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Devon Rex vs Persian
A small, playful, thin-coated clinger against a calm, long-coated, flat-faced lap cat that needs daily combing and regular vet care.
Verdict
The Devon Rex and the Persian sit at opposite ends. The Devon is small, scores top marks for affection and play, and has a thin coat that needs little care. The Persian is the placid one: it scores lowest for energy and voice, and its long coat needs daily combing and sheds heavily. Its flat face brings breathing and eye problems. Both are Common and both rate top marks for small homes. Choose the Devon for a busy companion, and the Persian for a quiet one if you can meet the grooming and vet costs.
Choose the Devon Rex if
- You want a playful, curious cat that follows you.
- You want a coat that needs little grooming.
- You are home most of the day.
- You will keep the house warm.
Choose the Persian if
- You want a quiet, gentle cat for a calm home.
- You will comb a long coat every day.
- You will plan for kidney, breathing, eye and heart checks.
- You do not want a clinging cat.
Where they are alike
Both suit a small home and rate well with children and other pets. Both are CFA championship breeds.
Side by side
| Devon Rex | Persian | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Rex, hairless, fold and dwarf | Longhair and semi-longhair |
| Origin | Devon, England | Named for Persia (Iran); developed in Europe |
| Size | Small | Medium |
| Typical weight | 6-9 lb (2.7-4.1 kg); males are somewhat larger | About 7-12 lb (3.2-5.4 kg) |
| Lifespan | 12-15 years | Studies put the median near 11 to 12.5 years |
| Coat length | Short | Long |
| Coat | Soft, short, wavy coat with sparse, curled guard hairs; fragile whiskers | Long, dense, fine coat standing off the body, with a full ruff and brush tail |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Championship breed since 1983 | Championship breed since 1906 |
| How common | Common | Common |
| Affection | 5 | 4 |
| Energy | 4 | 1 |
| Playfulness | 5 | 2 |
| Talkativeness | 3 | 1 |
| Grooming needed | 2 | 5 |
| Shedding | 2 | 5 |
| Good with children | 4 | 4 |
| Good with other pets | 4 | 4 |
| Happy alone | 1 | 3 |
| Trainability | 4 | 3 |
| Suits a small home | 5 | 5 |
| 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 Persian's long coat sheds heavily and holds dander, and people who react to cats often react to this breed. |
| Suits | A warm, busy home with someone around much of the day and a taste for a clinging, playful cat. | A quiet indoor home where someone has the time to comb a long coat every day and wants a gentle, undemanding companion. |
| Less suited to | A cold house, a home left empty all day, or someone who wants a calm cat that keeps its distance. | A busy or noisy house, a home that cannot afford regular grooming and vet care, or anyone who wants an athletic, climbing 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