total or partial loss of hair and can cause the cat pain and itching. As a very rare cat, however, no congenital defects or hereditary genetic diseases are listed in the bibliography. However, as it is closely related to the Cornish it is easy for it to share some of the genetic diseases of these varieties.

It is a cat that particularly suffers from changes in temperature and therefore it is good to cover it if you take it outside in the cold season. It has a life expectancy of around 14 years.

As far as looking after its coat is concerned, it should be brushed frequently, at least a couple of times a week, and instead of a brush it should be brushed with a soft cloth or glove; it has a tendency to put on weight, so it is best to take special care of its diet.