Cornish Rex Breed Standard

GENERAL: the Cornish Rex is distinguished from all other breeds by its extremely soft, wavy coat and racy type. It is surprisingly heavy and warm to the touch. All contours of the Cornish Rex are gently curved. By nature, the Cornish Rex is intelligent, alert, and generally likes to be handled.

PROFILE: a curve comprised of two convex arcs. The forehead is rounded, the nose break smooth and mild, and the Roman nose has a high prominent bridge.

HEAD: comparatively small and egg shaped. Length about one-third greater than the width. A definite whisker break, oval with gently curving outline in front and in profile.

MUZZLE: narrowing slightly to a rounded end.

EARS: large and full from the base, erect and alert; set high on the head.

EYES: medium to large in size, oval in shape, and slanting slightly upward. A full eye’s width apart. Color should be clear, intense, and appropriate to coat color.

NOSE: Roman. Length is one-third length of head. In profile a straight line from end of nose to chin with considerable depth and squarish effect.

CHEEKS: cheek bones high and prominent, well chiseled.

CHIN: strong, well-developed.

BODY: very distinctive, small to medium in size, males proportionately larger but never coarse. Torso long and slender, not tubular, showing a deep, but not broad chest. The general outline is comprised of graceful arches and curves without any sign of flatness. The back is naturally arched and evident when the cat is standing naturally. The underline gently curves upward from the ribcage to form a smallish (tucked up in appearance) waistline. Hips and thighs muscular and feel somewhat heavy in proportion to the rest of the body.

SHOULDERS: well-knit.

RUMP: rounded, well-muscled.

LEGS: very long and slender. Thighs well-muscled, somewhat heavy in proportion to the rest of the body. The Cornish Rex stands high on its legs.

PAWS: dainty, slightly oval. Toes: five in front and four behind.

TAIL: long and slender, tapering toward the end and extremely flexible.

NECK: long and slender.

BONE: fine and delicate.

COAT: short, extremely soft, silky, and completely free of guard hairs. Relatively dense. A tight, uniform marcel wave, lying close to the body and extending from the top of the head across the back, sides, and hips continuing to the tip of the tail. Size and depth of wave may vary. The fur on the underside of the chin and on chest and abdomen is short and noticeably wavy.

COLOR AND MARKINGS: Cats with no more white than a locket and/or button(s) do not qualify for the Calico or Bi-color classes. Such cats shall be judged in the color class of their basic color with no penalty for such locket or button(s). Sizes of such lockets or buttons can vary from cat to cat.

CONDITION: firm and muscular.

PENALIZE: sparse coat or bare spots.

DISQUALIFY: kinked or abnormal tail. Incorrect number of toes. Any coarse or guard hairs. Any signs of lameness in the hindquarters. Signs of poor health.

CORNISH REX COLORS

Solid Colors

WHITE: pure glistening white. Nose leather and paw pads: pink. Eye color: deep blue or brilliant gold. Odd-eyed whites shall have one blue and one gold eye with equal color depth.

BLACK: dense coal black, sound from roots to tip of fur. Free from any tinge of rust on the tips. Nose leather: black. Paw pads: black or brown. Eye color: gold.

BLUE: blue, lighter shade preferred, one level tone from nose to tip of tail. Sound to the roots. A sound darker shade is more acceptable than an unsound lighter shade. Nose leather and paw pads: blue. Eye color: gold.

RED: deep, rich, clear, brilliant red; without shading, markings, or ticking. Lips and chin the same color as the coat. Nose leather and paw pads: brick red. Eye color: gold.

CREAM: one level shade of buff cream, without markings. Sound to the roots. Lighter shades preferred. Nose leather and paw pads: pink. Eye color: gold.

CHOCOLATE: rich, warm chocolate brown, sound from roots to tip of fur. Nose leather: brown. Paw pads: cinnamon pink. Eye color: gold.

LAVENDER: Rich warm lavender with pinkish tones. Sound and even throughout. Nose leather and paw pads: lavender pink. Eye Color: gold

Chinchilla Silver and Shaded Silver Colors

CHINCHILLA SILVER: individual hair shafts white. Coat on back, flanks, head, and tail sufficiently tipped with black to give the characteristic sparkling appearance. Legs may be slightly shaded with tipping. Chin, stomach and chest, pure white. Rims of eyes, lips, and nose outlined with black. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black. Eye color: green or blue-green.

