Devon Rex Cat Care Guide (Australia)

Checked 7 Oct 2026Source: acf.asn.au

Last updated: 7 Oct 2026

The Devon Rex is a lively, people-focused cat with a short, rippled coat, very large ears and an appetite for climbing and interactive play. Its coat often sheds lightly, but it is not hypoallergenic; the sparse coat also gives less protection from cold. Plan for daily company, gentle skin and ear care, warm indoor resting places, and veterinary conversations about heart and kneecap health.

Who is a Devon Rex right for?

A Devon Rex suits a home that enjoys an involved cat: this playful breed often follows people, explores high places and stays kittenish in its approach to games. Its family suitability is 5/5, and its apartment suitability is 4/5; these scores assume the household can offer attention, climbing space and play rather than leaving the cat to entertain itself. Many live comfortably indoors, including in a unit, when shelves or a stable cat tree, scratching surfaces and daily interactive play are available. If your household is away for long stretches, plan for enrichment and companionship before choosing this social breed.

What does a Devon Rex kitten need?

Things to know

• Arrange a new-kitten veterinary visit and agree on vaccinations, parasite prevention and desexing timing for your location. Ask the breeder for health information about the kitten's parents, including cardiac screening; screening does not guarantee that a kitten will never develop disease.
• Get the kitten used to brief, calm handling of its ears, paws, mouth and coat. Devon Rex coats vary in density and can be delicate, so use a soft hand or cloth rather than vigorous brushing.
• Set up a warm indoor bed away from draughts, alongside safe elevated resting places. The kitten should be able to leave a heated spot freely and should never be left directly against a heater.

Food and feeding

Offer a complete kitten food and fresh water, and use the packet guidance as a starting point rather than a fixed prescription. Devon Rex kittens are active climbers and play hard; track growth and body condition with your vet instead of adding food just because the cat feels slight under its wavy coat. Change foods gradually and ask your vet about persistent digestive or appetite changes.

Training and behaviour

Devon Rex kittens often enjoy learning because they are curious, people-oriented and motivated by play or small food rewards. Use short clicker sessions to teach a name response, coming when called or a high-five, then finish while the kitten is still engaged. Rotate wand toys and food puzzles, and provide supervised climbing opportunities; redirect pawing or climbing onto unsafe surfaces to an allowed perch rather than turning play into a chase.

Health to discuss

Ask the breeder what heart screening has been done in the parents and take the records to your vet. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) thickens the heart muscle and can be hard to spot at home; routine examinations and a vet's advice on whether further cardiac assessment is appropriate are more useful than relying on appearance. Patellar luxation, where a kneecap slips out of position, is another recognised concern. Tell your vet about skipping steps, intermittent lameness or reluctance to jump. Do not try to test the knees yourself.

How do you care for an adult Devon Rex?

An adult Devon Rex needs an outlet for its energy and social interest: schedule interactive chase or fetch-style games, offer stable climbing routes, and keep some play available when people are busy. The short, fine coat usually needs little brushing; smooth it gently with your hand or a soft cloth and check the skin for irritation. Some cats develop an oily feel or residue, but frequent bathing can irritate skin, so ask your vet how to manage buildup for your cat. Large ears can collect wax and oil. Look at them regularly and clean only as your vet recommends; redness, odour, discharge, head shaking or persistent scratching calls for a veterinary check.

Keep the Devon Rex indoors and provide warm, draught-free sleeping spots because its short coat is not much insulation. Maintain routine health reviews and mention any change in breathing, energy, appetite or willingness to jump. A vet can advise whether the cat's history or examination warrants heart imaging for HCM. Report an uneven gait or repeated hind-leg skipping so the vet can assess for patellar luxation and other causes. Keep claws trimmed and offer scratchers, and introduce tooth brushing gently with cat-safe products recommended by your vet.

What changes for a senior Devon Rex?

Senior Devon Rex cats may still seek games and company, but a change in jumping, play or breathing deserves attention rather than being dismissed as ageing. Keep low, easy routes to favourite warm beds and place essentials where a stiff or sore cat can reach them. Arrange veterinary reviews and describe reduced stamina, faster or laboured breathing, faintness, skipped steps or reluctance to climb. Ask your vet how often to reassess heart and joint health; do not start supplements or pain medicines without veterinary advice. Continue gentle coat and ear checks, since wax, odour or skin soreness can be easier to miss under fine fur.

What's Australia-specific about owning a Devon Rex?

Australian nights can be cold even when days are mild, and a Devon Rex's sparse coat makes a warm indoor bed particularly useful. Keep the cat indoors or in secure cat containment, with shade, water and airflow during hot weather; never leave a cat in a parked car or confine it beside a heater. Cat curfews, registration and containment rules vary by council and state, so check your local council's current requirements before allowing outdoor access. A secure cat run or enclosed balcony can add outdoor stimulation without free roaming. Ask an Australian vet to tailor parasite prevention to your area and the cat's lifestyle.

Is a Devon Rex easy to train?

Trainability: Devon Rex cats are bright, curious and strongly interested in people, so many will engage with a clicker when the reward is play or a small treat. Their quick movement and playful paws make a short, clear lesson more useful than repeated commands.

Time to expect: Some cats offer a paw touch after a few brief sessions, while reliable responses around distractions take ongoing practice. Let the cat's interest set the session length and practise in different rooms once the cue is familiar.

The catch: A Devon Rex may turn a lesson into a game of grabbing the treat or climbing onto you. Keep rewards controlled, reinforce four paws on a stable perch and end before the cat gets overexcited.

Four steps: clicker high-five

1. Sit beside a low, stable perch with a clicker and a few pieces of the cat's regular food.
2. Hold an open palm near the cat's chest; click and reward any gentle paw lift or touch.
3. Once the cat offers the touch consistently, add the cue “high-five” just before presenting your palm.
4. Practise briefly in another quiet room, rewarding a light touch and stopping if the cat mouths or claws at your hand.

What are the pros and cons of a Devon Rex?

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