Glossary

Rex coat

A curly or wavy coat caused by an inherited mutation, seen in breeds such as the Cornish Rex, Devon Rex, Selkirk Rex and LaPerm.

Also called: rex cat, curly coat, curly-coated cat, wavy coat

A rex coat has hair that is curled, crimped or waved, and often whiskers that are short and curly too. The name was borrowed from rex rabbits, which have a similar plush fur. Rex coats are caused by mutations that change the structure of the hair shaft, and several different mutations have arisen separately in cats.

The Cornish Rex and Devon Rex are the best-known. Both appeared in England in the twentieth century, and their coats are caused by different genes, so crossing the two does not give curly kittens. A Cornish Rex has only the soft undercoat, the Devon has a thin coat of different hair types, and the result is a very fine, short pile. The Selkirk Rex and LaPerm have a dominant curl gene and look plush and woolly, with a thicker coat.

Rex cats with thin coats feel warm to the touch and can be sensitive to cold, so they like soft beds and warm spots. Some people with allergies feel better around rex cats, but no cat breed is hypoallergenic. The curl can look patchy in kittens before the adult coat settles, and a vet or breeder can advise on grooming.

Last reviewed November 7, 2026

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Related terms

Hairless cat A cat bred for a coat that is absent or very short and fine, so the skin shows; the Sphynx is the best-known example. Ticked coat A coat in which each hair has several bands of colour, giving a soft, shimmering look with few or no stripes on the body. Pedigree A cat whose parents, grandparents and earlier ancestors are recorded by a registry, showing it belongs to a recognised breed. Breed standard The written description of the ideal cat of a breed, covering head, body, coat, colour and temperament, used by judges and breeders. Cat registry An organisation that records cats' ancestry, issues pedigree certificates, defines breed standards and licenses cat shows.