Cornish Rex cats are incredible cats. They tend to be friendly cats that love their humans, will get along with other pets as well as strangers, and are very energetic cats that love to play and love to run around. However, it is the coat that the Cornish Rex is best known for. They lack the top layer of coat that other cats have so they just have the soft undercoat. This coat is curly, which is what gives the Cornish Rex its unique look. Beyond that, the Cornish Rex can come in a variety of different colors, markings, and color points.
Below are different types of Cornish Rex that you can consider for your next pet.
The 6 Types of Cornish Rex Cats
1. Bi-Color Cornish Rex
Bi-color Cornish Rex cats have coats that consist of just two colors. Common color combinations are black and white or gray and white. To be considered a standard Cornish Rex with a bi-color coat the chest, belly, and legs should be white, but the rest of the coat can be virtually any other single color.
The secondary color can look striped, and the cat should have the curly hair that the Cornish Rex is so well known for.
2. Black Cornish Rex
The black Cornish Rex is a rare color. It should be black from head to toe and have the same curly undercoat hair as other Cornish Rexes. Cornish Rex cats do not do well in extreme heat or extreme cold because their coat offers very little protection. Black Cornish Rex are especially prone to extreme heat as what little coat they do have will attract and retain the heat.
3. Calico Cornish Rex
Calico cats, which are also known as tri-color cats, have a base coat of white, which can cover anywhere from a quarter to three-quarters of the cat’s body. It also has large orange and black patches. The black and orange may be replaced by other colors, but the white, black, and orange combination is the most common in the calico Cornish Rex.
4. Pointed Cornish Rex
Pointed markings are similar to those seen in Asian cat breeds like the Siamese. The base coat is a pale color, but it has a darker tail, feet, ears, and facial markings. Variants of this color include the seal point, blue point, and chocolate point.
5. Tabby Cornish Rex
The tabby marking is one of the most common markings found in the Cornish Rex breed. The base coat of the cat is usually a brown color, and it has black stripes, rings, or blotches around the legs, body, and head. The tabby is also well known for having the distinctive M mark on its forehead, and it is said that all tabbies have this marking even though it isn’t always easy to spot at first glance.
6. Tortoiseshell Cornish Rex
The tortoiseshell or tortie Cornish Rex has a coat with markings that resemble that of a tortoise. Torties are almost always female and the few male tortoiseshells that are found are sterile. Although character traits are not really determined by coat color, owners of torties swear that they have a very distinct attitude, and this is sometimes referred to as “tortitude.”
Do Cornish Rex Cats Make Good Pets?
Cornish Rex cats can make excellent pets. They get along well with their family members, are usually friendly with strangers, and they will get on with other cats as well as dogs. As well as being friendly, they are also playful and energetic, which means they really enjoy any playtime they are given. This also means that they tend to do well in a family with children.
However, the Cornish Rex can struggle with separation anxiety, so if you have to go to work for 8 hours a day, you might want to consider a more independent breed.
Are Cornish Rex Cats Cuddly?
The breed is well known for being lively and active, so it is reasonable to question whether they are cuddly cats. Fortunately, between play sessions, these cats are also very loving, and they will happily snuggle up with their humans for some attention and affection.
How Expensive Is a Cornish Rex?
The breed is not common, although there are certainly breeders to be found with some careful searching and due diligence on your part. You can expect to pay anywhere between $800 and $1,200 for a Cornish Rex, which certainly isn’t cheap, but it isn’t as expensive as the rarer Devon Rex, which can cost up to $2,000 for a kitten.
Can You Leave Cornish Rex Alone?
Somewhat prone to separation anxiety, the Cornish Rex can be a demanding pet that wants attention from its humans all the time. If you will be out of the house for long periods, you should consider getting a companion for your cat or have somebody come in and check on your cat while you’re out.
Alternatively, choose a more independent breed of cat like the Maine Coon or British Shorthair. The American Wirehair is another breed that can usually tolerate being left alone during the day.
Do Cornish Rex Cats Need Baths?
Cornish Rex cats are somewhat driven by their unique coat. They are typically on the lookout for warm places to sit and relax because they lack the outer coat that most other felines have. And because the Rex doesn’t have the hair to soak up and use natural oils secreted by the cat, it benefits from regular baths. One advantage of that coat is that when the Rex does get wet, it dries quickly and with minimal fuss.
Conclusion
Best known for their curly looking hair that gets its curls from the lack of a topcoat, the Cornish Rex is also known for being a friendly and loving cat that will get on with all family members, is friendly with strangers, and will usually even get along with other cats and dogs.
Although it is a fairly rare breed in the US, it is still available from a good number of breeders.
Featured Image Credit: Jenni Ferreira, Shutterstock
