Domestic

Type

12 - 16 years

Lifespan

Small to medium

Size

2 - 4 kg

Weight

25 - 30 cm

Height

Lively, mischievous, friendly

Temperament

15 mins 3x a day

Exercise

Low maintenance

Grooming

A Devon Rex is a breed of cat that has a very short and curly coat. Their coat can come in any colour and pattern and range from ruffled curls to thin and suede-like. They also have crinkled whiskers and eyebrows, and large ears. They have an elfin or pixie appearance &ndash; and have a mischievous personality as well.

While there&rsquo;s no such thing as a hypoallergenic cat, the Devon Rex is often thought to be more hypoallergenic than other breeds. So, if you have a cat allergy, you might be more able to tolerate this breed better than other cat breeds.

Yes, Devon Rex cats will shed hair, but they do have a lower tendency to shed than other cats. The hair, being short and fine, may be less noticeable on clothing and around the house.

Yes, these cats are affectionate and love to be by your side for a cuddle. They&rsquo;re very sociable cats and love companionship.

The average lifespan of a Devon Rex cat is typically 9 to 15 years, though with proper care and a healthy lifestyle, some may live longer.

That’s All You Need to Know About Devon Rex Cats

Descended from a feral tom with distinctive curly hair, Devons are energetic, affectionate and love to play. Known for being mischievous, these intelligent cats will be interested in whatever you&rsquo;re doing. Their short coats can come in any colour and pattern and range from having wavy curls to being suede-like. They&rsquo;re easy to care for, may shed less than <a href="/cat-insurance/cat-breed-guides" title="Link to Everypaw's Cat Breed Guides">other breeds</a>, and make great companions.

Descended from a feral tom with distinctive curly hair, Devons are energetic, affectionate and love to play. Known for being mischievous, these intelligent cats will be interested in whatever you&rsquo;re doing. Their short coats can come in any colour and pattern and range from having wavy curls to being suede-like. They&rsquo;re easy to care for, may shed less than other breeds, and make great companions.

<ul>
	<li>Vetstream Ltd (online) Devon Rex. In: Vetlexicon Felis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://vetstream.com/treat/felis/freeform/devon-rex" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's Devon Rex page">https://vetstream.com/treat/felis/freeform/devon-rex</a></li>
	<li>Rosanna Marsella, Ian Mason, David Scarff (online) Congenital hypotrichosis. In: Vetstream Felis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website:<a href="https://www.vetlexicon.com/felis/dermatology/articles/congenital-hypotrichosis/" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's cat congenital hypotrichosis page"> https://www.vetlexicon.com/felis/dermatology/articles/congenital-hypotrichosis/</a></li>
	<li>Laurent Garosi, Leslie A Lyons, Prof Richard Malik (online) Devon Rex myopathy. In: Vetstream Felis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://vetstream.com/clinical-reference/felis/diseases/devon-rex-myopathy" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's Devon Rex Myopathy page">https://vetstream.com/clinical-reference/felis/diseases/devon-rex-myopathy</a></li>
	<li>Rachel Korman, Severine Tasker (online) Vitamin K1 responsive coagulopathy (Devon Rex). In: Vetstream Felis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://vetstream.com/treat/felis/diseases/vitamin-k1-responsive-coagulopathy-(devon-rex)" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's Devon Rex cat vitamin k 1 responsive coagulopathy page">https://vetstream.com/treat/felis/diseases/vitamin-k1-responsive-coagulopathy-(devon-rex)</a></li>
	<li>Serena Brownlie, Phil Fox, Philip K Nicholls, Penny Watson (online) Heart: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In: Vetlexicon Felis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://www.vetstream.com/treat/felis/diseases/heart-hypertrophic-cardiomyopathy" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's cat heart hypertrophic cardiomyopathy page">https://www.vetstream.com/treat/felis/diseases/heart-hypertrophic-cardiomyopathy</a></li>
	<li>Vetstream Ltd (online) Cardiomyopathy in your cat. In: Vetlexicon Felis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://www.vetlexicon.com/treat/felis/client-information/cardiomyopathy-in-your-cat" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's cat cardiomyopathy page">https://www.vetlexicon.com/treat/felis/client-information/cardiomyopathy-in-your-cat</a></li>
	<li>Sorrel Langley-Hobbs, Rosanna Marsella, Susan Rackard (online) Patella: luxation. In: Vetlexicon Felis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://www.vetstream.com/treat/felis/diseases/patella-luxation" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's cat patella luxation page">https://www.vetstream.com/treat/felis/diseases/patella-luxation</a></li>
</ul>

Content provided from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vetlexicon.com/felis%C2%A0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's cat information">Vetstream&#39;s Vetlexicon Felis</a>.

