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Devon Rex
Standard Of Points for Devon Rex (33a)
General Type Standard
The
Devon Rex is a short haired breed of medium foreign build with a unique head
type which is quite unlike any other breed. The short wide wedge head with
large low set very wide based ears and large oval eyes set on a slant with a
'wicked expression' give the breed it's 'pixie' face. The short, dense
coat, which is soft in texture, has a distinctive wave or ripple especially over
the back and sides. The cat should be of medium size and in excellent
physical condition.
Head
Short, broad wedge with high cheek bones. Strong muzzle with firm chin and a
well defined whisker break. Short nose with definite stop. Forehead curving back
to a flat skull.
Ears
Large, set low and wide apart, very wide at base, tapering to rounded tips
and well covered with fine fur. With or without short
ear muffs around base and tufts on
tips which should not be confused with streamers and ear furnishings seen in
semi longhair breeds.
Eyes
Wide set, large, oval shaped and sloping towards outer edges of ears. Any colour
acceptable.
Neck, Body & Legs
Slender neck. Body hard and muscular, slender and of medium length. Broad chest,
carried high on slim legs, with length of hind legs emphasised. Paws small and
oval.
Tail
Long, fine and tapering, well covered with short fur.
Coat
Short, dense and soft in texture and of even length on the
body. The coat must be waved or rippled, particularly on the back, sides
and tail and waving may also extend down the legs, the coat
on the head and neck, over the shoulders and on the legs and paws is sometimes
too short to wave. Rexing in these areas is desirable but absence of it is
not a withholding fault. A few short guard hairs are
acceptable. Whiskers and eyebrows crinkled, rather coarse and of medium length
and may sometimes be stubbly.
Colours
Colour and pattern are irrelevant
and carry no points therefore a cat should not be penalised if apparently
wrongly registered.
Scale of Points (amended with effect from
1.6.06)
Head
25
Ears
10
Eyes
5
Body and legs 20
Tail
5
Coat
35
Total
100
Withhold all awards for cats displaying the longhair gene.
Withhold Certificates or First Prizes in Kitten Open Classes:
1. Too long, too short, straight or loosely waved coat.
2. Bare or sparse patches in Adults.*
3.
The presence of a significant amount of guard hairs affecting the texture
of the coat.
4. Narrow, long or round head.
5. Straight profile.
6. Small or high set ears.
7. Undershot or overshot jaw and/or
uneven bite.
8. Any defect as listed in the preface to this S.O.P.
booklet.
Faults:
1. Bare or sparse patches in kittens.*
2. Cobby body.
3. Lack of firm muscle.
4. Excessively weak chin.
5.
Short tail that detracts from overall balance.
* Many Devon Rex cats have down on the under parts. This should not be
misinterpreted as bareness.
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Breeding Policy for Devon Rex (33a)
Introduction
This document is seen as a way of ensuring breeders observe what is considered 'best practice' in their involvement with Devon Rex and particularly in their Devon Rex breeding programmes.
The Devon Rex gene is inherited as a simple recessive.
The Devon Rex is a shorthaired breed.
Devon Rex, unlike most breeds, owe their origin to one cat - Kirlee. It should always be remembered that most of the females bred to Kirlee were very closely related as well as being immediate descendants of Kallibunker - the original Cornish Rex, as at that time it was assumed Kirlee resulted from the same mutation as Kallibunker. Inbreeding was then carried out in the ensuing generations to produce the three generations of Rex to Rex breeding needed to obtain breed recognition. This practice of inbreeding has continued. From the beginning, serious health problems have beset Devon Rex, i.e. Luxating Patellae, Coagulopathy and Inherited Myopathy (Spasticity).
Two blood types have been confirmed in Devon Rex - type A and type B. Type A is dominant over type B. This means that a cat with type B blood is homozygous for type B. Type A cats can either be homozygous for A or Heterozygous (carrying the B gene). Cats with type B blood have strong antibodies against type A red blood cells. These anti-A antibodies can cause two serious problems: Neonatal Isoerythrolysis (fading kitten syndrome) and transfusion reactions.
Aims
It is vital regular selective outcrossing be introduced and maintained to increase the gene pool and improve stamina and health. This is 'best for the breed' in its ongoing development.
Guidelines
Breeders and owners of Devon Rex and Devon Rex Variants are recommended to blood type test all their cats but more especially all breeding stock. Blood type A kittens resulting from a mating between a type A stud and a type B queen may die within the first few days of life if allowed to suckle their mother's colostrum. It is also important to know that cats with the relatively rare type B blood can die if given a transfusion of the common type A blood.
All cats used for outcrossing should be thoroughly researched, of sound temperament and free from any hereditary defects. In the case of British Shorthairs, only cats which have been certified clear under the FAB/PKD screening scheme should be used as outcrosses.
