Devon Rex Health Guide: Common Genetic Conditions and Prevention

Short answer: the Devon Rex is generally a healthy breed, but sources point to a few conditions worth knowing about: Devon Rex myopathy (an inherited muscle disease with a DNA test), luxating patella (a slipping kneecap) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (a heart muscle disease). The breed's greasy ears and thin coat also need routine care. Choose a breeder who screens, and see your vet regularly.

Devon Rex myopathy

The GCCF describes Devon Rex myopathy as an inherited muscle disease that can be detected by a reliable DNA test, and Your Cat says it is a recessive condition (a kitten needs to inherit the faulty gene from both parents) and notes DNA testing is available, so you should choose a breeder who screens breeding stock. Purina lists hereditary myopathy among the breed's concerns, too.

The sources we reviewed do not describe the signs in detail, so ask your breeder and your vet what to watch for. Any weakness or unusual movement in a kitten needs a vet's examination rather than guesswork. If you are buying a kitten, ask the breeder for the DNA results for both parents, and for the kitten if tested.

Luxating patella

The GCCF and Purina both say that luxating patella, in which the kneecap slips out of its groove, appears more common in the Devon Rex. Look out for:

• A skip or hop in the back leg, sometimes after which the cat walks normally again.
• Reluctance to jump, or jumping less than before.
• Holding a back leg up, or licking the knee.

Mild cases may need only monitoring; more severe ones may need treatment, so ask your vet. Keeping your cat lean helps protect the joints; see our Devon Rex nutrition guide.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)

Purina lists HCM among the breed's health concerns. HCM is a thickening of the heart muscle that is common in cats generally; the University of Illinois's veterinary college describes it as a "silent threat" because cats can show no signs until the disease is advanced. Signs that need an urgent vet visit include fast or laboured breathing, open-mouth breathing, collapse, or sudden weakness in the back legs. Your vet can listen for a heart murmur at check-ups, and may suggest an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram) for breeding cats or if a murmur is heard. Read the University of Illinois's article A silent threat: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats for details.

Ears, skin and coat

• Greasy ears. Your Cat says the ears can get greasy and need regular cleaning; see our ear cleaning guide.
• Oil buildup. Purina says an occasional bath may be needed to control oil.
• Sun. Your Cat notes that pale-coated cats may need sun protection on the ears in summer.
• Warmth. The GCCF says the thin coat gives little insulation.

More in our Devon Rex grooming guide.

Lifespan

Sources vary: the GCCF gives 12 to 16 years, Your Cat 10 to 15 (most living into their mid-teens), and Purina 9 to 15. A realistic expectation is a cat that can live into its teens with good care. Our senior cat guide covers how care changes later in life.

Choosing a healthy kitten

1. Ask for DNA test results for myopathy for both parents.
2. Ask whether the parents' hearts and knees have been checked by a vet.
3. Meet the mother and, ideally, the father, and see the kittens in their home.
4. Ask for a vet health check and vaccination records.
5. Be wary of breeders who will not answer questions or who sell very young kittens.

Everyday prevention

• Yearly check-ups, including listening to the heart; see our check-up guide.
• Vaccines suited to your cat's lifestyle; see the vaccination guide.
• A lean weight and regular play.
• Dental care; see dental care.

When to call the vet

• Fast or laboured breathing, collapse or open-mouth breathing (urgent).
• Weak back legs, tremors or trouble swallowing.
• Skipping, limping or reluctance to jump.
• Dark, smelly or very itchy ears.
• Bald patches, scabs or a coat that suddenly changes.

Quick checklist

• Ask for myopathy DNA test results.
• Watch the back legs, the heart and the ears.
• Keep a lean weight, and see the vet yearly.
• This is general information, not veterinary advice: your vet makes the diagnosis.

Keep reading

• 10 unique Devon Rex facts
• Devon Rex grooming guide
• Essential nutrients every Devon Rex needs
• Yearly vet check-up for cats
• Common Norwegian Forest Cat health issues
• Preventative care for Ragdolls

Sources

• GCCF: Devon Rex breed profile
• Purina: Devon Rex cat breed profile
• Your Cat: Devon Rex cat breed information
• University of Illinois: A silent threat: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats