Cornish Rex at a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Weight
- 2.7–4.5 kg
- Life expectancy
- from 16 years
Typical for the breed, not a promise about any one cat. Not assessed yet: Other cats, Living with dogs.
Is the Cornish Rex right for you?
Like every breed, the Cornish Rex is not the right fit for every home. Based on the breed’s typical traits:
May suit you if…
- You would enjoy an active, playful cat and have time to play every day.
- You would like a cat that tends to be quiet.
- You would like a coat that is fairly easy to look after.
Consider another breed if…
- You cannot offer any safe outdoor space.
- You have young children at home.
- You would like a calm, laid-back cat.
How would the Cornish Rex fit your lifestyle?
Choose a few details for a general, non-guaranteed view.
About the Cornish Rex
The Cornish Rex is a medium-sized, lean and elegant cat with long slender legs, an egg-shaped head, high cheekbones and large ears. Its most striking feature is the coat: short, dense and silky, with neat waves running over the back, sides and tail, and even curly whiskers and eyebrows. It is usually highly sociable, affectionate and playful, and seems never to grow old. Purina compares it to a Greyhound for its build and galloping run.
Key characteristics
General breed tendencies, not a prediction for an individual cat.
- Size
Medium
A mid-sized cat.
- Coat length
Short
A short coat.
- Activity level
Very active
Very active; needs plenty of play and things to climb.
- Grooming
Minimal
An occasional brush is usually enough.
- Shedding
Low
Tends to shed little, though every cat sheds some hair.
- Vocal
Tends to be quiet
Usually a fairly quiet cat.
- Good with children
Older children
Usually better with older, calmer children.
- Good with other cats
Not assessed yet
Our sources do not say enough yet.
- Good with dogs
Not assessed yet
Our sources do not say enough yet.
- Suits first-time owners
Some experience helps
Some cat experience helps.
- Time alone
A few hours
Usually copes with a few hours alone.
- Indoors and outdoors
Some outdoor space
Benefits from some safe outdoor space, such as a cat-proofed garden.
The breed began on 21 July 1950, when a farm cat on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall gave birth to a litter that included a cream male with a fine, curly coat. Named Kallibunker, he is the original Cornish Rex. On the advice of a geneticist he was bred back to his mother, and later generations were crossed with Burmese, Siamese and domestic shorthairs to widen the gene pool.
The curly coat comes from a natural, recessive mutation. It is different from the genes behind the Devon Rex, LaPerm and Selkirk Rex. GCCF recognised the breed in 1967 with immediate Championship status, and GCCF lists it as a minority breed.
Cornish Rex temperament
Cornish Rex are typically intelligent, gentle and very affectionate, but they are also mischievous and always ready to play. If nobody joins in, they invent their own lively games. Many follow their owners around and retrieve favourite toys.
Close human contact matters to this breed. They seek out laps and beds, and GCCF says they would soon decline without their people. They are not usually very vocal and tend to communicate with their eyes and body language.
Size and appearance
The Cornish Rex is a medium-sized, slender, hard-muscled cat that feels surprisingly heavy when picked up. Purina gives a weight range of about 2.7 to 4.5 kg; GCCF gives 8 to 10 lbs for males and 5 to 7 lbs for females.
The coat has no guard hairs and forms even waves, sometimes called Marcel waves. Purina notes it can take up to three years to mature fully. All colours and patterns are accepted, including self, tortoiseshell, tabby, smoke and pointed, and any eye colour is allowed.
How active is the Cornish Rex?
This is a very active, agile breed that stays playful well into old age. Purina says it needs a high level of enrichment: large cat trees, wall runs and climbing frames, or it will use the furniture instead. Puzzle feeders and food-dispensing toys that mimic hunting help keep it amused, and many can learn to fetch or do tricks with clicker training.
Cornish Rex grooming
The wavy coat needs very little care, and hand grooming is usually enough. A soft bristle brush or fine comb may help on longer or woollier coats, but Purina warns that overusing rubber brushes can permanently damage the hair. Some cats moult all at once and others so gradually that it is hardly noticeable. Purina notes pale-coated cats may need sun protection on their ears in summer. The breed is popularly thought to be hypoallergenic, but Purina says this is rarely the case.
Indoors and outdoors
Without guard hairs, the coat is not waterproof, so Cornish Rex get cold in wet or windy weather and should not be left out in the rain without shelter. Purina recommends a secure garden or enclosed cat run for safe outdoor time, as their curious, friendly nature can lead them into trouble with neighbours, into delivery vans or cars, or into the hands of thieves.
They can usually be left for a few hours, but they need companionship and do not suit owners who are out for long periods every day. Purina suggests they benefit from an experienced owner.
Living with a Cornish Rex
GCCF says the Cornish Rex is lovely with all members of the family. Purina suggests it is better suited to an adult home or one with older children who respect a cat's space, and not to an extremely busy household. Whatever the breed, young children should be supervised around cats and shown how to stroke them gently and let them walk away.
Children
Usually better with older, calmer children.
