The first Cornish Rex kitten, Kallibunker, appeared in Cornwall in 1950.
Kallibunker was born in a litter in Bodmin, Cornwall, and had an unusual curly coat. His owner, Nina Ennismore, worked with a geneticist to develop the trait into a recognized breed. The Cornish Rex’s coat results from a recessive mutation affecting hair structure, so breeding two carriers can produce kittens with the distinctive curls.
The breed’s coat is made largely of soft underfur because it lacks the sturdier guard hairs found in many other cats. This gives the Cornish Rex a wavy, close-lying appearance and a soft texture.
Cornish Rex and Devon Rex are separate breeds. Both have unusual coats, but they arose from different mutations and have different head and body characteristics.