The German Rex was discovered in East Germany in 1946. The coat of German Rex is very similar to that of the Cornish Rex: it has no guard hairs and the awn hairs and the undercoat are both unusually short. It differs from the Cornish Rex coat in having awn hairs that are little thicker than those of the undercoat, and this gives it a fuller, woollier look. The body form is closer to the European Shorthair. Since 1980s fewer and fewer German Rexes has appear at shows, the breed seems to be vanishing.

Native Country

Germany

Breed Description

Head: Rounded, very broad between the ears. Well-developed cheeks. Nose with a slight break at the base. Massive, strong chin. Curly whiskers, shorter than usual.
Eyes: Medium-sized, well-spaced, and wide open. The color must be uniform and luminous, and must correspond to that of the coat.
Body: Medium-sized, solid, muscular, but not massive or heavy. Rounded, powerful chest. The back is straight from the shoulders to the croup.
Paw: Slender, moderately long. Well-developed, slightly oval paws with a rounded shape.
Tail: Moderately long, thick at the base and tapering to a rounded tip. Thick fur.
Coat: Short, velvety, soft, very silky. Must be wavy or curly. Curly over the entire body, longer than that of the Cornish Rex, more spiky. No guard hairs. Colors: all are recognized, except chocolate, lilac, and colorpoint.
Fault: Head too long, too pointed. Small ears. Short, hairless tail. Coat shaggy, not wavy enough, with hairless patches.

History

Wearing a full lambswool coat The German Rex is the oldest known breed of curly-coated cat. It first appeared in 1946 in the home of Dr. Scheuer-Karpin but was actually developed from a stray adopted by breeders in 1951. Curly-coated kittens were obtained through crosses with the Cornish Rex. This proved that the two breeds have the same gene responsible for the mutation. Both the F.I.Fe. and the S.C.F.F. recognize the German Rex. However, the C.F.A. does not distinguish it from the Cornish Rex and Devon Rex. The German Rex is very rare

Behavior

German Rexes are active but patient cats. They are even-tempered, friendly toward other cats, and very affectionate toward their owner. They are easy to groom.