Guard hairs are characteristically absent in the Cornish Rex cat breed. Its coat consists mainly of a very soft, tightly curled layer of down hairs, giving the breed its distinctive rippled texture.
The Cornish Rex originated in Cornwall, England, after a curly-coated kitten named Kallibunker was born in 1950. Breeders recognized that the coat resulted from a genetic mutation and used selective breeding to establish the breed. The word “Rex” is used for several animals with unusual curly coats and does not mean the cats are related to one another.
Cornish Rex cats are sometimes mistaken for Devon Rex cats, but the breeds have different mutations and coat structures. Cornish Rex coats tend to be close, fine, and wavy, while Devon Rex coats have a different texture and may include guard hairs. Neither breed should be assumed to be completely hypoallergenic.