SHADED SILVER: individual hair shafts white with a mantle of black tipping shading down from sides, face, and tail from dark on the ridge to white on the chin, chest, stomach, and under the tail. Legs to be the same tone as the face. The general effect to be much darker than a chinchilla. Rims of eyes, lips, and nose outlined with black. Nose Leather: brick red. Paw pads: black. Eye color: green or blue-green

Smoke Colors

BLACK SMOKE: individual hair shafts white, each deeply tipped with black. Nose leather and paw pads: black. Eye color: gold.

BLUE SMOKE: individual hair shafts white, each deeply tipped with blue. Nose leather and paw pads: blue. Eye color: gold.

RED SMOKE: individual hair shafts white, each deeply tipped with red. Nose leather and paw pads: rose. Eye color: gold.

CREAM SMOKE: individual hair shafts white, each deeply tipped with cream. Nose leather and paw pads: pink. Eye color: gold.

CHOCOLATE SMOKE: individual hair shafts white, each deeply tipped with chocolate. Nose leather: brown. Eye color: gold.

LAVENDER SMOKE: individual hair shafts white, each deeply tipped with lavender. Nose leather and paw pads: lavender pink. Eye color: gold

TORTOISESHELL SMOKE: individual hair shafts white, each deeply tipped with black, with patches of red or softly intermingled areas of red on both body and extremities (presence of several shades of red acceptable). Nose leather and paw pads: may be mottled with pink. Eye color: gold.

CHOCOLATE TORTOISESHELL SMOKE: individual hair shafts white, each deeply tipped with chocolate with patches of red or softly intermingled areas of red on both body and extremities. Nose leather and paw pads: mottled with pink on nose and paws. Eye color: gold.

BLUE-CREAM SMOKE: individual hair shafts white, each deeply tipped with blue, with patches of cream or softly intermingled areas of cream on both body and extremities. Nose leather and paws pads: may be mottled with pink. Eye color: gold.

LAVENDER-CREAM SMOKE: individual hair shafts white, each deeply tipped with lavender with patches of cream or softly intermingled areas of cream on both body and extremities. Nose leather and paw pads: may be mottled with pink. Eye color: gold.

Tabby Colors:

CLASSIC TABBY PATTERN: markings dense, clearly defined, and broad. Legs evenly barred with bracelets coming up to meet the body markings. Tail evenly ringed. Several unbroken necklaces on neck and upper chest, the more the better. Frown marks on forehead form an intricate letter “M.” Unbroken line runs back from outer corner of eye. Swirls on cheeks. Vertical lines over back of head extend to shoulder markings which are in the shape of a butterfly with both upper and lower wings distinctly outlined and marked with dots inside outline. Back markings consist of a vertical line down the spine from butterfly to tail with a vertical stripe paralleling it on each side, the three stripes well separated by stripes of the ground color. Large solid blotch on each side to be encircled by one or more unbroken rings. Side markings should be the same on both sides. Double vertical rows of buttons on chest and stomach.

MACKEREL TABBY PATTERN: markings dense, clearly defined, and all narrow pencillings. Legs evenly barred with narrow bracelets coming up to meet the body markings. Tail barred. Necklaces on neck and chest distinct, like so many chains. Head barred with an “M” on the forehead. Unbroken lines running back from the eyes. Lines running down the head to meet the shoulders. Spine lines run together to form a narrow saddle. Narrow pencillings run around body.

SPOTTED TABBY PATTERN: markings on the body to be spotted. May vary in size and shape with preference given to round, evenly distributed spots. Body spots may subtly suggest a mackerel or classic pattern but may not be connected. A dorsal stripe runs the length of the body to the tip of the tail. The stripe is ideally composed of spots. The markings on the face and forehead shall be typical tabby markings. Underside of the body to have “vest buttons.” Legs and tail are barred. On the upper chest there are one or more broken necklaces.

TICKED TABBY PATTERN: body hairs to be ticked with various shades of marking color and ground color. Body when viewed from top to be free from noticeable spots, stripes, or blotches, except for darker dorsal shading. Lighter underside may show tabby markings. Face, legs and tail must show distinct tabby striping. Cat must have at least one distinct necklace.

PATCHED TABBY: a patched tabby is an established classic, mackerel, spotted or ticked tabby in silver, brown, blue, chocolate or lavender with patches of red or softly intermingled ares of red on both body and extremities (presence of several shades of red acceptable; dilute colors exhibit cream instead of red). Nose leather and paws pads: same as non-patched tabbies, may be mottled with pink. Eye color: gold.

SILVER TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted, ticked): ground color, pale clear silver. Markings dense black. Undercoat white. Lips and chin the same shade as the rings around the eyes. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black. Eye color: green, hazel or gold.