Vetlexicon is the world&rsquo;s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world&rsquo;s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.

The Devon Rex breed is descended from a feral tom with a distinctive curly coat that had lived in an abandoned tin mine in Buckfastleigh, Devon. In 1960, he fathered a <a href="/kitten-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Kitten Insurance page">litter of kittens</a>. One of the kittens had the same curly coat as the tom. A breeder took in the kitten and named her Kirlee.

At first, the cat was thought to be related to another curly-coated cat, the <a href="/cat-insurance/cat-breed-guides/cornish-rex-cat-insurance-care-and-health-advice" title="Link to Everypaw's Cornish Rex Cat Breed Guide">Cornish Rex</a> (the rex part of the name refers to a gene mutation that results in a curly or wavy coat).

But it was found that the curly coats of Devon and Cornish Rex cats are caused by different genes. This breed guide will give you all the information you need on how to care for your Devon Rex.

&nbsp;

Devons are very active and energetic. They love attention and are affectionate and entertaining. They&rsquo;ll fit in with busy households, and families with children, other cats, and cat-friendly dogs. They&rsquo;ll always want to play.

But don&rsquo;t leave them alone for too long though - you don&#39;t know what they might get up to.

Devon Rex kittens are adorable, small bundles of energy. They <a href="/all-things-pet/cat-games-for-cats" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to some games you can play with your cat">love to play</a> and are interested in everything! Like all kittens, make sure they&rsquo;re socialised with other cats, pets and people and an early age so that they grow into confident, friendly adults.&nbsp;

A white Devon Rex cat sitting in a white bed

Devon Rex cats are easy to care for but watch out for their mischievous side. These cats are always alert. They&rsquo;ll follow you around the house and be interested in whatever you&rsquo;re doing. Whether you&rsquo;re working at the computer, reading a book or preparing a meal, the Devon Rex cat will be on your lap or by your side.

Some may even like to perch on your shoulder and sleep with you as well. There&rsquo;s never a dull moment with a Devon Rex in the house!

Your Devon Rex cat should be fed a nutritious, balanced diet. If you <a href="/all-things-pet/buying-a-kitten-heres-what-you-should-look-out-for" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to buying a kitten">buy your kitten from a breeder</a>, ask if they can provide you with a feeding schedule. Follow this schedule by feeding your kitten at the same time every day. If you want to change their diet, do so gradually over a few days to avoid any tummy upsets.

Your vet can also recommend a cat food to suit their age, needs, and advice on how much to feed. Devons are highly active cats and have a healthy appetite so follow the guidelines on the cat food packaging, so you know they&rsquo;re being given the correct amount.

A Devon Rex coat is low maintenance. They need almost no grooming at all, and brushing may even damage their fragile skin. Some cats, especially those with a thin coat, can be prone to greasiness. A wipe over with a cloth is generally all that&rsquo;s needed to <a href="/all-things-pet/bad-fur-day-read-our-cat-grooming-101" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to cat grooming">keep their coat clean</a>, shiny and in great condition.

Devons are intelligent and will quickly pick up toilet or <a href="/all-things-pet/how-to-train-a-kitten" title="Link to Everypaw's guide on how to litter train a kitten">litter training</a>. There should be at least one litterbox for each cat in the house, plus an extra one. They can be taught to play fetch, walk on a leash, and other tricks if they are motivated enough. Use their favourite toys and treats as rewards.

They&#39;re slender and lively cats and love learning tricks, so make sure they have interactive or puzzle toys to keep them from becoming bored and getting up to mischief.

They like to jump so a cat tree or perch is ideal. Their favourite place is usually somewhere up high so they can keep an eye on everything that&rsquo;s going on in the house!

Link to get an Everypaw Cat Insurance quote

If you&rsquo;ve got your heart set on a Devon Rex, it&rsquo;s a good idea to think insuring your cat before you make the leap and bring them home. Affectionate and playful, these cute kitties may be thought of as a healthy cat breed, but that doesn&rsquo;t prevent accidents in case they get a little too rambunctious at play time.

