German Rex

The German Rex is the oldest known Rex mutation. Just like the Cornish- and Devon Rex the German Rex came into being as a spontaneous mutation out of ordinary house cats. The first famous Rex was the blue tomcat Munk. He was born in 1930 in Köningsberg in East-Pruissen. Many years later, in 1947, the female cat Lämmchen was found in Berlin. She wondered around a hospital and was cared by patients and nurses during a couple of years, until dr.   

Scheuer-Karpin noticed her. She was very charmed by this special female cat and took her home.
 
Her fur was thick and curly and her whiskers were curly and bendy, that is why she was called Lämmchen, which means little lamb. 
Lämmchen got many kittens during her life. The first ten years she only got smooth-haired kittens. Only until her partner Blackie died she wanted to be serviced by one of her sons: She got two smooth-haired and two curled kittens. In this way it was proven that it concerned a recessive gene. We bred wit a number of her kittens. Lämmchen became 20 years old and had kittens until she was very old. In East-Germany there wasn’t much interest in curled cats; most of Lämmchen’s offspring were given away as pets. A number of cats went abroad. Professor Letard from France was the first person who showed German Rexes on exhibitions in 1960. His cats drew a lot of attention there and Dr. Scheuer-Karpin received more foreign requests. A couple of cats went to the USA. The first crossings with Cornish Rexes took place there.

Only curled kittens were born out of the crossings and it therefore concerned the same mutation! The American German Rex lines have been used for further Cornish Rex breeding and pure German Rex lines don’t exist anymore.

In 1968 there were only three German Rex cats left in East-Germany. Mr. and Mrs. von Barensfeld (Von Grund Cattery) had these three cats and in order to avoid inbreeding they had to be crossed with house cats. They were thrilled when they got two Rexes from Denmark. It however concerned Devon Rexes with a mixed Devon/Cornish Rex background. A Devon Rex combined with a Cornish or German Rex brings smooth-haired kittens. But since they didn’t have an alternative they decided to couple them. In the early seventies Siegfried and Inge Wöllner (Von Zeits Cattery) from West-Germany got their first hybrid German Rex.    

It was very hard to achieve this, since the contact between East and West Germany was very difficult.

A couple of more Rexes were found in the next few years in Munich and finally a Rex tomcat was found on Lanzarote. This tomcat was called Locki and his offspring often occur in the descent of the present German Rexes. People have never bred with German Rexes on a large scale. Throughout the years there have always been a couple of breeders who occupied with the breed, thanks to which the breed has been preserved. In the end of the nineties there were only 5 curled hybrid German Rexes left. Fortunately there were a couple of interested people at that time who considered it a challenge to preserve the final specimen for breeding.   

A group of breeders has started an extended outcrossing-program to preserve the breed. Every second generation an outcrossing takes place with an European shorthair or a housecat. British Shorthair and Cornish Rexes are also used for outcrossing.  

In the meantime there are also breeders in Holland who want to contribute to preserving this unique breed. We have recently imported the very first German Rex in Holland and soon more will follow.

The character of the German Rex is, just like with other Rexes, affectionate and kind. Compared to the Cornish- and the Devon Rexes they are quieter and more independent. The German Rex is heavier than the Cornish and Devon Rex. His appearance is rounder. In 1982 the German Rex was acknowledged by the Fife and the standard mentions the following: The head is round with space between the ears, a powerful chin and well developed cheeks. The nose must show a slight curve and the eyes are located a bit separate from the nose line.    

The ears are medium-sized, wide at the basis and somewhat round tops. The eyes are medium-sized, wide open and shining
 
The body is medium-sized. Powerful and muscled, not massive or bulky. The fur feels soft and velvety, like the fur of a mole. The fur is tight, short and plush and tends to curl or wave. Curled whiskers. All fur colors are allowed.