From Our Family to Yours
DEVON FACTS
KITTENS FROM A VERY EARLY AGE ACQUIRE THEIR CHARACTERISTIC APPEARANCE AND BECOME LIKE FAIRY ELVES. USUALLY UP TO TWO MONTHS THEY HAVE SHORT WAVY HAIR, THEN IT SPREADS AND BEGINS TO THIN. AT THIS AGE, KITTENS LOOK DIFFERENT THAN REPRESENTATIVES OF THEIR BREED. AT 6-8 MONTHS, THEY USUALLY HAVE AN ALMOST ADULT COAT BUT THE FINAL VERSION OF THE DEVONIAN COAT IS FORMED ONLY BY 1.5-2 YEARS OF AGE.
DISADVANTAGES: NARROW OR LONG HEAD, STRAIGHT OR SHAGGY WOOL, BALD PATCHES, NAKED SHORT TAIL, OR TAIL WITH LONG THICK WOOL. SMALL, HIGH-SET EARS.
CARE, DIET AND SPECIFIC NEEDS
THE DEVON REX IS AN AFFECTIONATE AND LOVING CAT ON ONE HAND AND PLAYFUL AND FULL OF ANTICS ON THE OTHER. EXPECT A SHEIK BREED THAT IS ENERGETIC AND SOCIAL. AS FAR AS CATS GO, THE DEVON REX IS AN EXTROVERT AND CAN GET ALONG WITH CHILDREN AS WELL AS ADULTS. A DEVON REX IS SMART ENOUGH TO LEARN THE MOST COMPLEX TRICKS, BUT IN FELINE FASHION MAY NOT WANT TO PERFORM CONSISTENTLY. WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF A DEVON REX CAT?
SIMILAR TO A SIAMESE, YOU MAY FIND A DEVON REX HAS SEVERAL TRAITS IN COMMON WITH DOGS. THE BREED IS VERY SOCIAL AND DOES NOT DO WELL ALONE FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME. CATS LEFT ON THEIR OWN BECOME BORED, STRESSED, AND DESTRUCTIVE. THIS BREED IS SO ACTIVE IT REQUIRES DAILY EXERCISE AND MENTAL STIMULATION. THE DEVON REX IS SOCIAL ENOUGH THAT YOU NEED TO WATCH YOUR CAT AROUND DOGS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY FELINE-FRIENDLY. YOUR PET MAY NOT HAVE A HEALTHY SENSE OF SELF-PRESERVATION. YOUR CAT WILL HAVE A UNIQUE COAT THAT NEEDS PROTECTION FROM THE SUN AS OUTER GUARD HAIRS ARE SPARSE. THE SAME THIN COAT WILL REQUIRE YOU TO PROTECT YOUR CAT FROM FRIGID CONDITIONS. THIS BREED’S SKIN IS SENSITIVE AND PRONE TO GREASINESS, SO YOU NEED TO BATHE YOUR DEVON REX IN WARM WATER FREQUENTLY. USE A MILD CAT SHAMPOO. AVOID BRUSHING THAT TENDS TO BREAK WHAT FEW GUARD HAIRS THE DEVON REX HAS.
WHAT IS THE DIET OF THE BREED?
A DEVON REX HAS HEALTHY TEETH BUT A DAINTY FACE. YOUR CAT MAY BE BETTER ABLE TO HANDLE SMALLER KIBBLE IF YOU FEED A DRY DIET. SOME EXPERTS RECOMMEND SUPPLEMENTING OR SUBSTITUTING WET FOOD TO ENCOURAGE WATER INTAKE. YOUR CAT’S DIET SHOULD BE MOSTLY ANIMAL-SOURCED PROTEINS AND FATS, AVOIDING CARBOHYDRATES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. THE DEVON REX CAN BE A VORACIOUS AND INDISCRIMINATE EATER, SETTING ITSELF UP FOR GAINING EXCESS WEIGHT AND INGESTING TOXIC FOODS. HEAVIER CATS MAY HAVE TO EAT A SPECIAL WEIGHT-CONTROL DIET OR INGEST FEWER CALORIES.
ORIGIN: HTTPS://WWW.CARINGPETS.ORG/HOW-TO-TAKE-CARE-OF-A-KITTEN/DEVON-REX-CAT/
THE FIRST SEVEN DAYS
IT IS ADVISABLE TO BRING THE KITTEN HOME WITH SOME BEDDING; THIS WILL ACT AS A FAMILIAR OBJECT WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE IS NEW. SEVEN DAYS OF QUARANTINE SHOULD BE A CALM PERIOD OF ADJUSTMENT SO IT’S PROBABLY BEST FOR ANY CHILDREN IN THE HOUSEHOLD TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE KITTEN SHOULD BE LEFT ALONE FOR A WHILE.
