Devon Rex

Yes, but the opposite kind from most cats. You should not brush the fragile sparse coat — it damages easily. Instead, because the thin coat cannot absorb the skin's natural oils, Devons get greasy and need a gentle bath every one to four weeks plus regular ear cleaning every one to two weeks. So this is a low-shedding but high-skin-maintenance breed; the upkeep owners underestimate is bathing and ears, not brushing.

No cat is truly hypoallergenic, and the Devon Rex is not an exception. It sheds far less than most cats, which means fewer allergen-carrying hairs spread around the home, so some mildly allergic people tolerate a Devon better. But the main cat allergen (Fel d 1) is in saliva and skin, not just hair, and the Devon still produces it. Spend extended time with the breed before committing if allergies are a concern.

A healthy Devon Rex typically lives 10-15 years. The factors most likely to shorten that are the breed's inherited conditions — particularly HCM and Devon Rex myopathy — in unscreened lines. The practical takeaway is that lifespan here depends heavily on buying from a breeder who cardiac-screens and tests for the hereditary muscle disease, plus diligent home care of the skin and ears to prevent chronic infections.

Poorly. The Devon Rex is one of the most people-dependent cat breeds — intensely social, attention-seeking, and easily bored, becoming destructive or over-vocal when isolated for long days. If your household is empty nine-plus hours daily, the honest recommendation is a second compatible pet for company or a different, more independent breed. This is a companion cat that genuinely needs companionship.

Because the signature sparse, fine coat provides very little insulation, so the cat genuinely loses body heat faster than a normal-coated cat. This is normal Devon behavior, not illness — they wedge against people, seek radiators, and burrow into bedding. Support it with warm bedding, a heated pad, and a reasonably warm home. A persistently cold environment stresses a Devon, so warmth provision is a real care item, not optional pampering.

Expect roughly $1,000-$2,500 for a kitten from a registered breeder who cardiac-screens for HCM and tests for Devon Rex myopathy. The recurring hidden costs are the breed-specific ones: routine bathing supplies, frequent ear care, and treatment of recurrent skin or ear infections, plus the potential cost of managing inherited heart or muscle disease. Paying more upfront for fully screened parents is the cheapest insurance against the breed's serious genetic conditions.