Cornish Rex Breed Profile

Contact Australian Cornish Rex Breeders

David Richardson August 2005

History of the Cornish Rex

The Cornish Rex breed of cat originated in Cornwall in 1950 when some kittens were born both with a distinctive short curly, waved, coat and a distinctive body and head type.

Description of the Cornish Rex

The Cornish Rex is a lithe, muscular, medium-sized cat with a whippet like body, long legs, a distinctive egg shaped skull and huge ears, set rabbit like high on the skull.  The Cornish Rex coat is short, extremely soft and velvety to the touch and set into extremely neat Marcel waves.  There are no guard hairs.

The distinctive head is about one third longer than it is wide.  Eyes are medium in size and almond shaped. In Himalayan pattern Cornish Rex – Si-Rex  -  the eyes must be blue.   The long nose has a Roman profile above the strong chin.  Neck is long and tapering.  The close set ears are very large, the larger the better and set high on the head and with a broad base.

The body of the Cornish Rex is semi-Oriental in type but with a distinctive greyhound like tummy tuck behind the chest.  This contrasts with the tube like body of Siamese and Oriental cats.  Legs are the long, tapering to small oval paws.  The tail is long and slender.

The coat of the Cornish Rex is extremely short and plush, soft & velvety in  texture and without guard hairs.  The tight close lying Marcel wave is all over body including the tail.  The fur on the underside of the body is short and wavy.  Whiskers and eyebrows should be crinkled and of a good length.

What I Am Looking for in Judging a Cornish Rex

I am looking for a muscular, high standing cat with an arched back with a short velvety wavy coat.  I am looking for a cat with a distinctive egg shaped skull, Roman nose and enormous close set rabbit ears high on the skull.  I am looking for a Greyhound tummy and an elegant long tail .  I am looking for a coat with consistent Marcel waves over the whole cat ideally, and with no bald or worn patches.

Scoring the Cornish Rex

The coat is worth a massive 40 points, with the heat neck nose and ears and eyes with 30 and the rest of the cat with 25 points.

Contact Australian Cornish Rex Breeders