History:
As their name implies, these cats originated in Cornwall, England, where they first appeared in a litter of barn cats born about 1950.

It was July 21, 1950, to be precise, at Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, England, when Nina Ennismore discovered an unusual kitten among her tortie and white cat "Serena's" latest litter. A little cream-colored male was covered with tight rows of tiny curls, giving him the appearance of a miniature lamb. As the kitten grew, his difference from his littermates became more dramatic; instead of the sturdy body and round head typical of the British domestic shorthair, Serena's kitten had a slender fine-boned body standing on long legs, a narrow head, enormous "bat ears," and a long whippy tail. Mrs. Ennismore didn't quite know what to make of this odd creature but decided he'd make a fine pet, so she took him to her veterinarian to be neutered. If not for the vet's realization that this cat was something truly special, the Cornish Rex might never have come to be.

While the Rex was being soundly propagated in the U.S., the story was somewhat different back in the U.K. Nina Ennismore was running short of funds and the Rex breeding program was a major financial sink for her. In 1956 she destroyed a number of cats, including Kallibunker (because he constantly fought with another male) and his dam Serena. The number of breeding male Rex in all of England was reduced to two Poldhu (a fertile blue-cream) and Sham Pain Charlie. Because of Poldhu's unusual color (for a fertile male), a veterinarian was taking a tissue sample for research when the cat was accidentally castrated (ironically, not only was Poldhu's virility lost, but so was the tissue sample!). This left only a single breeding male in England to carry on the breed. Thus, when Helen Weiss of Daz-Zling contacted Mrs. Ennismore for breeding stock, there was none to be had. The Rex in the U.S. were outcrossed to Siamese, American Shorthairs, Burmese, and Havana Browns. Although this proved a short-term setback to type, it provided a broad genetic base upon which to build a breed.

General Information:
In personality, the Cornish Rex is extremely affectionate and people-oriented. They are also active cats whose kitten-like antics last for their lifetime and who can be very inventive in their play. Favorite Cornish Rex games are fetch, catch and even “discus,” in which the cat uses its hand-like paw to pick up and toss a small object. In spite of their sophisticated, elegant appearance, Cornish Rex cats are anything but cool, aloof or dignified. They are perfect pets for the owner who wants active cats to participate in family life.

Because of their extremely short, fine textured coat, many people have the impression that the Cornish Rex does not shed and is hypoallergenic. This is not strictly true. All animals are constantly renewing their coats as old hairs are replaced by new ones. While Cornish Rex hairs are not easy to find lying on the furniture, they are there and owners will find them in the dryer filter and clinging to some fabrics. Certainly, by comparison to some other cats, the shedding is minimal. Even so, most allergic people are bothered by the dander (dead skin cells) and the saliva, both of which are present in Cornish Rex cats. Policies concerning allergy sales vary from breeder to breeder and potential buyers should realize each breeder does what he or she feels is in the cats’ best interest.

The year 2000 is special in many ways. It heralds the start of a new millenium. It causes grave trouble for older computers and computer software. It makes your books of unused checks with the "19___" on the date line obsolete. And it's the Golden Anniversary of the Cornish Rex breed. That's right, those big-eared, curly little mutants have been making waves for 50 years!

Description:
In appearance, Cornish Rex cats are a study in curves starting most noticeably with their coat which ideally falls in washboard waves. The coat is very short, lies close to the body and is incredibly soft to the touch, prompting comparisons to cut velvet, karakul lamb, rabbit fur or silk. In fact, it feels like a Cornish Rex coat and nothing else is the same.  There is even variation among individuals within the breed.

In addition to the coat, this breed has a distinct head and body type. Large ears are set high on a comparatively small, egg-shaped head with high cheekbones, hollow cheeks, and a high-bridged Roman nose and strong chin. The body has been compared to a Whippet dog’s because of its arched back, barrel chest, small waist and very long, fine legs. In spite of their dainty appearance, these small to medium sized cats are extremely hard-bodied and muscular, using their well developed hips and long legs for fast starts and stops, quick turns
          and high jumps.

The popularity of the Cornish Rex is mainly attributable to its unique appearance. The marcel wave in the coat attracts immediate attention and the breed's unusual appearance has great appeal for those individuals with avant garde tastes. But the wave of the coat is not its sole unique characteristic. The normal feline coat contains three distinct hair types: the long, course guard hairs, somewhat finer awn hairs, and a downy undercoat. The Cornish Rex coat should completely lack guard hairs. This gives the coat an incredibly soft and silky feel - contrary to appearances - that must be fellt to be appreciated. In yet another breed irony, early breeders in Britain preferred to emphasize the feel of the coat to its wave, and actually selected for cats with close coats and little wave. Their initial breed standard placed no points at all on wave. It was the American breeders who took the opposite tack and placed emphasis on the wave of the coat.

This velvet coat covers a body so fine-boned it appears to be porcelain, but feels more like hard muscle
wrapped around a steel frame. The small whippetlike body hints to the high activity level of this breed, and the fun-loving Rex loves to meet this expectation. This is a cat that truly lives in three dimensions, requiring lots of vertical space to play in addition to plenty of running room. When Cornish Rex pet sales don't work out, it's usually because the new owners were not prepared for the intensity of this cat's activity. This very activity level, however, endears them to most people.

HEAD: comparatively small and egg shaped. Length about one-third greater than the width. A definite whisker break, oval with gently curving outline in front and in profile.

EARS: large and full from the base, erect and alert; set high on the head.

EYES: medium to large in size, oval in shape, and slanting slightly upward. A full eye's width apart. Color
should be clear, intense, and appropriate to coat color.

BODY: small to medium, males proportionately larger. Torso long and slender, not tubular; hips, muscular and somewhat heavy in proportion to the rest of the body. Back is naturally arched with lower line of the body approaching the upward curve. The arch is evident when the cat is standing naturally.

LEGS: very long and slender. Thighs well-muscled, somewhat heavy in proportion to the rest of the body.  The Cornish Rex stands high on its legs.

PAWS: dainty, slightly oval. Toes: five in front and four behind.

TAIL: long and slender, tapering toward the end and extremely flexible.

COAT: short, extremely soft, silky, and completely free of guard hairs. Relatively dense. A tight, uniform marcel wave, lying close to the body and extending from the top of the head across the back, sides, and hips continuing to the tip of the tail. Size and depth of wave may vary. The fur on the underside of the chin and on chest and abdomen is short and noticeably wavy.

COLORS: black, white, red, blue, cream, chinchilla silver, shaded silver, black smoke, red smoke, blue smoke, and cream smoke.

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