Devon On Earth - Frequently Asked Questions

These are some of the questions we are regularly asked; if you have other queries that have not been answered on this site, please email us.

Do Devons shed?

Devons have very minimal shedding and certainly shed far less than other breeds. They tend to shed most when stressed.

Is it true that Devons are hypoallergenic?

"Hypo" means "low", and it can be said that some people with allergies are able to live comfortably with a Devon ~ but Devons are not NON-allergenic. They do shed very little, so there isn't hair floating about spreading allergens into the environment. Therefore there are many people who are allergic to cats who actually have no reaction to a Devon, but there are also many people who do. The only way to know if a person can live in comfort with a Devon is for them to be around them for an extended period of time (hours in some cases - longer in others). See our "Allergy Information" page for more details.

Are the curls in a Devon's coat natural?

Definitely! Devons are born with their unique curls and ultra soft coat, which is caused by a lack of guard hairs and as a result of a natural mutation. The ripple/wave that this mutation creates is a distinguishing characteristic of the breed.

Do you cut their whiskers?

No. Kittens have stubby whiskers that grow (and curl) as they mature. However, the whiskers tend to be brittle and break off when the cat eats, grooms, or plays.

What is the difference between a Cornish Rex and a Devon Rex?

Although both cats have curly coats and huge ears, there are definite differences in the two breeds. Firstly, the shape of the head differs. Devons have a shorter face than the Cornish Rex which is egg shaped, a shorter, less straight nose with a stop in it. The Cornish have a long, Roman nose. A Devon's ears are set low on the head, as opposed to the higher set ears of the Cornish. The Cornish have finer bones than the Devon, who don't have the arch in the back that the Cornish do. There is also a difference in the coats: the curls in a Devon's coat are not as defined as the curls on a Cornish Rex, and tend to have curl types, while the Cornish have predictable tight curls. Devons have guard hairs in their coats whilst Cornish Rex have smooth, uninterrupted down hair; also the tips of the ears of the Cornish don't have the tufts or ear muffs found in the Devons.