SILVER PATCHED TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted, ticked): ground color, pale silver. Markings of dense black. Patches of red or softly intermingled areas of red on both body and extremities. Undercoat white. Lips and chin the same shade as the rings around the eyes. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black and/or brick red. Eye color: green, hazel or gold.

BLUE-SILVER TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted, ticked): ground color pale bluish silver. Markings sound blue. Undercoat white. Lips and chin the same shade as the rings around the eyes. Nose leather: blue or old rose trimmed with blue. Paw pads: blue or old rose. Eye color: green, hazel or gold.

BLUE-SILVER PATCHED TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted, ticked): ground color pale bluish silver. Markings sound blue. Patches of cream or softly intermingled areas of cream on both body and extremities. Individual hair shafts white. Lips and chin the same shade as the rings around the eyes. Nose leather: blue or old rose trimmed with blue and/or pink. Paw pads: blue or old rose and/or pink. Eye color: green, hazel or gold.

RED TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted, ticked): ground color red. Markings deep, rich red. Lips and chin the same shade as the rings around the eyes. Nose leather and paw pads: brick red. Eye color: gold.

BROWN TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted, ticked): ground color brilliant coppery brown. Markings dense black. Lips and chin the same shade as the rings around the eyes. Back of leg black from paw to heel. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black or brown. Eye color: gold.

BROWN PATCHED TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted, ticked): ground color brilliant coppery brown. Markings of dense black. Patches of red or softly intermingled areas of red on both body and extremities. Lips and chin the same shade as the rings around the eyes. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black and/or brick red. Eye color: gold.

BLUE TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted, ticked): ground color, including lips and chin, pale bluish ivory. Markings a very deep blue affording a good contrast with ground color. Warm fawn overtones or patina over the whole. Nose leather: old rose. Paw pads: rose. Eye color: gold.

BLUE PATCHED TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted, ticked): ground color, pale bluish ivory. Markings of very deep blue affording a good contrast with ground color. Patches of cream or softly intermingled areas of cream on both body and extremities. Lips and chin the same shade as the rings around the eyes. Warm fawn overtones or patina over the whole. Nose leather: old rose and/or pink. Paw pads: rose and/or pink. Eye color: gold.

CREAM TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted, ticked): ground color, pale cream. Markings buff of cream sufficiently darker than the ground color to afford good contrast, but remaining within the dilute color range. Lips and chin the same shade as the rings around the eyes. Nose leather and paw pads: pink. Eye color: gold.

CREAM SILVER TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted, ticked): ground color off-white. Markings cream. Individual hair shafts white. Lips and chin the same shade as the rings around the eyes. Nose leather and paw pads: pink. Eye color: gold

CAMEO TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted, ticked): ground color off-white. Markings red. Individual hair shafts white. Lips and chin the same shade as the rings around the eyes. Nose leather and paw pads: pink. Eye color: gold.

CHOCOLATE TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted, ticked): ground color milk chocolate. Tabby markings a deep, dark chocolate affording sufficient contrast with ground color. Lips and chin the same shade as rings around the eyes. Nose leather: brown and/or brick red. Paw pads: brick red to cinnamon-pink. Eye color: gold.

CHOCOLATE PATCHED TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted, ticked): ground color milk chocolate. Tabby markings a deep, dark chocolate affording sufficient contrast with ground color with patches or softly intermingled areas of red. Lips and chin the same color as rings around the eyes. Nose leather: brown, brick red and/or cinnamon pink. Paw pads: brick red, cinnamon pink and/or coral. Eye color: gold.

LAVENDER TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted, ticked): ground color pale frosty lavender with a pinkish patina. Tabby markings a darker lavender affording sufficient contrast with ground color. Lips and chin the same color as rings around the eyes. Nose leather: lavender. Paw pads: pink. Eye color: gold.

LAVENDER PATCHED TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted, ticked): ground color pale frosty lavender with a pinkish patina. Tabby markings a darker lavender affording sufficient contrast with ground color with patches or softly intermingled areas of cream. Lips and chin the same color as rings around the eyes. Nose leather: lavender and/or pink. Paw pads: lavender pink and/or pink. Eye color: gold.

Parti-Colors

TORTOISESHELL: black with patches of red or softly intermingled areas of red on both body and extremities. Presence of several shades of red acceptable. Nose leather and paw pads: black and/or brick red. Eye color: gold.

