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Devon Rex vs Lykoi
A cuddly, clinging, pixie-faced rex against a rarer, more independent, werewolf-looking hunter with sparse coat and skin that needs management.
Verdict
Temperament and skin care decide this. The Devon Rex is small, scores top marks for affection and play, and wants someone beside it all day. The Lykoi is a medium, active cat with a sparse roan coat and a bare facial mask, and it is bonded and loyal but less clinging. Its skin needs management: cysts, blackheads, folliculitis and sunburn are on its watch-list, so it stays indoors and may need bathing. Choose the Devon for a cuddly clown, and the Lykoi for a patient owner who wants a striking hunter.
Choose the Devon Rex if
- You want a cat that seeks cuddles and attention.
- You are home most of the day.
- You prefer a small, easier-to-find cat; the Devon is Common and the Lykoi is Rare.
- You will ask your vet about hereditary myopathy and patellar luxation.
Choose the Lykoi if
- You want a bonded, energetic hunter with an unusual look.
- You can manage skin care and keep the cat indoors.
- You do not mind bathing a cat.
- You want a breed that has been a CFA championship breed only since 2023.
Where they are alike
Both have thin, soft coats that shed little hair and need a warm home. Both are intelligent and playful, and both have allergen on skin and saliva, so no one should assume they are safe for allergic people.
Side by side
| Devon Rex | Lykoi | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Rex, hairless, fold and dwarf | Rex, hairless, fold and dwarf |
| Origin | Devon, England | Tennessee, United States |
| Size | Small | Medium |
| Typical weight | 6-9 lb (2.7-4.1 kg); males are somewhat larger | About 6-12 lb (2.7-5.4 kg); males are larger |
| Lifespan | 12-15 years | Often reported as 12-15 years; the breed is young |
| Coat length | Short | Short |
| Coat | Soft, short, wavy coat with sparse, curled guard hairs; fragile whiskers | Sparse, soft roan coat of white and coloured hairs with no undercoat, which moults in cycles |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Championship breed since 1983 | Championship breed since 2023 |
| How common | Common | Rare |
| Affection | 5 | 3 |
| Energy | 4 | 4 |
| Playfulness | 5 | 4 |
| Talkativeness | 3 | 2 |
| Grooming needed | 2 | 3 |
| Shedding | 2 | 3 |
| Good with children | 4 | 3 |
| Good with other pets | 4 | 3 |
| Happy alone | 1 | 3 |
| 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 Lykoi's thin coat sheds in cycles, and the skin and saliva that carry cat allergen are still there. |
| Suits | A warm, busy home with someone around much of the day and a taste for a clinging, playful cat. | A patient owner who wants an energetic, bonded cat with a striking look, and who will manage its skin and keep it indoors. |
| Less suited to | A cold house, a home left empty all day, or someone who wants a calm cat that keeps its distance. | A cold home, a household that wants a cuddly lap cat from the first day, or anyone who dislikes bathing a cat. |
| 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