Everypaw have a range of <a href="/Home/lifetime-pet-insurance.html" title="Link to Everypaw's Lifetime Pet Insurance page">Lifetime cover levels</a> that can be there to help look after your Devon from 8 weeks of age. Stick with us, and we can help when it comes to illness or injury. Plus all our Devon Rex insurance policies come with a full range of benefits for you and your cat.

If you&rsquo;ve got your heart set on a Devon Rex, it&rsquo;s a good idea to think about insuring your cat before taking the leap and bringing them home. Affectionate and playful, these cute kitties may be thought of as a healthy <a href="/cat-insurance/cat-breed-guides" title="Link to Everypaw's Cat Breed Guides">cat breed</a>, but that doesn&rsquo;t prevent accidents in case they get a little too rambunctious at <a href="/all-things-pet/cat-games-for-cats" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to games you can play with your cat">play time</a>.

Everypaw have a range of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.everypaw.com/lifetime-pet-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Lifetime Pet Insurance page">Lifetime cover levels</a>&nbsp;that can be there to help look after your Devon from <a href="/all-things-pet/kitten-development-8-12-weeks-old" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to kitten development from 8 - 12 weeks">8 weeks of age</a>. Stick with us, and we can help when it comes to illness or injury. Plus all our Devon Rex insurance policies come with a full range of benefits for you and your cat.

Devon Rex cat leaning on the arm of a sofa

Devon Rex Cat Insurance, Care and Health Advice

The Devon Rex breed is descended from a feral tom with a distinctive curly coat that had lived in an abandoned tin mine in Buckfastleigh, Devon. In 1960, he fathered a litter of kittens. One of the kittens had the same curly coat as the tom. A breeder took in the kitten and named her Kirlee.This breed guide will give you all the information you need on how to care for your Devon Rex.

Although it&rsquo;s rare, Devon Rex cats can suffer from a decreased or lack of hair. Cats are either born hairless or lose their hair within a few weeks. There&rsquo;s no treatment, so if your cat has this condition, they&#39;ll need plenty of sun protection if allowed outside. Either that or they&rsquo;ll have to be kept indoors on very sunny days.

This is also known as Dystroglycanopathy or Spasticity. Cats with this hereditary condition have generalised muscle weakness, head bobbing, and ventroflexion of the neck (where the head is tucked downwards towards the chest).

Other signs are high-stepping, fatigue, prominent shoulder blades, and megaoesophagus (a condition where the oesophagus becomes floppy and weak). &lsquo;Dog-begging&#39;, &lsquo;chipmunk&rsquo; or &lsquo;Meercat&rsquo; postures may be seen.

Cats that are only mildly affected can have a long life but those more severely affected may have a poor quality of life. Some may sadly die after choking on food. There is no specific treatment but feeding on a low platform can help to prevent megaoesophagus.

Small rather than large feeds can also help. As it&rsquo;s caused by a genetic mutation, unfortunately there&rsquo;s no cure.

Some Devon Rex cats can be affected by a reduction in the activity of vitamin K dependent clotting factors. This can lead to bleeding in various parts of the cat&rsquo;s body. Lifelong treatment with vitamin K1 is needed to enable the cat to have a good quality of life. Devon Rex cats should be screened with blood tests, and cats identified with the condition shouldn&rsquo;t be used for breeding.

<a href="/all-things-pet/hypertrophic-cardiomyopathy-hcm-in-cats" title="Link to Everypaw's article about HCM in cats">Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in cats</a> (HCM) is a serious heart condition that affects many breeds. Cardiomyopathy means disease of the heart muscle. The heart muscle becomes abnormally thick and prevents the heart from working properly, leading to heart failure. Long-term medication can slow the disease down but unfortunately, there&rsquo;s no cure.

Common Devon Rex Health Problems by Vetstream

The Devon Rex is generally healthy, but a few <a href="/all-things-pet/10-common-cat-illnesses-and-symptoms" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to 10 common cat illnesses">common cat health problems</a> have been seen in the breed. Everypaw has teamed up with veterinary experts Vetstream to help you spot any signs of these.

Devon Rex Cat Insurance and Health Advice | Everypaw

Get a quote for your Devon Rex's insurance

Devon Rex

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Zoomies to Senior Snoozes, We've Got Them Covered

The benefit values featured in the table may vary across the different levels of cover and will depend on the cover you choose. Please check your cover before purchasing. Be aware, for some breeds of dogs we do not provide our &pound;8k and &pound;10k Lifetime cover. 
 
