German RexCharacteristics, history, behaviour and care

The first documented Rex cat in Germany was the tomcat Munk, born in 1930 or 1931 near Königsberg (today Kaliningrad). Researchers of the breed do not, however, consider him its ancestor, because he was not used for breeding.

In the summer of 1951, the doctor Rose Scheuer-Karpin noticed a black cat with a curly coat in the garden of the Hufeland hospital in Berlin-Buch. The staff had known her since 1947. The doctor named her Lämmchen (“little lamb”) and rightly suspected that she was the result of a mutation.

In 1957 the first two Rex kittens bred on purpose were born. Lämmchen's descendants were also used to improve the Cornish Rex, which has its mutation on the same gene. In the 1960s and 1970s, breeders in the two Germanys saved the line by crossing it with European Shorthairs.

How the breed developed

• 1930–1931 – the tomcat Munk is born, the first documented Rex in Germany.
• 1951 – the cat Lämmchen is found in Berlin.
• 1957 – the first Rex kittens bred on purpose.
• 1968–1973 – breeders in East and West Germany save the line.
• 1982 – recognised by FIFe.

• Families who want a close companion. It quickly bonds with people.
• People with time to play. It is lively and playful.
• Warm homes. A coat without guard hairs makes it more sensitive to cold.
• People who want a rare cat. It is not a widespread breed.

It is a medium-sized cat with slender legs of medium length. Its body is heavier than the Cornish Rex's, closer to the European Shorthair.

General appearance

The head is round, broad between the ears, with well-developed cheeks. The ears are large and open. The eyes are of medium size, well open, with a colour that matches the coat. The whiskers are wavy too, but less so than in the Cornish Rex; sometimes almost straight.

The FIFe standard describes the coat as short, velvety, soft and very silky, wavy and without guard hairs. Its density varies from thin to thick. All colours are accepted, including white.

Related breeds and how to tell them apart

The Cornish Rex has its mutation on the same gene, but a much more slender body and an egg-shaped head. The Devon Rex has a different mutation and short outer hairs. In body shape, the German Rex looks like the European Shorthair.

Wikipedia says it is very friendly and quickly bonds with people. It is lively, playful and intelligent, with a temperament similar to the Cornish Rex.

Socialisation

It quickly bonds with its people.

A kitten gets used to new people, noises and other animals most easily in its first months of life.

Habits at home

Like all cats, it sleeps a lot: usually 12–16 hours a day. It is most active early in the morning and in the evening, but partly adapts to the family's routine.

Cats instinctively bury their droppings, so it quickly learns to use a litter tray. It scratches rough surfaces to shed the old outer layer of its claws, so it needs a scratching post or board.

It is a lively cat that needs daily play.

Tips for a balanced life

• Change its toys from time to time, so it does not get bored.
• Play with it in short sessions, several times a day.
• If it goes outside, let it do so in a fenced area or on a balcony with a safety net.

Coat care

The short, fine coat does not need frequent brushing; a soft brush is enough. The cat should be kept warm.

Common health problems

The sources consulted do not describe diseases typical of the breed.

Recommended genetic tests

Ask the breeder whether the parents have been checked by a vet, including their heart and kidneys.

Is it hypoallergenic?

Cat allergy is caused mainly by the Fel d 1 protein, found in saliva and skin glands; it is behind the allergy in 90% of people who are allergic to cats. Kittens, females and neutered males produce less of it, but still enough to trigger symptoms. No breed is completely hypoallergenic.

Other care

• A check-up at the vet once a year.
• Vaccinations and parasite treatment on the schedule set by the vet.
• Trim the claws if they do not wear down on their own.
• Clean its teeth or give it food that helps keep them clean.

The cat is a carnivore: it needs animal protein. Unlike a dog, it must get vitamin A, arachidonic acid and taurine from its food. Water is very important, because cats usually drink little; several water bowls around the house encourage it to drink.

Tips for a healthy diet

The table gives a starting estimate, calculated with the formula from the Merck Veterinary Manual for a healthy adult cat. The last column shows what this means in dry food with 3,500–4,000 kcal per kilogram. If you also feed wet food, reduce the dry portion.

• Adjust the portion to its weight: neutered cats put on weight easily.
• Weigh it monthly; the ribs should be easy to feel under your fingers.
• Kittens need more calories: Merck recommends 2.5 times the resting energy requirement.

Dangerous foods and substances

Some common household items are dangerous for cats:

• Lilies (and daylilies): they can destroy a cat's kidneys. Even the pollen or the water in the vase is dangerous.
• Paracetamol: extremely toxic to cats, which lack the enzyme that breaks it down. Never give it human medicines.
• Flea spot-ons and collars for dogs containing permethrin: the concentration meant for dogs is dangerous for cats.
• Foods: chocolate, coffee, alcohol, onions, garlic, grapes and raisins.

Maturity

Females usually reach sexual maturity at 5–10 months, and males at 5–7 months. The age varies from breed to breed.

Mating and pregnancy

Pregnancy in cats lasts 64–67 days, 65 on average. A first litter usually has fewer kittens than later ones. Only healthy cats that match the breed standard are used for breeding.

Blood type

Cats have blood type A, B or AB. Type A is the most common: in a study from England, 87.1% of non-pedigree cats and 54.6% of pedigree cats had type A. This matters for breeding: if the mother is type B and the kittens are type A, the antibodies in her first milk (colostrum) can destroy their red blood cells. The condition is called neonatal isoerythrolysis. That is why breeders test the blood type of both parents.

We found no published data on how common type B is in this breed; the test is done before mating anyway.

Caring for the kittens

Kittens are weaned at 6–7 weeks. They are ready to go to their new home at about 12 weeks, when they can be separated from their mother.

Neutering

Neutering used to be done at 6–9 months, but it is more and more often done before puberty, at around 3–6 months. It prevents unwanted kittens, urine marking in males and the loud “calling” of females in heat. A 2024 study found that neutered cats live one year longer on average. After the operation, the metabolism slows down and appetite increases, so the portion has to be reduced.

How to choose a kitten

• Ask for the pedigree from a recognised cat association (for example, a FIFe member).
• The kitten leaves its mother at about 12 weeks.
• Look at the mother and at the place where the kittens are raised: it should be clean, with kittens used to people.
• Ask about vaccinations, parasite treatment and the blood type of the parents.

• Found in a hospital garden. Lämmchen, the ancestor of the breed, lived in the garden of the Hufeland hospital in Berlin.
• “Little lamb”. Lämmchen means “little lamb” in German, because of her curly coat.
• The fishing tomcat. Munk, the first documented Rex in Germany, was prized for catching fish from the family pond.
• It helped another breed. Lämmchen's descendants were used to improve the Cornish Rex.

Where does the wavy coat come from?

From a recessive mutation, on the same gene as in the Cornish Rex; it was first seen in the cat Lämmchen, in Berlin, in 1951.

How is it different from the Cornish Rex?

It has a sturdier body and a rounder head, closer to the European Shorthair.

What is its character like?

It is very friendly, lively, playful and quickly bonds with people.