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Devon Rex Cats for Adoption in Nashville, TN

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

Devon Rexes fit Nashville apartment life well, since they want company more than square footage. Whether you're in a Germantown apartment or a red-brick Donelson ranch house, a Devon will happily ride your shoulder while you work from the couch. They climb everything, so a tall cat tree by a sunny window goes a long way. They also feel the cold, so a heated bed helps when a January ice storm rolls through.

17 cats similar to Devon Rex available in Nashville and nationwide

Find your forever Devon Rex

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

Devon Rexes and Similar Breeds Available for Adoption Near Nashville

About the Devon Rex breed

The Devon Rex 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. Devons have oversized ears, big eyes and a soft, sparse, rippled coat, and many have short, crinkled whiskers. Adults usually weigh about 5 to 10 pounds.

They're playful, people-focused cats that follow you from room to room, and many are food-motivated and easy to teach tricks. That makes them a good match for a Midtown apartment or a Hermitage house where someone is home often. Their thin coat sheds less than most cats but leaves them prone to cold, oily skin and sunburn, so Nashville's humid summers and icy winters both call for a little planning.

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

Owning a Devon Rex in Nashville

Having a Devon Rex in Nashville

Devon Rexes pair high energy with a delicate coat, so daily play and indoor comfort matter most. In Nashville, hot humid summers, icy stretches in winter and spring storms add a few local things to plan for.

Temperament

Devon Rexes tend to be clownish, affectionate and attached to their people, which suits Nashville households where someone is home a fair amount. Many enjoy respectful kids and cat-friendly pets. Long workdays alone can leave them bored or lonely, so a second pet or midday play helps. Each cat's personality varies.

Exercise Needs

Expect daily bursts of climbing, leaping and wand-toy play, plus puzzle feeders and short treat-training sessions. Window perches give a Devon something to watch. A harness-and-leash outing is possible on a Metro greenway, where pets must stay on a leash no longer than six feet, but keep trips short in heat or cold.

Health Considerations

Devon Rexes can carry a hereditary muscle disorder that shows up in kittenhood, plus heart disease, kneecap problems and skin yeast infections. Nashville's warm, humid summers can make oily skin and waxy ears worse. A veterinarian can check the heart and knees, run a DNA test for the muscle disorder and set up regular checkups.

Living Space

A Devon Rex does fine in a Nashville apartment or house as long as it has vertical space, toys and company. Keep it indoors or in a secure catio, since its thin coat gives little protection from heat, cold or sun. A heated pad and a sunny perch keep it comfortable.

What it costs to own a Devon Rex in Nashville

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*$508 to $1,358 per year$508 to $1,358
Estimated yearly total (after year one)$1,198 to $2,788

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

* The $8 Davidson County rabies tag, litter, flea prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys and bedding, light coat care, and ear cleaning, baths and warm bedding for a thin-coated cat.

Adopt a Devon Rex in Nashville.

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

Rescues and Shelters in or near Nashville

Nashville's Metro shelter and its foster-based rescue groups care for cats and kittens until they find homes. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Nashville area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Devon Rex is coming in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Often, yes, especially for people who are home a fair amount. A Devon Rex wants company and climbing space, which works in Nashville apartments and houses alike. The catch is climate: a thin coat means air conditioning and shade in humid summers and a heated bed through icy winters. Meeting the cat helps, since personalities vary.

Yes. A Devon Rex is small and happy in an apartment if it has a tall cat tree, a window perch and daily play. About half of Nashville households rent, so confirm pet terms in writing. Pet deposits and pet rent vary by building, and Metro sets no pet-count limit, so building rules decide.

Mostly, as long as the cat lives indoors. Nashville summers are hot and humid and winters bring icy stretches, so a Devon's thin coat needs air conditioning, shade and a heated bed. Spring storms and occasional ice storms are other reasons to keep it inside with a carrier ready.

Yes. Nashville has no breed-specific restrictions on cats and no fixed household pet limit. You do need rabies vaccination by six months and a Davidson County rabies tag. Spay/neuter and microchips aren't required. Watch the listings on this page, or save a search, to hear about new Devon Rexes.

Less than most cats, but differently. Brushing can break a Devon's delicate hair, so stroke with a hand or soft cloth. Nashville's humidity can make skin oilier and ears waxier, so plan on baths and ear cleaning every few weeks as your vet advises. Those supplies fall under the Other costs on this page.

Only in a carrier. WeGo's rules allow non-service animals on its buses and the WeGo Star train only in an approved transfer cage, so a Devon Rex should travel in a sturdy carrier. Nashville has no subway. Check WeGo for current carrier rules and fares, and avoid long waits in extreme heat or cold.

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 roughly $1,200 to $2,800 a year for a Devon Rex in Nashville. Food runs $20 to $40 a month, insurance $25 to $50 a month and routine vet care $150 to $350 a year. Other costs, including litter, flea prevention, dental care and the Davidson County rabies tag, add about $508 to $1,358.

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