All policies and features are subject to special conditions and exclusions of the insurers, please click the link to read about&nbsp;<a href="/Home/pet-insurance-policy-exclusions.html" title="Link to Everypaw's Pet Insurance Exclusions page">our policy exclusions.</a> 
 
Excess is applicable to all vet fees claims. When your pet reaches a certain age, the excess payable may change. The excess will be your set excess plus a percentage of your claim amount.

Getting your furry friend covered shouldn&#39;t just come down to cost. There&#39;s a lot more to it than that, so take the time to do a pet insurance comparison. Think about their breed, the level of cover they might need, and what would be important to you. After all, insurance is there for both of you.

One of the best ways to do that is to compare cover levels. This will give you an idea of how much your pet insurance will cost, how much you can claim against vet bills, as well as the policy benefits. It&#39;s all about finding the Lifetime Pet Insurance that works best for you and your pet.

*Based on Everypaw claims data from February 2024 to March 2025

An older dog for pet insurance for older pets

As our furry companions age, they&#39;re more likely to suffer from ailments and illnesses here and there. And we want you to be able to look after your pet well into retirement. That&#39;s why we don&#39;t have age limits on our policies. Our <a href="/Home/pet-insurance-for-older-pets.html">pet insurance for older pets</a> can help you do the most important thing &ndash; looking after your pet.

What about younger pets? We also offer <a href="/cat-insurance/kitten-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Kitten Insurance page">kitten</a> and <a href="/dog-insurance/puppy-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Puppy Insurance page">puppy insurance</a>, covered by our cat and dog insurance. No matter how old or young your purr-fect pet is, our pet insurance can give you all-important peace of mind.&nbsp;

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Whether you are looking for a playmate for your pet or if your house is more like a <a href="/dog-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Dog Insurance page">dog</a>, <a href="/cat-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Cat Insurance page">cat</a> and <a href="/rabbit-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Rabbit Insurance page">rabbit</a> smallholding, you need multi-pet insurance that works for you. Everypaw&#39;s policies are just that and give you a discount on every pet too. No matter how many pets you have, from glorious <a href="/dog-insurance/dog-breed-guides/golden-retriever-insurance-care-and-health-advice" title="Link to Everypaw's Golden Retriever Dog Breed Guide page">Golden Retrievers</a> and majestic <a href="/cat-insurance/cat-breed-guides/maine-coon-cat-insurance-care-and-health-advice" title="Link to Everypaw's Maine Coon Cat Breed Guide page">Maine Coons</a> to lovely <a href="/rabbit-insurance/rabbit-breed-guides/lionhead-rabbit-insurance-care-and-health-advice" title="Link to Everypaw's Lionhead Rabbit Breed Guide page">Lionheads</a>, it&#39;s there for every single paw.

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How Does Pet Insurance Work: Getting a Quote

Our pet insurance quote form takes just 3 minutes to fill out. Here&#39;s how it works:

<ul>
	<li>Select which type of pet you&#39;re looking to insure and enter their age, breed and sex</li>
	<li>Enter basic personal details about yourself including your email and home addresses</li>
	<li>Select your vet fees limit</li>
	<li>We&#39;ll give you a pet insurance price! And we&#39;ll show you what the cost is for the year, plus what your monthly instalments will look like if you choose to pay that way</li>
</ul>

Will my pet insurance cover pre-existing conditions?

Ever found the urge to discover what the best dog breeds to train are or maybe you want to get to the bottom of your pet&#39;s worm problem.&nbsp;<a href="/Home/all-things-pet.html" title="Link to Everypaw's All Things Pet blog">Everypaw&#39;s All Things Pet blog</a>&nbsp;has the content to keep you informed.

Most Popular Celebrity and Royal Pet Names 2025

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Everypaw Pet Portal policy management icon

For that extra peace of mind when your pets get up to mischief, there&#39;s Everypaw. Our pet insurance is for cats, dogs and rabbits, and every policy comes with unlimited 24/7 access to vet nurses and vets. So, if you ever feel a bit &#39;for pet&#39;s sake&#39;, know Everypaw is here for you and your pet when you need us most!

Why Choose Everypaw for Pet Insurance in the UK?

