As the name suggests this breed of cat originated in Germany. It bears a striking resemblance to the famed British Cornish Rex, however the German Rex is not as popular as the Cornish Rex.
It is a medium-sized cat with long, slender legs and a round face. Although muscular, it is heavier than the Cornish Rex. The German Rex is also blessed with well-developed cheeks, large ears, and affectionate, alert eyes. Its whiskers have a slight curl and its nose exhibits a small break.
The most remarkable feature of the German Rex, however, is its short, silk coat with extremely short awn hairs. Unlike the Cornish Rex, the awn hairs are thicker than the hair in the undercoat which makes the coat look woolier.
This a friendly, lively cat that will brighten up your day. It gets on well with everyone, including children. It is active and playful and can be taught to play games such as 'fetch'. The German Rex is so intelligent it can be taught to perform acrobatic tricks on cue. Though active, this breed has tremendous patience and is extremely loyal When not playing with its owner, it enjoys lying down and being petted.
This cat does not require much grooming. In addition to regularly examining its ears and eyes for infections, it requires only a weekly brushing with a bristle or fine comb to smooth its hair. Because it lacks sufficient hair to absorb oil secretions, it gets greasy easily and needs to be bathed frequently. It should be wrapped in a towel immediately after bathing to make it easier to dry its hair.
The history of this cat can be traced to Germany in the mid-1940s (this is open to argument) but it was not taken seriously by most breeders until 1951, following the discovery of the Cornish Rex Cat in 1950. Until 1979 the Cat Fancier's Association only recognised cats which resulted from a union between the Cornish and German Rex cats. As they resembled each other, it was natural that one breed would overshadow the other. The Cornish Rex continued to capture the public interest, while the German Rex participated in shows in its native land as late as the 1908s, fewer German Rex cats exist today.
