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Devon Rex vs Russian Blue
A small, clinging, playful clown against a quiet, reserved, plush-coated cat that copes better alone and prefers a calm routine.
Verdict
Temperament decides this. The Devon Rex is small, plays hard, scores lowest for independence and clings to a person all day. The Russian Blue is quiet, gentle and reserved with strangers, devoted to its own people, and scores high for independence. It does best in a calm, regular household. Both rate top marks for small homes and need little grooming. Choose the Devon for a busy household where someone is always home, and the Russian Blue for a quiet one where the cat may be alone for part of the day.
Choose the Devon Rex if
- You want a playful, clowning companion.
- You are home most of the day.
- You do not mind visitors and noise.
- You will ask your vet about hereditary myopathy, atopic dermatitis and patellar luxation.
Choose the Russian Blue if
- You want a quiet, gentle cat with the lowest voice score.
- You are out for part of the day.
- You like a dense, silver-tipped blue coat.
- You keep a regular routine, and you do not need a cat that greets every guest.
Where they are alike
Both live 12 to 15 years and score high for intelligence. Both rate top marks for small homes, and both have short coats that need little grooming.
Side by side
| Devon Rex | Russian Blue | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Rex, hairless, fold and dwarf | Shorthair |
| Origin | Devon, England | Arkhangelsk region, Russia |
| Size | Small | Medium |
| Typical weight | 6-9 lb (2.7-4.1 kg); males are somewhat larger | About 5-12 lb (2.3-5.4 kg); males are larger |
| Lifespan | 12-15 years | 12-15 years |
| Coat length | Short | Short |
| Coat | Soft, short, wavy coat with sparse, curled guard hairs; fragile whiskers | Short, dense, plush double coat; the guard hairs have silver tips |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Championship breed since 1983 | — |
| How common | Common | Uncommon |
| Affection | 5 | 4 |
| Energy | 4 | 3 |
| Playfulness | 5 | 3 |
| Talkativeness | 3 | 1 |
| Grooming needed | 2 | 2 |
| Shedding | 2 | 3 |
| Good with children | 4 | 3 |
| Good with other pets | 4 | 3 |
| Happy alone | 1 | 4 |
| Trainability | 4 | 5 |
| 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. | — |
| Suits | A warm, busy home with someone around much of the day and a taste for a clinging, playful cat. | A quiet household or a single person who wants a gentle, loyal, clever cat and keeps to a regular routine. |
| Less suited to | A cold house, a home left empty all day, or someone who wants a calm cat that keeps its distance. | A noisy house with many visitors, or anyone who wants a cat that greets every guest. |
| 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