Vets Say These 5 Unique Cat Breeds Are Similar to the Devon Rex

Aleksandar Mishkov

Tue, October 20, 2026 at 10:10 AM UTC

8 min read

The Devon Rex has a look that you can recognize in seconds: oversized bat ears, wide-set eyes, a wiry frame and a coat of soft, rippled curls. Cat owners often compare this cat to pixies, elves and even Yoda from Star Wars .

Their looks are not the only thing cat lovers recognize them for. Devon Rex have one of the most demanding personalities in the cat world. These cats may follow you from one room to another, perch on your shoulder while you prepare lunch and consider your lap their personal property.

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The breed originated in Devon, England, in the late 1950s, when a curly-coated kitten named Kirlee appeared in a litter born to a straight-haired barn cat. Breeders thought the cat's coat was related to the Cornish Rex mutation that had appeared nearby a decade earlier. However, tests showed otherwise. The Devon Rex had distinct genetics and personality traits. Today, every major cat registry in the world recognizes the Devon Rex. This cat has built a devoted following among cat parents who want a cat that behaves less like a cat and more like a small, needy roommate. If that sounds like something you'd like, read on to see what other cat breeds are similar to the Devon Rex.

5 Unique Cat Breeds Similar to the Devon Rex

We talked with three veterinary professionals to learn about other unique cat breeds that have similar traits, looks or personalities to the Devon Rex. Here's what they had to say.

Cornish Rex

The Cornish Rex is probably the closest relative the Devon Rex has, at least visually. Both breeds carry a curly coat and large, prominent ears on a lean, athletic body. Iryna Smyrnova, a zoologist and veterinarian (DVM) at Meowoff , describes the Cornish Rex as sharing "the Devon Rex's signature curly coat and large, bat-like ears on an athletic frame."

While they share similarities, the Cornish Rex and Devon Rex come from separate genetic mutations. The Cornish Rex appeared in Cornwall, England, in 1950 when a kitten named Kallibunker was born with a spontaneous curly coat in a litter of barn cats. The Devon Rex showed up in neighboring Devon.

Early on, breeders believed these two shared the same gene for curly hair. However, test breedings proved otherwise. Each breed carries a distinct recessive mutation, which means crossing a Cornish Rex with a Devon Rex produces straight-haired kittens.

Physically, the Cornish Rex is longer and leaner than the Devon Rex, and it has a narrower, egg-shaped head and a naturally arched back. Their coats are different as well. The Cornish Rex has only a soft down undercoat, while the Devon Rex has a wavier and slightly coarser coat.

However, these two cat breeds have almost identical personalities. Both are high-energy cats that treat inactivity as a personal insult. Dr. Smyrnova notes that the Cornish Rex possesses "an energetic, dog-like personality that relies heavily on constant human companionship," which is the same description that can easily apply to a Devon Rex as well.

Sphynx

The Sphynx is another breed commonly compared to the Devon Rex, and the similarities run deeper than what most people see.

Take away the coat (or, in this case, the lack of one), and the two breeds share a strikingly similar facial structure: wide cheekbones, oversized ears, large eyes and a wedge-shaped head that gives both an almost alien-like appearance.

Dr. Smyrnova says that the Sphynx "displays the same pixie-like facial structure and oversized ears that give the Devon Rex its iconic elfin appearance." Despite being hairless, they also match the Devon Rex in temperament. Dr. Smyrnova describes them as having a high-energy "Velcro" disposition, "constantly shadowing owners for warmth and affection."

Dr. Sarah-Jane Molier, BVM&S, BSc, MRCVS, of ESA Doctors , reinforces the behavioral similarities. "They both have playful (some might even say mischievous!) characters and enjoy human company," Dr. Molier says. "They both tend to be loyal and attention-seeking. Setting aside the difference in coat (or lack of!), they are also physically similar in size and shape."

The Sphynx's hairlessness is not entirely unrelated to the Devon Rex genetically. Early on, breeders used Devon Rex cats as outcrosses when trying to expand the Sphynx gene pool. The two even share a muscle condition called Devon Rex myopathy, a genetic disorder that can occur when both parents pass on the abnormal gene.