CHOCOLATE TORTOISESHELL: rich, warm chocolate brown with patches of red or softly intermingled areas of red on both body and extremities. Presence of several shades of red acceptable. Nose leather: brown, brick red and/or pink. Paw pads: brick red, cinnamon pink and/or pink. Eye color: gold

BLUE-CREAM: blue with patches of cream or softly intermingled areas of cream on both body and extremities. Lighter shades preferred. Nose leather and paws pads: blue and/or pink. Eye color: gold.

LAVENDER-CREAM: rich, warm pinkish toned lavender with patches of cream or softly intermingled areas of cream on both body and extremities. Nose leather: lavender, lavender pink and/or pink. Paw pads: lavender pink and/or pink. Eye color: gold.

Calico and Bi-Colors

All calicos and bi-colors: as a preferred minimum, the cat should have white feet, legs, undersides and chest. Cats with no more white than a locket and/or button do not qualify for this color class. Such cats shall be judged in the color class of their basic color with no penalty for such locket and/or button

Eye color: gold, blue or odd-eyed, with noted exception. Oddeyed bi-colors shall have one blue eye and one gold eye with equal color depth. Exception: silver tabby and white, silver patched tabby and white, blue silver tabby and white and blue silver patched tabby and white may also have green or hazel eye color. These colors in odd-eyed shall have one blue and one green, hazel or gold eye with equal color depth. Pointed and white shall have blue eyes.

CALICO: shite with unbrindled patches of black and red. Patches to be clear and defined. Some evidence of tabby markings is allowed in the red patches.

CALICO SMOKE: white with unbrindled patches of black smoke and red smoke. Patches to be clear and defined. Some evidence of tabby markings is allowed in the red patches.

DILUTE CALICO: white with unbrindled patches of blue and cream. Patches to be clear and defined. Some evidence of tabby markings is allowed in the cream patches.

DILUTE CALICO SMOKE: white with unbrindled patches of blue smoke and cream smoke. Patches to be clear and defined. Some evidence of tabby markings is allowed in the cream smoke patches.

CHOCOLATE CALICO: white with unbrindled patches of chocolate and red. Patches to be clear and defined. Some evidence of tabby markings is allowed in the red patches.

CHOCOLATE CALICO SMOKE: white with unbrindled patches of chocolate smoke and red smoke. Patches to be clear and defined. Some evidence of tabby markings is allowed in the red smoke patches.

LAVENDER CALICO: white with unbrindled patches of lavender and cream. Patches to be clear and defined. Some evidence of tabby markings is allowed in the cream patches.

LAVENDER CALICO SMOKE: white with unbrindled patches of lavender smoke and cream smoke. Patches to be clear and defined. Some evidence of tabby markings is allowed in the cream smoke patches.

PATCHED TABBY & WHITE: (classic, mackerel, spotted) White with colored portions, the colored portions to conform to the currently established patched tabby color standards.

BI-COLOR: black and white, blue and white, red and white, cream and white, chocolate and white, or lavender and white, black smoke and white, blue smoke and white, red smoke and white, cream smoke and white, chocolate smoke and white, lavender smoke and white. Tabby (classic, mackerel, spotted or ticked) and white (silver, blue-silver, red, brown, blue, cream, cameo, cream-silver, chocolate, lavender); and any pointed and white.

Pointed Colors

POINTED: Seal Point, Chocolate Point, Blue Point, Lavender Point, Red Point, Cream Point, Seal Tortie Point, Chocolate Tortie Point, Blue Cream Point, Lavender Cream Point, body color can range from white, bluish white, ivory to pale fawn depending on the point color the cat is. The points on the legs, tail, ears and head will be much darker than the body color. Nose leather and paw pads: same color as points. Eye color: blue.

LYNX POINT: body color appropriate with point color (red, cream, seal, chocolate, blue, lavender, seal tortie, chocolate tortie, blue-cream, and lavender-cream). For example, seal-lynx point body color cream/pale fawn with seal brown stripes/bars on pointed areas – tail, mask, legs. Mask should have a clearly defined “M” marking on the forehead, horizontal on cheeks with spotted whisker pads. Ears solid with no stripes. “Thumbprints,” which are less apparent in dilute colors and kittens, should be visible on the back of the ears. The legs should have clearly defined, varied sized broken strips and/or rings. Tail barred. No striping or mottling on body, but consideration given to shading in older cats. The lynx point pattern may be combined with white and shown in the bi-color class. Nose leather and paw pads: appropriate to point color. Eye color: blue

ORC: (Other Rex Colors): any other color or pattern. Eye color: gold, blue or odd-eyed.