Indoors and outdoors
Benefits from some safe outdoor space.
Being left alone
Usually copes with a few hours alone.
First-time owners
Some cat experience helps.
Other cats and pets
Both sources describe the Cornish Rex as friendly and sociable with other pets in the household.
Cornish Rex health
Not yet reviewed by a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice: speak to your vet about your own cat’s health.
Purina describes the Cornish Rex as a generally healthy breed, and GCCF calls it hardy. GCCF says many live beyond 16 years, and up to 20 is not unusual. Some conditions are recognised in the breed.
Hypotrichosis
A condition in which areas of fur do not grow. The bare skin can be prone to infections, particularly yeast infections.
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD)
An inherited condition in which cysts form in the kidneys and can eventually lead to kidney failure. Purina says the risk is lower than in breeds more prone to it. A DNA test is available.
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
An inherited disorder in which part of the eye degenerates, which can lead to blindness. A DNA test is available.
Hypokalaemia
International Cat Care lists the Cornish Rex among breeds related to the Burmese that can inherit periodic hypokalaemia, in which low blood potassium causes episodes of muscle weakness. A gene test is available and breeding cats should ideally be tested.
Blood types
Cornish Rex can have blood type A or B. GCCF's Rex Breed Advisory Committee recommends blood typing cats before breeding so that mates are compatible, to avoid problems with fading kittens.
What health checks should you ask about?
Responsible breeders and rescues are happy to talk about health, and any pressure to decide quickly is a reason to walk away. Before taking a Cornish Rex home, it is reasonable to ask about:
- Health testing of the parents. Ask which health tests the parents have had for conditions known in the breed, and to see the results.
- Veterinary and vaccination records. Kittens should have had a first vaccination and a vet check, with records you can take home.
- Microchip information. In England, cats must be microchipped and registered by 20 weeks old. Ask who the chip is registered to and how the transfer works.
- Registration paperwork. Registration papers, where they apply, record pedigree. They do not by themselves prove health or how a kitten was raised.
How much does a Cornish Rex cost to own?
There are two costs: bringing a Cornish Rex home, and looking after one well. Kitten prices depend on the breeder, health testing and demand; the adverts below show what sellers are asking today.
Ongoing costs are the ones new owners most often underestimate: food, insurance (which usually rises with age), routine vet care, vaccinations and parasite treatment, dental care, grooming, litter, scratching posts and toys, and a cattery or a sitter for holidays. Budget for the whole of the cat’s life, typically from 16 years, not just the first year.
Buying a Cornish Rex
If you have decided the Cornish Rex suits your life, take the same care choosing where your cat comes from. Meet the kitten in person, see it with its mother, and look at how the litter is raised.
- Check who you are dealing with: every Mypetzilla advert shows the seller type and what we have checked.
- Ask about health testing, vaccinations and the microchip before you commit.
- Take your time. Do not be rushed by deposits or "last one left" stories.
- Meet in person before paying anything, and keep conversations on Mypetzilla.
Adopting a Cornish Rex
Cornish Rexs do come up for adoption, through rescue organisations, breed rescues and private rehoming, often because an owner’s circumstances have changed rather than any fault of the cat. An adult cat arrives as a known quantity: its size, coat and character are already on show.
Rescues will usually talk you through the cat’s history, any medical care, and the home it needs, including children, other animals and time alone. Be honest about your circumstances: a good rescue would rather place a cat once, well.
Cornish Rexs looking for homes
Live from Mypetzilla, updated as pets are listed.
Find Cornish Rex adverts for sale and for adoption on Mypetzilla now.
Similar breeds you may want to consider
Abyssinian
Playful, intelligent, friendly, curious, inquisitive, affectionate, loyal and independent.
View breed guideEgyptian Mau
Energetic, athletic, gentle, playful, loyal, friendly, inquisitive and independent.
View breed guideDevon Rex
Intelligent, mischievous, active, playful, curious, friendly, affectionate and sociable.
View breed guide
Cornish Rex FAQs
Is the Cornish Rex good with children?
Usually better with older, calmer children. Individual cats vary with breeding, upbringing and health, so ask about the cat you are considering.
Can the Cornish Rex be an indoor cat?
Benefits from some safe outdoor space. Indoor cats need daily play, places to climb and scratch, and a window to watch from.
How active is the Cornish Rex?
Very active and usually keen to play. Short play sessions every day help any cat stay fit and settled.
Does the Cornish Rex shed?
Tends to shed little.
How much grooming does the Cornish Rex need?
Typically: minimal: an occasional brush.
Can the Cornish Rex be left alone?
Usually copes with a few hours alone. Every cat needs company, play and someone to check on it each day.
Is the Cornish Rex a talkative cat?
Tends to be quiet. Individual cats vary with breeding, upbringing and health, so ask about the cat you are considering.
How long does the Cornish Rex live?
Typically from 16 years. Lifespan varies with genetics, weight, care and luck.
How big does the Cornish Rex get?
Adults typically weigh 2.7–4.5 kg.