<a href="https://www.everypaw.com/multi-pet-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Multi-pet Insurance page">Insure multiple pets</a>&nbsp;for a multi-pet discount

99% of claims paid in 5 working days*

Unlimited 24/7 access to UK vet nurses and vets with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.everypaw.com/petcall" title="Link to Everypaw's Petcall vet page">Petcall</a>

Manage your UK pet insurance policy online in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.everypaw.com/pet-portal-info" title="Link to Everypaw's Pet Portal Information page">Pet Portal</a>

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Choosing the right pet health insurance isn&#39;t always easy. We know that. And we also know that a key part of deciding is knowing what&#39;s not covered. That way, at least there are no nasty surprises in terms of coughing up for bills that you thought were going to be taken care of by your policy.

So, here are a few of the main exclusions on our pet insurances:

<ul>
	<li>Treatment for any pre-existing conditions</li>
	<li>Treatment for poisoning or any accidental injury that occurs in the first 3 days of your policy*</li>
	<li>Treatment for any illness that occurs in the first 14 days of your policy*</li>
	<li>Treatment related to vaccine-preventable conditions</li>
	<li>Treatment related to breeding, pregnancy or birthing</li>
	<li>Treatment on baby teeth if your pet is over 16 weeks when your policy starts</li>
</ul>

*Switching to Everypaw Pet Insurance? If you can prove your previous insurance runs up to the policy start date, we can waive this for you.

Please see our <a href="/Home/pet-insurance-policy-exclusions.html" title="Link to Everypaw's Policy Exclusions page">exclusions page</a>&nbsp;for further details.

Fingers crossed, you never have to! We want to reassure you that claiming on your pet health insurance is as hassle-free as possible. That&rsquo;s why we have Vet Pawtal. A direct platform for vets so they can submit claims and leave you to care for your pet.

Vet Pawtal is the fastest and most efficient way to claim. There&rsquo;s no more paperwork for you, and we&rsquo;ll keep you updated every step of the way.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

If your vet can&rsquo;t submit the claim, don&rsquo;t worry; you can still submit it in the <a href="https://petportal.everypaw.com/register#login" target="_blank" title="Link to the Everypaw Pet Portal">Everypaw Pet Portal</a>. It&rsquo;s straightforward; just log in and follow the instructions. Alternatively,&nbsp;you can <a href="https://www.everypaw.com/downloads-2020/everypaw-claim-form.pdf" target="_blank" title="Link to download an Everypaw claim form">download a claim form</a>, but this can take longer.

Please refer to the guidance in your policy documents for Third Party Liability claims.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

For more information, head to our <a href="/Home/claims.html">Pet Insurance Claims information page</a>.

We know pets are just as much a part of your family as any human. So, we know how important it is to you that they&#39;re protected. Choose Everypaw for pet insurance in the UK and give yourself that priceless peace of mind.

We know things can be tough right now, with many people facing money worries. If you have such concerns, please get in touch with us, as we may be able to offer some options to help, which could include reducing your cover or increasing your excess.

If you wish to find out more and your eligibility for any options, please call <a href="tel:03445431009" title="Call Everypaw Customer Services and Claims">0344 543 1009</a>.

Two levels of our Lifetime Pet Insurance cover have been rated 5 Stars by independent financial business, Defaqto, for 8 years in a row.

Deciding which pet insurance your furry bundle of fun needs can be tricky, especially if you&#39;re a new fur-parent. That&#39;s why here at Everypaw.com, we&#39;re trying to keep things simple, we&#39;re all about&nbsp;<a href="/Home/lifetime-pet-insurance.html" title="Link to Everypaw's Lifetime Pet Insurance page">Lifetime Pet Insurance</a>.

Our Lifetime cover is available for your cats, dogs and rabbits. And if you&#39;re looking to cover your cat or dog, there&#39;s a range of cover levels to choose from. Lifetime covers your pet up to a set vet fee limit, and the limits reset for every year of cover.

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Devon Rex Cat Insurance, Care and Health Advice

Devon Rex Cat Facts

Is a Devon Rex Right for Me?

What Are Devon Rex Kittens Like?

Life with a Devon Rex

Caring for Your Devon Rex

Dinner time

Grooming time

Training & exercise

Devon Rex Cat Insurance

Common Devon Rex Health Problems by Vetstream

Congenital Hypotrichosis

Devon Rex Myopathy

Vitamin K1 Responsive Coagulopathy

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)

Quick Devon Rex Q&A

What is a Devon Rex?

Are Devon Rex cats hypoallergenic?

Do Devon Rex cats shed?

Are Devon Rex cats affectionate?

What is the average Devon Rex lifespan?

That’s All You Need to Know About Devon Rex Cats

References