When is a Pixie not a Pixie - When it's a Devon Rex
By Shally Carlson / Kotickee Cattery
(Originally printed in CatBytes, April 1992, Reprinted by permission of author)
I think most of us can remember seeing a Devon Rex for the first time. I know I can. These amusing little creatures have a way of eliciting big smiles and often loud vocal exclamations from their observers. They are curly coated cuties with whimsical expressions that clearly set them apart from any other feline. The Devon standard uses the term "elfin" to describe the look of the large eyes, short muzzle, prominent cheekbones and huge, low-set ears. The fact that they are active and alert, with interest in their surroundings, further adds to their mythical appearance. Whether one conjures up an elf or a pixie, one is almost convinced that this feline may be capable of supernatural powers.
CFA has had a written standard for the Devon Rex for over ten years. There is a standard to describe these little pixies which is much more specific than which Devon appears the cutest or which Devon makes one laugh the loudest. We need to look at the specific Devon Rex characteristics which make this breed stand apart from all others. That's what makes a cute little pixie an outstanding Devon Rex.
The very reason for being for both our rex breeds is coat. This rex coat mutation is what set these two breeds apart from other breeds already in existence. We have established type based upon the characteristic type of the original breed members. But without the coat, there would have been no Cornish or Devon Rex! Justifiably, 30 points of the Devon standard are devoted to coat (density, texture and length, waviness). Likewise 30 points are assigned to the body and the remaining 35 points are distributed among the characteristics associated with the head.
The Devon Rex may be a whimsical pixie, but its type is quite specific and not all whimsical pixies are good Devon Rex. First of all, the head as viewed from the front forms a modified wedge, not a circle - the Devon head is not round! This wedge, the lines of which extended and seen in its entirety would form an equilateral triangle. However, to outline the Devon head, it has indeed been modified. The three distinct narrowing convex curves which begin at the outer edge of the ear, following down the wide distinct cheekbone and ending at the short well developed muzzle with prominent whisker pads form the basis for the triangle. Two points modify this triangle into the typical wedge. First, the ears are not included within the confines of the triangle as with the Siamese whose ears well define their head shape triangle. The huge Devon ears should extend beyond the prescribed and defined wedge of the head both horizontally and vertically. Furthermore, the triangle has been cut off at the chin for the chin and muzzle do not come to a point, but rather form a flat plane parallel to the top of the head.
When I look at a Devon from the front, I first want to see width across the skull, the high cheekbones well defined and followed by a strong muzzle with again well defined whisker pads. Lack of this head width and subsequent convex curves distorts the Devon expression which makes its head unique. Ears are very important to the total look of the Devon. They receive 10 points of the standard, the same amount as do head size and shape. This is as it should be. Most anyone who has seen a Devon one time will attest to the fact that it has huge ears. My personal feeling is that the proper shape and placement is equally as important as sheer size. I once had an early breeder tell me that it was not possible to have either too large or too low set an ear. I do believe this is almost so. I also feel that the proper shape is something we must stress. The ear should be wide at the base with ideally a lobe that extends beyond the wedge as defined by the head. When one sees the proper ear on a Devon, he'll not forget it. It truly contributes to the overall expression.
The eyes should not be overlooked. Again they appear wide apart on the head width and high cheekbones. The standard calls for a large and oval eye which should be placed at a slight angle with the outer corner pointing upward toward the outside edge of the ear. Eyes are given 5 points of the standard and my personal feelings would place most of those on eye size which is extremely important to expression.
The last 5 points of the head standards is reserved for profile. The Devon head as viewed from the side does not appear very thick from the flat top head to the chin and jaw line and these planes appear nearly parallel. The nose has a stop and should actually be reflected in a directional change in the bone, and not merely a change in the direction of hair growth.
In 1972, Anitia White of Anglo-Tex Cattery wrote and illustrated an article which became instrumental in clarifying the differences between the Cornish and Devon. Her sage analysis and astute observations have shed light and insight on our breed description even today. As she and her mother Marion White were in part responsible for our Devon standard as it exists, I feel we can gain much from her comments. The nose has a stop; this should exist in the actual structure of the nose and not merely an illusion caused by the way the fur grows. However, it must be admitted that a Devon nose stop usually requires considerable enhancement from the fur before it fits the description of a "strongly marked stop." The chin should not be receding; conversely, "strong and well developed" should not be taken to mean a prognathous jaw. Proportionately more of the Devon's skull must serve as a base for the ears than in the Cornish. Also the muzzle (the length from nose tip to eyes) is much shorter. Long heads, narrow heads, domestic Shorthair type heads are all penalized. Head types that emphasize extreme shortness of muzzle, nose, etc., such as that of the Exotic Shorthair are absolutely too short for the Devon Rex. Such short heads are not a goal of Devon Rex breeders; lack of length distorts the shape and proportion of the head even more so than does too much length.
A developing trend that I've notice among novice breeders and evaluators alike is the misconception a shorter head more closely defines the standard. On initial observation one should first be able to see width. Obviously a shorter head will contribute to this illusion more readily than a longer head. However, as has been discussed, the Devon head is not round, but wedge shaped. As the head is shortened, the width of the upper head must increase and subsequently the ears must be placed lower on the head in order to achieve the prescribed wedge shape that is the characteristic shape of the Devon head. This is a difficult combination to achieve and rarely do the extremely short headed Devon have the correct wedge shape. As one can now understand, often it is the longer head the actually best defines the Devon head type standard.
Another recent development that concerns me as a Devon breeder is the increase of undershot lower jaws and the resulting teeth malocclusions. The standard does call for a strong chin. But is it not possible to have a strong chin without it being overdeveloped? Is it not possible to have a strong chin without having a bite malocclusion? I would hope that breeders would select away from these growing tendencies before the Devon as a breed develops these features. I am concerned as to the eventual health of any feline whose teeth are misaligned.
The Devon Rex is a special little pixie, one which conjures up all kinds of thoughts from their observers. But the Devon Rex standard is quite specific as to its characteristics. It is very easy for the novice observer to identify the most obvious characteristics. But, let us not forget that it is the cat in its entirety that determines the best little pixie.
Correct Devon Rex Head
Modified Wedge
Profile Front View
Planes Nearly Parallel Equilateral Triangle cut off at chin and muzzle - with ears extending beyond.
A shorter head necessitates the ears being even lower and the head wider to accommodate the wedge shape front view indicated by the standard.
The head is too long or too short when you loose the equilateral triangle formed by the extension of the wedge.
Head Too Short
Correctly Shaped Head with the Wedge Forming an Equilateral Triangle
GRC Kotickee's Eye and Mighty
Head Too Long