shorthair
Oregon Rex
Origin: Oregon, USA
A now-extinct American rex breed, notable in cat history for its own distinct curly-coat mutation — genetically separate from the Cornish and Devon Rex.
- Origin
- Oregon, USA
- Category
- shorthair
- Lifespan
- 12–16 yrs
- Size
- Small to Medium
- Weight
- 3–5 kg
- Coat
- Short, tight, rexed (curly) coat with no guard hairs
- Colours
- Various colours and patterns
😺 Temperament
🏡 Best suited to
📊 Personality ratings
📜 History & origin
The Oregon Rex arose from a spontaneous curly-coat mutation discovered in a litter in Oregon in 1955. Breeding tests showed its rex gene was distinct from those of the Cornish and Devon Rex, making it a genetically unique curl. The breed was always rare, and as the more established rex breeds grew in popularity, breeders stopped maintaining separate Oregon Rex lines. The last known individuals were absorbed into other rex programmes, and the breed was declared extinct by 1972.
🧼 Care & grooming
Like other rex cats, the Oregon Rex had little to no guard hair, so it needed protection from cold and sun and produced very little shed hair. Its curly coat carried body oils to the skin surface rather than wicking them away, so an occasional gentle wipe-down kept the coat and skin healthy. It was an energetic, interactive cat that thrived on play.
🩺 Health notes
As a short-lived breed with a tiny population, no comprehensive health profile was ever established. General rex-cat considerations apply — sensitivity to temperature extremes and the need for good skin care. The breed's genes survive today only where they were folded into other rex lines.