Personality

The Cornish Rex is a highly intelligent, affectionate and extroverted breed, notwithstanding its somewhat aloof and sophisticated appearance. It is curious, inventive, playful and mischievous by nature, making it an endearing household companion and a wonderful pet. Most Cornish Rex like to play fetch and chase with other pets and with people. They are unusually acrobatic and enjoy leaping onto and off of high places, seemingly simply for the sheer joy of it. The Cornish Rex is an adventurous animal that readily adapts to new situations and environments. It will explore wherever - and whenever - it can. It often will be seen jumping into or onto refrigerators, examining washing machines or climbing into open clothes driers. Some owners consider these antics to be deliberately provocative on the part of their cats, but in a completely fun and happy way. The Cornish Rex is outgoing and people-oriented. It seeks out human companionship and the fellowship of other household animals. Most representatives of this breed make very suitable pets for children or adults who are timid around other animals.

Activity Level

The Cornish Rex is an unusually athletic, agile cat. Despite its slender, fine-boned and somewhat dainty appearance, this is an active animal with an extremely strong, muscular physique. Its well-developed hips and long legs enable it to make extremely fast starts and stops, quick turns and high leaps. The Cornish Rex may enjoy a good nap on a pillow, but it definitely is not a couch-potato or simply an ornamental animal.

Behavioral Traits

The short, downy coat of the Cornish Rex predisposes it to becoming uncomfortable outdoors in cold or wet weather. As a result, these cats tend to seek out warmth by resting on the top of computer monitors, near lamps and light bulbs, high up on counters or shelves and in other toasty areas. They typically shed less than most cats but are not considered to be especially “hypoallergenic.” The Rex is an easy-keeper and is very easy to groom simply by stroking its coat with a bare hand, or with an occasional cloth. While the Cornish Rex is still fairly uncommonly seen in the United States, it is one of the few feline breeds that take readily to walking on-leash. This makes it readily noticed when it is out and about. The Cornish Rex has a particular knack for picking up toys and other small objects with its front feet and tossing them into the air, after which it chases after them with wild abandon and obvious glee.