➡️ THE KITTEN ROOM SHOULD BE PREPARED IN ADVANCE TO ENABLE THE NEW ARRIVAL TO SETTLE IN COMFORTABLY WITH MINIMUM DISTURBANCE. PLACE THE CAT BASKET ON THE FLOOR GENTLY AND OPEN THE LID; ALLOW THE KITTEN TO EXPLORE IN ITS OWN TIME. IT MAY BE EXPERIENCING MANY OF THE ROOM’S SIGHTS, SOUNDS, SMELLS AND TEXTURES FOR THE FIRST TIME SO BE PATIENT AND ALLOW A PERIOD OF INVESTIGATION.
➡️ OFFER FOOD, WATER AND A FRESHLY PREPARED LITTER TRAY TO THE KITTEN WITHIN THE ROOM OR IN THE CAGE SO THE KITTEN KNOWS IT IS ITS DEN. ONCE THE KITTEN HAS INVESTIGATED AND FOUND THEM ALL, IT’S SAFE TO LEAVE THE ROOM FOR A WHILE. DON’T WORRY IF LITTLE INTEREST IS SHOWN IN FOOD AT THIS STAGE.
➡️ THE PIECE OF FAMILIAR BEDDING CAN BE PLACED INSIDE A CARDBOARD BOX OR CAT BED TO HELP THE KITTEN FEEL AT HOME. IT MAY BE HELPFUL TO MAINTAIN THE SAME LITTER MATERIAL THAT THE KITTEN WAS USED TO IN ITS PREVIOUS HOME DURING THE INITIAL PERIOD, MAKING ANY CHANGES GRADUALLY ONCE THE NEWCOMER IS COMPLETELY SETTLED.
➡️ KITTENS NEED THEIR SLEEP WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG, EVEN MORE SO THAN ADULT CATS, BUT IN BETWEEN CATNAPS THEY EXHIBIT ENERGETIC BURSTS OF ACTIVITY. KITTENS LOVE TO CLIMB SO BE PREPARED TO GO TO THE RESCUE; GOING UP IS ALWAYS EASIER THAN COMING DOWN.
GETTING TO KNOW THE KITTEN IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ENABLE A BOND TO BE CREATED SO INTERACTION SHOULD TAKE PLACE DURING THE TIMES WHEN IT FEELS NATURALLY ACTIVE AND APPEARS RESPONSIVE. NO MATTER HOW CUTE A KITTEN LOOKS IT SHOULD NEVER BE WOKEN FOR AFFECTION OR PLAYTIME. IF THE KITTEN SEEMS RECEPTIVE, PLAY WITH IT BUT DON’T PERSEVERE IF IT SEEMS DISINTERESTED OR ANXIOUS; THERE’S A LOT TO TAKE IN AT THE START. DON’T COAX THE KITTEN OUT OF A HIDING PLACE; SPEND TIME IN THE ROOM READING A BOOK OR WATCHING TELEVISION, FOR EXAMPLE, INSTEAD OF FORCING THE RELATIONSHIP TO DEVELOP. IF YOU WANT TO APPEAL TO YOUR NEW KITTEN, SPEND TIME ON THE FLOOR AT KITTEN LEVEL – ALLOW FAMILY MEMBERS TO VISIT INDIVIDUALLY RATHER THAN CROWDING INTO THE ROOM ALL AT ONCE.
➡️ DURING THE FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS, ANY HANDLING SHOULD IDEALLY TAKE PLACE WHEN THE KITTEN INITIATES IT. AFTER THE FIRST FORTY-EIGHT HOURS, HANDLE THE KITTEN THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME, RATHER THAN PROVIDING CONTINUOUS PHYSICAL CONTACT.
➡️ IF YOU HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN, ALLOW THEM LIMITED SUPERVISED CONTACT INITIALLY TO AVOID THE KITTEN BEING OVER-HANDLED. SEE OUR INFORMATION ON INTRODUCING CHILDREN TO A NEW CAT OR KITTEN ON
HTTPS://ICATCARE.ORG/ADVICE/HELPING-YOUR-NEW-CAT-OR-KITTEN-SETTLE-IN/
AT THIS AGE, THE KITTEN NEEDS PLENTY OF REST SO ALWAYS ALLOW THE KITTEN TO SLEEP UNINTERRUPTED. IF YOU HAVE A KITTEN CAGE YOU CAN SIMPLY PUT IT AWAY FOR A WHILE SO IT CAN REST IN PEACE. IT ALSO HAS A TINY STOMACH AT THIS AGE SO OFFERING 4-6 SMALL MEALS AT REGULAR INTERVALS THROUGHOUT THE DAY WILL AVOID ANY POTENTIAL STOMACH UPSETS.
DON’T RUSH TO INTRODUCE THE KITTEN TO OTHER CATS AND DOGS – THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE CAREFULLY.
MORE: HTTPS://ICATCARE.ORG/ADVICE/HELPING-YOUR-NEW-CAT-OR-KITTEN-SETTLE-IN/