Your guide to finding and caring for a Devon Rex in Albuquerque
A Devon Rex fits a Downtown Albuquerque loft well, since this cat wants company and a high perch far more than a yard. Devons are small, curly-coated and endlessly social, so they'll follow you from the kitchen to the couch and claim a shoulder on the way. A tall cat tree beside a window gives one a view of the street below, and it'll happily watch the world there while someone's home to share the evening. Long, empty days are harder on them.
Find your forever Devon Rex
While we don't have enough cats near Albuquerque, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
F, 3-7 y., 868 miles
Devon Rex
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 868 miles
Devon Rex
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 1144 miles
Selkirk Rex
M, 6 mo.-2 y., 1249 miles
Munchkin, Selkirk Rex
M, 3-7 y., 1249 miles
Munchkin, Selkirk Rex
M, 3-7 y., 1275 miles
Selkirk Rex, British Shorthair
M, 3-7 y., 1998 miles
Domestic Short Hair, LaPerm
The Devon Rex began around 1960 in Devon, England, when a curly-coated kitten named Kirlee turned up whose wavy fur came from a different gene than the Cornish Rex's. Oversized ears, big eyes, a soft, sparse, rippled coat and often short, crinkled whiskers give the breed its pixie look, and "poodle cat" is a widely used nickname.
Devons are playful, food-motivated and very people-focused, and many learn tricks or fetch. The coat sheds less than most cats' but isn't hypoallergenic, and it leaves them quick to feel cold. In Albuquerque, where winter nights often dip below freezing and the sun is intense, that points to an indoor life with warm beds and a sunny window perch. Personalities vary from cat to cat.
Having a Devon Rex in Albuquerque
A Devon Rex pairs high energy with a delicate coat and a few breed-linked health concerns. In Albuquerque, a home with perches, warm spots and steady company covers most of what this cat needs.
Devons are often outgoing, clownish and closely attached to their people, which suits Albuquerque's apartments and lofts, where you're rarely far from the cat. Many get along with respectful children, other cats and cat-friendly dogs. They tend to dislike long stretches alone, so consider your work schedule. Each cat's personality varies.
Most Devons are athletic and want daily interactive play: wand toys, climbing, puzzle feeders and short treat-training sessions. Indoor play is the plan here, since coyotes are active at night and the foothills and Bosque hold rattlesnakes in warm months. A window perch gives a Devon something to watch between play sessions.
Devons can carry a hereditary muscle disorder that shows up in kittenhood, and a DNA test exists. Heart disease, kneecap dislocation and skin yeast problems are also reported, and many have blood type B. Albuquerque's dry air and spring dust can irritate skin and ears, so keep up regular veterinary checkups.
A Devon Rex does well in Albuquerque's lofts, apartments and Heights houses alike, as long as it has vertical space, toys and company. Keep it indoors or in a secure catio, since the thin coat offers little protection from cold nights or strong high-desert sun. A heated pad and a sunny perch suit these warmth-seeking cats.
| 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 Albuquerque.
Albuquerque's rescue community includes city-run shelters and private nonprofits, and the ones listed here show their current cats and kittens. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Albuquerque area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Devon Rex is coming in.
3001 2nd St SW, Albuquerque
8920 Lomas Blvd. NE, Albuquerque
11800 Sunset Gardens SW, Albuquerque
615 Virginia Street SE, Albuquerque
Albuquerque
P.O. Box 90394, Albuquerque
P.O. Box 3802, Albuquerque
PO Box 40189, Albuquerque
Albuquerque
Albuquerque
Albuquerque
Often, yes, if the cat stays indoors and has company. Albuquerque's dry sun, chilly winter nights and night-roaming coyotes all favor an indoor cat, and a Devon's small size suits lofts, apartments and Heights houses alike. Plan for warm beds, window perches and daily play. A Devon left alone all day may get lonely, so think honestly about your schedule.
Yes. A Devon Rex is small and adapts well to apartments as long as it has climbing space, toys and company. The city's six-pet household limit applies to renters too, so one cat fits easily. Read the lease for pet deposits and monthly pet rent, and add a tall cat tree and a window perch so the cat can burn off energy.
It works for an indoor Devon. Summers are hot and dry but nights cool off, and winters bring freezing nights, so the main needs are warmth in winter and sun protection in summer. Spring wind brings dust, so keep windows shut. A heated bed, air conditioning or a fan, and a shaded perch cover most of it.
Yes. Albuquerque has no breed bans and no city pet license. You'll need a rabies vaccine, a microchip, and spay or neuter surgery by five months unless an Intact Companion Animal Permit is purchased. Households can keep six pets, no more than four of them dogs, so a single Devon is well within the limit.
Mostly no. ABQ RIDE buses, including ART on Central Avenue, allow service animals only, not pets. The Rail Runner also bars pets, though comfort animals are allowed in a carrier that fits on your lap or under a seat. For vet visits, plan on a car or a ride from a friend.
Not much brushing, but some care. A Devon's fine coat breaks easily, so smooth it with your hand or a soft cloth instead of a brush. Oily skin and waxy ears need occasional baths and ear cleaning, and Albuquerque's spring dust can add grime. That light care fits within the Other costs shown on this page.
Not realistically. New Mexico law lets restaurants allow leashed pet dogs on posted patios, but that rule covers dogs, not cats. Inside, only service animals are allowed. A Devon is also usually happier at home than in a loud, crowded patio, so leave it with a warm bed and a window perch.
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.
A Devon Rex typically costs about $1,190 to $2,780 a year in Albuquerque, combining food, insurance, routine vet care and other items such as litter, flea prevention and dental care. Insurance and food make up much of the monthly spend, and warm bedding and ear care add a little. Emergency care and the adoption fee are separate.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Albuquerque.
