Your guide to finding and caring for a Devon Rex in Denver
Devon Rexes fit Denver apartment life well, as long as someone is home a good part of the day. In a Capitol Hill walk-up or a condo near Cheesman Park, a Devon will claim the sunniest windowsill, ride your shoulder while you cook and learn to fetch a crumpled receipt. They're small and shed little, but they're social and don't love empty days. Denver's cold nights make that thin coat easy to notice, so plan a warm bed near the window.
Find your forever Devon Rex
While we don't have enough cats near Denver, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
F, 0-6 mo., 910 miles
Devon Rex, Domestic Short Hair
M, 12 y., 1000 miles
Devon Rex, Domestic Short Hair
F, 12 y., 1000 miles
Devon Rex, Domestic Short Hair
F, 3-7 y., 1221 miles
Devon Rex
F, 4 mo., 1617 miles
Cornish Rex
F, 3-7 y., 1627 miles
Devon Rex, Domestic Short Hair
F, 3-7 y., 1627 miles
Devon Rex, Tabby
M, 7 mo., 646 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Lykoi
M, 7 mo., 646 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Lykoi
M, 1 y., 781 miles
Devon Rex, Domestic Short Hair
The Devon Rex began around 1960 in Devon, England, with a curly-coated kitten named Kirlee. Its wavy coat turned out to come from a different gene than the Cornish Rex's. Expect large low-set ears, big eyes, a slender body of roughly 5 to 10 pounds and a soft, sparse coat with crinkled whiskers. It sheds less than most cats but isn't hypoallergenic.
Devons are playful, food-motivated and very attached to their people, so they do best with company and daily games. In Denver, that usually means a home with a tall cat tree, a window perch and someone around for much of the day. Because the coat is thin, skin can get oily and ears waxy, so a little regular care goes a long way. Every cat differs, so spend time with a Devon before deciding.
Having a Devon Rex in Denver
Devon Rexes pair high energy and a need for company with a fragile coat and a few inherited health risks. In Denver, the biggest practical questions are warmth, time at home and how much play space your place offers.
Devons tend to be clownish, affectionate and happiest near their people, which suits Denver renters who work from home or keep steady schedules. Many get along with children, other cats and cat-friendly dogs. Long, empty days can lead to loud, mischievous boredom. Personalities vary, so notice how each cat reacts to handling, noise and visitors.
Plan on a couple of active play sessions a day: wand toys, puzzle feeders and fetch. Tall cat trees and wall shelves give an apartment cat the climbing it craves. On Denver's snowy or hailing days, indoor play carries the whole routine. Food-loving Devons also gain weight easily, so play helps protect their joints and heart.
Devons can carry an inherited muscle disorder that has a DNA test, and heart disease, kneecap problems and skin yeast infections are also reported. A veterinarian can check the heart, kneecaps and skin, and can test blood type, which matters if a transfusion is ever needed. Denver also requires cats to be vaccinated against rabies.
Devons do well in Denver's mix of apartments, condos and bungalows when they have vertical space, toys and company. Keep them indoors, with a secure catio or harness time if you want fresh air. A heated pad or sunny perch keeps this heat-seeking cat comfortable through the long cold season.
| 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* | $515 to $1,365 per year | $515 to $1,365 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,205 to $2,795 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* The $15 Denver cat license, 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.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have cats available in and near Denver.
Denver has both a city shelter and nonprofit rescues, and the groups listed below show the cats and kittens they currently have for adoption. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Denver area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Devon Rex is coming in.
Yes. Denver's breed-specific rules apply only to three dog breeds, not to Devon Rexes. Cats six months and older must be licensed, vaccinated against rabies and spayed or neutered, and a household can have up to five animals, no more than three of them dogs. A one-year cat license costs $15.
Often, yes, for people who are home a fair amount and enjoy an interactive cat. Denver's mix of apartments and bungalows works for a small indoor climber, and sunny days suit a heat-seeker. Cold nights, long solo workdays and a thin coat are the things to plan around, and each cat's personality varies.
Yes. Devons are small, shed little and don't need a yard, but they do need a tall cat tree, a window perch and daily play. Secure balcony railings and window screens, since Devons climb and leap. A bored Devon can get loud and mischievous, which shared walls will make noticeable.
Yes, as indoor cats. Winter afternoons in Denver usually reach the 40s, but nights often fall below freezing, and a Devon's thin coat offers little insulation. Keep your home comfortably warm, add heated pads and blankets near favorite perches, and don't let the cat outdoors in snow or ice.
Only in a carrier. RTD prohibits pets other than service animals, except small pets in carriers, and a Devon Rex's 5-to-10-pound frame fits one. Choose a secure, ventilated carrier and keep it on your lap or the floor, not a seat. Check current fares and rules with RTD before riding.
Less than most cats, and mostly at home. Skip the brush, which can break the fragile coat, and use a soft cloth or your hands. Bathe when the skin feels oily and clean the ears regularly. Denver's dry climate may change how often, so watch the skin. This fits the Other costs 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.
A Devon Rex in Denver typically runs about $1,200 to $2,800 a year. That covers food at $20 to $40 a month, insurance at $25 to $50 a month, routine vet care of $150 to $350 a year, and other costs of roughly $515 to $1,365. Insurance is worth a look given the breed's inherited conditions.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Denver.
