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Devon Rex Cats for Adoption in Chicago, IL

Your guide to finding and caring for a Devon Rex in Chicago

Devon Rexes fit Chicago apartment life well, since they'd rather be near you than anywhere else. In an Edgewater high-rise on Sheridan Road or a Rogers Park apartment near the Red Line, a window perch over the street keeps a Devon busy while you're out. Their thin coats mean they'll claim the warmest spot in the place once winter sets in. A cat tree and a wand toy count for more than square footage, and these cats do best when someone's home a lot.

17 cats similar to Devon Rex available in Chicago and nationwide

Find your forever Devon Rex

While we don't have enough cats near Chicago, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.

Devon Rexes and Similar Breeds Available for Adoption Near Chicago

About the Devon Rex breed

The Devon Rex is a small, slender cat with big low-set ears, wide eyes and a short, rippled coat that gives it a pixie look. The breed began around 1960 in Devon, England, with a curly-coated kitten named Kirlee, whose wavy fur came from a different gene than the Cornish Rex's. Most adults weigh about 5 to 10 pounds, and colors and patterns vary widely.

Devons are playful, people-focused and often food-motivated, which makes them easy to teach tricks or a game of fetch. They shed less than most cats but aren't hypoallergenic, and the fine coat needs gentle handling. In Chicago, that mix suits a household where someone's home much of the day, with warm bedding for winter and plenty of climbing space. Personalities differ, so spend time with a particular cat before deciding.

Weight
5–10 lbs
Height
10–12 in
Lifespan
9–15 yrs
Temperament
Playful, Affectionate, Curious
Shedding
Low

Owning a Devon Rex in Chicago

Having a Devon Rex in Chicago

Devon Rexes pair a lively, hands-on nature with a delicate coat and a few breed-linked health concerns. In a city with long winters and plenty of apartments, warmth, vertical space and company shape daily life more than anything else.

Temperament

Devons are often outgoing and clownish, following their people from room to room and settling on shoulders. Many get along with respectful kids and other pets. Because they dislike long stretches alone, they fit Chicago households with a work-from-home or staggered schedule better than ones with long days away. Personalities vary, so meet the cat first.

Exercise Needs

Plan on daily interactive play: wand toys, puzzle feeders and a tall cat tree by a window. Chicago's long indoor season makes this matter more, since these athletic cats can't burn energy outdoors. Short treat-based training sessions or fetch games help, and they keep a food-loving Devon from gaining weight.

Health Considerations

Devons can carry a muscle disorder that shows up in kittenhood, and a DNA test exists for it. Heart disease, kneecap problems, skin yeast infections and patchy hair are also reported, and many have blood type B. Keep up regular checkups, and have a veterinarian talk through screening after adoption.

Living Space

A Devon does well in Chicago's typical rental, from a high-rise unit to a smaller flat, as long as it has climbing space and company. Keep it indoors or in a secure catio, since its thin coat offers little protection from winter cold or summer sun. A heated pad or sunny window perch helps.

What it costs to own a Devon Rex in Chicago

ExpenseTypical costPer year
Food$20 to $40 per month$240 to $480
Pet insurance$25 to $50 per month$300 to $600
Routine vet care$150 to $350 per year$150 to $350
Other*$500 to $1,350 per year$500 to $1,350
Estimated yearly total (after year one)$1,190 to $2,780

Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.

* Flea prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, litter, toys and bedding, light coat care, and ear cleaning, baths and warm bedding for a thin-coated cat.

Adopt a Devon Rex in Chicago.

Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have cats available in and near Chicago.

Rescues and Shelters in or near Chicago

Chicago's shelters and rescues care for cats of every age, and those listed here are the place to start. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Chicago area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Devon Rex is coming in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, for many households, especially ones where someone is home often. A Devon Rex is a small, social cat that handles apartment life well, which suits Chicago. The main adjustments are winter warmth and company. If everyone is gone ten hours a day, a Devon may struggle, so a flexible schedule or a cat-friendly companion pet helps.

Yes, a Devon Rex adapts well to Chicago apartments, from high-rise units to smaller walk-ups. Give it vertical space like a tall cat tree, a window perch and daily play, and use secure window screens in spring and summer. Read your lease for pet deposits, fees or monthly pet rent before moving in, since Illinois doesn't cap them.

Yes, as indoor cats with extra warmth. Chicago sees roughly 106 to 121 freezing nights a year, which is hard on a thin-coated cat, so offer pet-safe heated pads, fleece beds and a spot away from drafts. Skip outdoor time in winter, and keep vet trips short with a blanket over the carrier.

Yes. Illinois bars breed-specific dog rules and Chicago's license requirement is for dogs, so a Devon Rex faces no special city rules. Cats four months and older need rabies vaccination, and Cook County rabies tags cost $6 for one year or $18 for three. Your landlord or condo association may still set its own pet rules.

Yes, in a carrier. The CTA allows only small pets in a closed carrier designed for travel that one person can carry, and it can't block seats or aisles. A Devon Rex, usually 5 to 10 pounds, typically fits under a seat. Stay in complete control, since the CTA can remove any animal that acts aggressively.

Less than most cats, but with a few extras. Skip brushing, which can break the fine coat; stroke it by hand or with a soft cloth. Oily skin and waxy ears call for occasional baths and ear cleaning, and sunny window perches need shade in summer. Home care keeps this a small part of the $500–$1,350 yearly Other budget.

No, Devon Rex cats are not hypoallergenic, and the CFA cat registry says so directly. They shed less than most cats, but the main cat allergen comes from saliva and skin glands, not hair alone. Some people with mild allergies find Devons easier to live with, but spending extended time with a specific cat before adopting is the safest approach.

A Devon Rex is a small, slender cat breed from England with a short, wavy, soft coat, very large ears and big eyes. It developed from a curly-coated kitten found in Devon around 1960. Devons are known for playful, people-loving personalities and are often described as acting more like dogs or monkeys than typical aloof cats.

Yes, Devon Rex cats shed, but much less than most cats. Their coat is short and sparse, with fewer guard hairs, so loose hair is less noticeable around the home. Some Devons go through thinner phases, particularly as kittens. Bald patches with redness, scabs or itching are not normal shedding and should be checked by a veterinarian.

Expect about $20–$40 a month for food, $25–$50 a month for insurance, $150–$350 a year for routine vet care, and $500–$1,350 a year for everything else. Together that's roughly $1,200–$2,800 a year, before any emergencies. A landlord's pet deposit, fee or pet rent would be separate.

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