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Devon Rex vs German Rex
Two friendly rex cats. The Devon is small, clingier and easy to find; the German Rex is medium, rounder, a little more independent and very rare.
Verdict
These two are close, and availability is the main thing that decides it. The Devon Rex is small, with huge ears and a wavy coat, and it scores lowest for independence. The German Rex is a medium, heavier, rounder cat with a silky coat that tends to curl, and it copes with slightly more time alone. The Devon is Common and the German Rex is Very rare, found mostly in Germany and nearby countries. Choose the Devon if you can find one nearby, and the German Rex if you live where breeders are.
Choose the Devon Rex if
- You want a small, pixie-faced cat that stays close to you.
- You want the more playful of the two.
- You live in a small home, where the Devon rates top marks.
- You will ask your vet about hereditary myopathy, atopic dermatitis and patellar luxation.
Choose the German Rex if
- You want a rex cat with a sturdier, rounder build, at 7 to 11 lb.
- You want a little more independence.
- You live in or near Germany and can reach a breeder.
- You accept a Very rare breed with no CFA recognition.
Where they are alike
Both have soft, thin, waved coats that need light grooming and shed little. Both score top marks for affection and rate well with children and other pets.
Side by side
| Devon Rex | German Rex | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Rex, hairless, fold and dwarf | Rex, hairless, fold and dwarf |
| Origin | Devon, England | Germany |
| Size | Small | Medium |
| Typical weight | 6-9 lb (2.7-4.1 kg); males are somewhat larger | 7-11 lb (3-5 kg); males are larger |
| Lifespan | 12-15 years | Commonly 12-15 years |
| Coat length | Short | Short |
| Coat | Soft, short, wavy coat with sparse, curled guard hairs; fragile whiskers | Short, silky coat that tends to curl; whiskers curl less than in the Cornish Rex |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Championship breed since 1983 | Not recognised by the CFA |
| How common | Common | Very rare |
| Affection | 5 | 5 |
| Energy | 4 | 4 |
| Playfulness | 5 | 4 |
| Talkativeness | 3 | 3 |
| Grooming needed | 2 | 2 |
| Shedding | 2 | 2 |
| Good with children | 4 | 4 |
| Good with other pets | 4 | 4 |
| Happy alone | 1 | 2 |
| Trainability | 4 | 4 |
| Suits a small home | 5 | 4 |
| Allergies | No breed is hypoallergenic. The Devon Rex sheds less hair than many cats, but allergens also come from saliva and skin. | No breed is hypoallergenic. The soft coat sheds less than most, but allergens also come from skin and saliva. |
| Suits | A warm, busy home with someone around much of the day and a taste for a clinging, playful cat. | A home that wants a rex cat with a sturdier build and a friendly, active nature. |
| Less suited to | A cold house, a home left empty all day, or someone who wants a calm cat that keeps its distance. | Anyone who needs a breed that is easy to find outside Germany and nearby countries. |
| Registries that recognise it |
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| Health conditions to watch |
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Facts come from each breed's profile. Scores run from 1 (low) to 5 (high) and describe a breed in general. Every cat is an individual, so meet the cat before you decide.
Last reviewed November 7, 2026