Your guide to finding and caring for a Devon Rex in Indy
Devon Rex cats fit Indy apartment life well, as long as someone is home a fair amount. These small, people-focused cats are happy in a Mapleton-Fall Creek duplex or a Herron-Morton Place flat, provided there's a window perch to watch from. Their thin coat makes them heat-seekers, so a heated bed earns its keep once January hits. Expect a cat that follows you from room to room and wants to help with everything.
Find your forever Devon Rex
While we don't have enough cats near Indianapolis, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
F, 3-7 y., 643 miles
Devon Rex, Tabby
M, 7 mo., 793 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Lykoi
M, 7 mo., 793 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Lykoi
M, 3-7 y., 841 miles
Domestic Short Hair, LaPerm
M, 1 y., 994 miles
Devon Rex, Domestic Short Hair
F, 3-7 y., 1896 miles
Devon Rex
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 1896 miles
Devon Rex
The Devon Rex began around 1960 in Devon, England, when a curly-coated kitten named Kirlee turned out to carry a different gene from the Cornish Rex's. The result is a small cat, usually 5 to 10 pounds, with oversized ears, big eyes and a short, soft, rippled coat, often with crinkled whiskers. It sheds less than most cats.
Devons are playful, food-motivated and strongly attached to their people, and many learn fetch and simple tricks. In Indianapolis, that suits a work-from-home schedule or a lively household. The thin coat also means oily skin, waxy ears and a love of warm spots, so they do best as indoor cats. Personalities vary, so spend time with the cat in front of you.
Having a Devon Rex in Indy
Devon Rex cats pair high energy with a delicate coat and a few breed-linked health concerns. For Indy adopters, the main questions are daily company, warmth through cold winters and enough vertical space in a smaller home.
Devon Rex cats are often clownish, curious and deeply attached, following their people from room to room. That devotion suits Indy households where someone is home often, and many get along with respectful children and other pets. Most dislike long, empty days, so a flexible schedule or a playful companion helps. Each cat's personality differs.
Most Devons are athletic and love to climb, leap and chase. Daily wand-toy sessions, puzzle feeders and a tall cat tree burn off energy indoors, which matters through Indy's snowy months. Many learn fetch and simple tricks for treats. Regular play also keeps these food-loving cats from gaining weight.
Devon Rex cats can inherit a muscle disorder that appears in kittenhood, and a DNA test exists. Heart disease, kneecap problems, skin yeast infections and patchy hair loss are also reported, and many have blood type B. A veterinarian can check the heart, knees, skin and ears early, and regular checkups keep problems from being missed.
A Devon Rex adapts well to the apartments and older bungalows found across Indy, provided it has climbing room, toys and company. Keep it indoors or in a secure catio, since its thin coat gives little protection from cold or sun. Warm beds, heated pads and a sunny window perch keep it comfortable.
| Expense | Typical cost | Per 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.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have cats available in and near Indianapolis.
Indianapolis has a city shelter and nonprofit rescues that find homes for cats, and the ones listed below are a good start. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Indy area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Devon Rex is coming in.
Indianapolis
7929 North Michigan Road, Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis
2600 South Harding Street, Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis
1614 W Edgewood Ave, Indianapolis
Yes, you can own a Devon Rex in Indianapolis. The city has no breed restrictions. Cats need permanent identification such as a microchip, and Indiana requires rabies vaccination from three months of age. There's no general cat license and no fixed limit on pets, though a landlord's lease may set one, so read it before you adopt.
Yes, a Devon Rex usually does well in an Indy apartment. It's a small, low-shedding cat that needs vertical space more than floor space, so a tall cat tree and a window perch matter most. Its thin coat makes it warmth-seeking, so a heated bed helps. Because Devons crave company, apartments work best when someone is home often.
Yes, but only as indoor cats with plenty of warmth. Indy's cold snaps can stay below freezing for days, which is hard on a thin-coated Devon Rex. Provide heated pads, blankets and a draft-free bed, and keep the thermostat steady. For vet trips, use a covered, blanket-lined carrier and warm the car first.
Yes, in a carrier. IndyGo buses, including the Red and Purple Line rapid-transit routes, allow pets in a carrying case, and a Devon Rex's small size makes it easy to fit one. Choose a closed, ventilated carrier lined with a blanket for warmth, and check current fares and rules with IndyGo before you ride.
A Devon Rex is a good fit if you want a talkative, hands-on companion and can keep it warm indoors. Life in Indianapolis suits it well when someone is home often, since Devons dislike long empty days. Plan a quiet interior room for loud spring storms and holiday fireworks, and expect a cat that wants to join in everything.
A Devon Rex needs light grooming. Use hand-stroking or a soft cloth rather than a brush, which can break the fragile coat. Clean waxy ears as your veterinarian advises, and bathe only when the skin turns oily. Indy's seasons don't change this much for an indoor cat, and grooming is usually a small part of yearly costs.
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.
Plan on roughly $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, including litter, flea prevention and dental care. That comes to about $1,190–$2,780 a year. Indianapolis charges no cat license fee.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Indianapolis.
