German Rex

In the summer of 1951, Dr Rose Scheuer-Karpin spotted a curly-coated black female in the garden of the Hufeland hospital, in Berlin's Buch district, which the staff had known since 1947. She named her Lämmchen, “little lamb”, and suspected a mutation. She was right: the first curly kittens from her breeding were born in 1957, and all of today's German Rex descend from her. The gene is recessive and at the same location as the Cornish Rex's, but the German is sturdier, with a body similar to the European Shorthair, a round head, prominent cheeks and large ears. Its coat is short, silky and wavy. In character it is affectionate, lively and clever, and very playful.

No stiff brushes: a soft grooming glove or your hand is enough, and over-brushing undoes the curl. The odd bath if the skin is greasy. Clean its ears regularly. Its coat gives little warmth, so it appreciates warm beds and should be protected from strong sun. Daily play and company: it copes badly with long periods alone.

A generally healthy breed. As in other rex breeds, there may be thinly haired patches and the skin is more prone to sunburn and dermatitis. The population is small, so choose breeders who keep inbreeding in check. Annual check-up and blood tests from the age of seven.