Cornish Rex owner's guide

Cornish Rex origins

The Cornish Rex originates from Cornwall in the UK, where the first of its breed was born in 1950 – with the characteristic wavy coat. The breed quickly gained popularity and has since been bred to maintain its unique characteristics.

Cornish Rex – temperament

The Cornish Rex has a lively and playful nature. They are very social cats, and love to be the centre of attention. Their intelligence makes them easy to teach, and they can often learn to walk on a harness and lead. They can also be taught various tricks and commands.

Cornish Rex cats are also known to be very affectionate. They often develop a close bond with their owner.

Cornish Rex cats usually thrive best as indoor pets, as their thin fur makes them sensitive to our chilly climate. What’s more, their inquisitive and sociable personality can sometimes lead to trouble with neighbours or result in them accidentally hopping into delivery vans or cars. To keep them safe, consider securing your garden with rollers or mesh, or create an enclosed cat run for safe outdoor play.

Training and exercise

Cat behaviourist consultant Anna Jönsson Bergstedt gives tips on how to train your Cornish Rex – and keep them active:

• Adapt playtime to suit their needs
  It’s good to adapt toys to your cat’s individual preferences, but things that move quickly such as spring flippers tend to be good for engaging cats.
  Give your Cornish Rex the opportuning to sneak about and plan a hunt when you play with them. And make sure they also have opportunities to run after and catch their toy – as this is an important part of the game.
• Use food to keep them active
  All cats have to eat, regardless of their breed. ‘Scatter feeding’ is a great way to keep them active – you can spread food or treats out around the home, and hide them for the cat to find. You can also use activity bowls or food puzzles. However, you may need to do this in place of a regular food bowl, otherwise your Cornish Rex won’t see the need to exert itself.
  Give them lookout points – so they can keep an eye on their territory, both inside and outside.
• Training tricks
  Intelligent cats may need extra guidance with training – to prevent them from getting up to mischief. Therefore, it’s important to practice fun tricks together using methods like clicker training.
  Using treats and toys is good for reward-based training – this is especially helpful when training cats as they won’t work as hard to impress you as dogs will!
• Other ways to stimulate your cat
  Many cats like to explore and be part of the activities in your home. Encourage them to participate when you’re doing things around the home, and give them outdoor items to play with. For example, you could give your Cornish Rex pine cones and blades of grass – or let them explore empty cardboard boxes.

Cornish Rex – appearance and size

The defining feature of the Cornish Rex is its wavy and soft fur, which gives the breed a unique appearance. It is a medium-sized cat breed with a slim and elegant build.

Cornish Rex have long legs and a narrow tail, which is often curved. The head is wedge-shaped with large, high-set ears and almond or lemon-shaped eyes. The Cornish Rex comes in all sorts of colours.

Cornish Rex have long legs and a narrow tail, which is often curved. The head is wedge-shaped with large, high-set ears and almond- or lemon-shaped eyes. The Cornish Rex comes in all sorts of colours.

• Cornish Rex fur
  The Cornish Rex has a unique wavy coat that is very soft. Since they have less fur than other cats, they are more sensitive to cold temperatures. Their coat requires minimal grooming, but regular brushing can help keep it in good shape.
• Cornish Rex colours
  The Cornish Rex can be almost any colour, including solid, patterned and bi-coloured. Their fur can also be one of many different patterns, such as tabby, bicolour and colourpoint.

Are Cornish Rex hypoallergenic?

No cat breed is completely hypoallergenic, but the Cornish Rex is often regarded as more suitable for individuals with specific cat allergies. This is mainly due to its shorter fur, which results in less shedding. Cat allergies are triggered by proteins found in a cat's saliva, skin, and dander (skin cells) that are released into the environment during shedding. If you're considering a Cornish Rex, it’s a good idea to visit a breeder to see how you react before deciding to bring one home.

Caring for your Cornish Rex

The Cornish Rex requires relatively little grooming due to its short and wavy coat. Regular brushing helps keep the coat in good condition and reduces the risk of skin problems. Since they are sensitive to cold, it is important to keep them warm, especially during the winter months.

Make sure to secure the home

The Cornish Rex is a very curious and mischievous breed. Therefore, think about securing fragile things such as pots, glassware and china before your Cornish Rex goes exploring.

If you're buying a Cornish Rex kitten

Cornish Rex kittens are very active and curious. They grow quickly and often reach their full size at around one year of age.

When buying a Cornish Rex kitten, it is important that it is vet checked, vaccinated and wormed. You should also receive instructions on future vaccinations, deworming and care advice.

Learn more about caring for your kitten, including how to settle them into their new home.

Cornish Rex FAQs

Last reviewed by Amanda Andersson in June 2024.