Breeders should ensure, to the best of their knowledge, that any Devon Rex or Devon Rex Variants from which they breed are of sound temperament, free from any hereditary defects, (including those listed in the GCCF Standard of Points), and conform as closely as possible to the Standard of Points (excluding the coat description where variants are concerned).
Devon Rex are not compatible with Cornish Rex, Selkirk Rex or LaPerm. Such matings are therefore highly undesirable. The product of such matings will be registered on the Reference Register and cannot be considered to be variants. They cannot be used in either Rex breeding programme and should be placed on the non-active register. It is considered to be in the best interest of the Devon Rex breed to keep it entirely separate from other incompatible Rex mutations.
Under no circumstances should any cat with Sphynx ancestry be introduced into the Devon Rex breed. Selection for hairlessness contradicts the coat quality requirements for Rex cats. The product of any matings between Sphynx and Devon Rex will be registered on the Reference Register. They cannot be considered to be variants nor be used in any Devon Rex breeding programme and should be placed on the non-active register.
Breeders are recommended not to breed from Devon Rex or Devon Rex variants with Longhair. The longhair gene has been present in the breed since the beginning, as Kirlee was a proven Longhair carrier. It is considered in the best interest of Devon Rex coat quality not to perpetuate this factor. Outcrosses made to breeds with Longhair ancestry should be undertaken with caution and where possible only to cats proven not to be carriers of the longhair gene.
Breeders shall ensure that any Devon Rex or Devon Rex Variants from which they breed, shall be registered with the GCCF in accordance with the Rules in force at the time.
It is recommended that the progeny from any matings that are not required for Devon Rex breeding, should be placed on the Non-Active Register, to avoid the introduction of the Devon Rex gene into other varieties of pedigree cats.
The majority of matings are most likely to be between Devon Rex x Devon Rex and Devon Rex x Devon Rex Variant, but to ensure maximum benefit from outcrossing Devon Rex Variant x Devon Rex Variant matings are also necessary. Normal coated progeny from Variant x Variant matings cannot be considered variants as this can only be proven by test matings.
Breeds which have been approved for use in outcrossing are: Abyssinian, Asian Shorthair, British Shorthair, Burmese, Korat.
All other breeds are listed as non-approved.
Breeders will be encouraged to take advantage of any relevant official scheme, which may be devised by the Joint Rex BAC to test the soundness of the Devon Rex breed.
It is recommended where the colour of a cat is in question a DNA test, (where such a test exists), be arranged.
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Registration Policy for Devon Rex (33a)
Breeds which have been approved for use in outcrossing are: Abyssinian, Asian Shorthair, British Shorthair, Burmese, Korat. In addition, American Shorthair and European Shorthair are permitted in the pedigrees of imported cats.
All other breeds are listed as non-approved.
*All Rex breeders please note that the Tabbies will in future be registered by pattern: 30 Spotted, 41 Classic, 44 Mackerel and 45 Ticked, with the addition of the letter ‘s’ to denote silver tabby. This will not be extended to tabby and white coat patterns, which will continue to be registered using 31 with the letter “t” to denote that the cat has a tabby pattern
Full Register
Devon Rex which have within the preceding three generations only Devon Rex.
Supplementary Register
Devon Rex which have within the preceding five generations only Devon Rex, Devon Rex Variants, Abyssinian, Asian Shorthair, British Shorthair, Burmese or Korat. In addition, American Shorthair and European Shorthair are permitted in the pedigrees of imported cats.
Reference Register
Devon Rex Variants which have within the preceding five generations only Devon Rex, Devon Rex Variants, Abyssinian, Asian Shorthair, British Shorthair or Korat shall be registered on the Reference Register with a Devon Rex Variant breed number. In addition, American Shorthair and European Shorthair are permitted in the pedigrees of imported cats.
Devon Rex and Devon Rex variants which have within the preceding five generations any non-approved breeds, including non-pedigree cats, shall be registered on the Reference Register.
NB When kittens with one or both parents registered on the Reference Register are, under this Registration Policy, eligible to be registered on the Supplementary Register it is recommended that the person registering these kittens requests such registration and encloses documentary evidence of the five generations required. If this is not done the kittens may be registered on the Reference Register.
Normal coated cats produced from variant x variant matings will have no breed number only colour description and will be over-stamped 'may carry the Devon Rex gene'.
All cats resulting from matings between Devon Rex and any other rex coated breed will have no breed number and will be over-stamped 'not recommended for breeding’. Their progeny will remain permanently on the reference register’.
Any cats of Devon Rex appearance, either Rex or normal coated, with Sphynx ancestry will be registered on the Reference Register and be over-stamped 'must not be used for Devon Rex breeding'. No progeny will ever be recognised or registered as Devon Rex or Devon Rex Variants.
All cats resulting from matings between Devon Rex and any longhaired breed will be overstamped 'carries the longhair gene'. Their progeny will be overstamped 'may carry the longhair gene'.