Dr. Molier also flags a shared health risk that prospective owners should take seriously. "Sadly, they also share a predisposition for heart disease, HCM (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy), so be sure to choose responsible breeders who screen for medical conditions before breeding," she says. The condition can lead to heart failure or sudden death.

There is one more difference between the two. Without fur, the Sphynx does require extra care. Their skin produces excess oil that hair would normally absorb. However, because they don't have fur, regular bathing is a must.

LaPerm

Not many cat owners have heard about the LaPerm. This cat belongs to the same small club of curly-coated cats. The difference is that the curls look different. The Devon Rex has short, tight waves close to the body, whereas the LaPerm has curls that look like loose ringlets and spirals, and they can be both short and long. The most defined ones sometimes form a ruff around the neck of the feline.

Dr. Smyrnova places the LaPerm firmly in the Devon Rex's circle of relatives. "The LaPerm belongs to the unique group of curly-coated breeds and features a soft, textured coat of ringlets or waves," she says. Their temperament is similar, mirroring the gentle, people-loving nature that make them affectionate family companions.

The breed originated on a farm in Oregon in 1982, when a kitten named Curly was born completely bald in a litter of otherwise ordinary barn cats. Within a few months, she grew a full coat of soft, curly hair.

LaPerms are quieter and slightly less intense than Devon Rex cats. Though they're more likely to tap your arm with a paw to get attention than to launch themselves at your shoulder, they too want to be near people as much as possible.

Selkirk Rex

The Selkirk Rex is the heaviest and most visually distinct of the curly-coated breeds. The Devon Rex has an angular and wiry body, while the Selkirk Rex is stocky, round-faced and broad-chested. They look more like a teddy bear than an elven cat. Fans call them "the cat in sheep's clothing" due to their thick, plush curls that give it a woolly look.

Dr. Smyrnova describes the Selkirk Rex as "another curly-coated variety, though they feature a much stockier build and rounder face than the slender Devon."

While they look slightly different, they share the same intensely patient, cuddly and people-oriented temperament.

Dr Nathaniel Rakestraw, DVM, of TelaVets.com , says, "A Selkirk Rex has a much thicker coat and a rounder body than a Devon, but the curls are the obvious connection. They tend to be affectionate and a little more laid back. Someone who likes the Devon's unusual appearance but wants a calmer cat might be drawn to a Selkirk."

The breed traces back to a single kitten born in Montana in 1987, taken in by Jeri Newman, a Persian cat breeder, who recognized the curly coat as a spontaneous mutation.

The coat does demand more grooming than the Devon Rex's fine waves because the thick curls can tangle and mat, especially in longhaired cats.

Burmese

Of the five unique cat breeds similar to the Devon Rex, the Burmese is the only one that doesn't share a similar appearance. This cat has no curly coat, no angular face and no elfin ears.

Instead, the Burmese looks like a compact, muscular cat with a short, satiny coat and large, round golden eyes. However, they do share the same personality. Few felines match the Devon Rex's famous "dog-cat" personality as precisely as the Burmese does.

"They are relentlessly social, maintain a playful kitten-like energy well into adulthood and thrive on deep human interaction," Dr. Smyrnova says.

The breed traces to a single brown cat named Wong Mau who was brought from Burma to the United States in the 1930s and bred with a Seal Point Siamese.

Unlike the Devon Rex, the Burmese has a short, flat coat that requires almost no grooming. They're sturdy cats that tend to be heavier than they look, with dense muscle under their sleek coat.

Sources:

Dr. Iryna Smyrnova, DVM,is a zoologist and veterinarian at Meowoff .
Dr. Sarah-Jane Molier, BVM&S, BSc, MRCVS,is a veterinarian at ESA Doctors .
Dr. Nathaniel Rakestraw, DVM,is a veterinarian at TelaVets.com .

This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Oct 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the Cats section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.