Cornish Rex
The Cornish Rex is a breed of domestic cat with a short, soft, wavy coat caused by a recessive genetic mutation affecting hair structure.
Cat coat genetics: The study of inherited genes and traits that determine domestic cats’ fur, color, and pattern. The breed’s unusual coat results from inherited changes to hair structure.
Kallibunker: A curly-coated kitten born in Cornwall in 1950, recognized as the founding cat of the Cornish Rex breed. His unusual coat began the documented breeding line.
Devon Rex: A British cat breed with a short, wavy coat, large ears, and a distinct genetic origin from the Cornish Rex. The similar name and curly coat can obscure that the breeds arose from different mutations.
Cat grooming: Routine care of a cat’s coat, skin, claws, ears, and teeth. The Cornish Rex’s fine coat generally needs gentle handling rather than vigorous brushing.
Recessive allele: A gene variant whose associated trait is usually expressed only when two copies are inherited. Cornish Rex coat texture follows a recessive inheritance pattern.
Bodmin Moor: A moorland region in Cornwall, southwestern England. The breed’s founding kitten was born near Bodmin Moor.
Selkirk Rex: A cat breed with a dominant mutation that produces a plush, curly coat in short- and long-haired forms. Its coat is denser and its inheritance differs from the Cornish Rex’s.
Cat skin health: The prevention, recognition, and treatment of disorders affecting feline skin. A sparse coat can leave skin more exposed to irritation and environmental conditions.
Cat hair: The keratin fibers growing from a cat’s skin, including guard hairs, awn hairs, and undercoat. The mutation changes the coat’s hair structure and produces its characteristic wave.
Cat breeding: The deliberate mating of cats to maintain or select inherited traits. Breeders established the Cornish Rex by reproducing its distinctive coat.