History of Cornish Rex (VIEW 800x600)

"The Corduroy Cat"

Dr. Alva Irish is the former Editor/publisher
of the bi-monthly International Allergy Sig
newsletter for Mensa "The Big Sneeze"
The base of a kind of Hair on most Cats sheds continuously and is a serious Potential Allergen called Dander, which causes severe Allergic reactions in some people. Cornish Rex have no Dander! They are ideal for those of us (like me!) who are allergic to regular cats, which all have both Guard Hair and the soft curly underfur called AWN hair. The Cornish Rex mutation has no Guard Hair, just awn hair arranged in marcel waves.

HISTORY

The year was 1950 in Cornwall, England. A fantastic looking male kitten was born with curls over his body and the softest of coats. He was the only one in the litter with this unusual coat and his owner decided to breed him back to his mother to see if more like him would come. The answer was yes.
When his potential was realized, he and his offspring were bred to other cats to establish a strong gene pool. Color and physical appearance were standardized. The unique coat quality proved to be a recessive gene which continued to breed true. The CFA soon recognized the mutation and the Cornish Rex was on its way. They have become extremely popular in Europe today. Australia and New Zealand have begun breeding programs as have South Africa and Columbia.
The first breeding program in the United States began in 1968 in Texas. Alva Irish of Irish cattery imported some of the first Cornish Rex from England. To this day she and others continue to work with the breed. The Cornish Rex in our country owes a great deal to loyal pioneer breeders.