What was the name of the first Cornish Rex kitten, born in Cornwall in 1950?

Kallibunker was the first Cornish Rex kitten, born in Cornwall in 1950.

Kallibunker was born in a litter on a farm near Bodmin, Cornwall, England. His tight, curly coat resulted from a spontaneous mutation. His owner, Nina Ennismore, worked with geneticist A. C. Jude to develop the trait through selective breeding.

Cornish Rex cats have a very fine coat because they lack the outer guard hairs and much of the normal middle layer found in many cats. The remaining hairs create the breed’s distinctive waves and curls. Their coats can feel warm and soft but are not necessarily easier to care for than ordinary coats.

The Cornish Rex is separate from the Devon Rex. Both have curly coats, but they arose from different mutations and have different coat structures. Kallibunker’s name is therefore a specific historical reference, not the name of every early rex cat.