Your guide to finding and caring for a Cornish Rex in Indy
A Cornish Rex fits an Indy duplex or apartment well, as long as the place stays warm. In Mapleton-Fall Creek, where Tudor Revival homes share blocks with duplexes and apartment buildings, a Rex can claim a sunny window and a tall cat tree and still have its people close by. Winters here are cold enough that its thin down coat needs a heated bed. It's a busy, social cat, so it suits someone who's home often or a household that wants a playful pair.
Fall for a Cornish Rex
While we don't have enough cats near Indianapolis, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
M, 12 y., 215 miles
Devon Rex, Domestic Short Hair
F, 12 y., 215 miles
Devon Rex, Domestic Short Hair
F, 0-6 mo., 215 miles
Devon Rex, Domestic Short Hair
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 124 miles
Selkirk Rex
F, 3-7 y., 258 miles
Devon Rex
M, 3-7 y., 303 miles
Selkirk Rex, British Shorthair
M, 6 mo.-2 y., 414 miles
Munchkin, Selkirk Rex
M, 3-7 y., 414 miles
Munchkin, Selkirk Rex
F, 4 mo., 632 miles
Cornish Rex
F, 3-7 y., 643 miles
Devon Rex, Domestic Short Hair
The Cornish Rex began in 1950 on a farm in Cornwall, England, when a curly-coated kitten named Kallibunker was born. The coat is the breed's signature: only the soft down layer, lying in tight, even waves, with no guard hairs. Add a lean, arched body, long legs, an egg-shaped head and very large ears, and it's easy to pick out.
Many Cornish Rex cats stay energetic, social and playful well into adulthood, though each cat is different. The fine coat sheds little, but it isn't hypoallergenic, and it gives almost no protection from cold or sun. That makes indoor living, warm resting spots, occasional baths and regular ear cleaning part of everyday care, especially in a city with real winters like Indianapolis.
Having a Cornish Rex in Indy
A Cornish Rex pairs a high-energy, people-focused personality with a coat that offers almost no insulation. In Indianapolis, that means plenty of daily play, a warm home through the long winter, and regular skin and ear care.
Many Cornish Rex cats are affectionate, curious and playful, and they often follow their people from room to room. That suits Indy's apartments and duplexes, where someone is usually nearby. A bored Rex can turn demanding or mischievous, and each cat's history and comfort level matter more than breed reputation.
Plan on several short, interactive play sessions a day with wand toys, balls or a game of fetch. A tall cat tree and a window shelf give a Rex room to climb in a smaller Indy apartment, and food puzzles keep its mind busy on snowy or stormy days when everyone stays inside.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and progressive retinal atrophy have been reported in Cornish Rex cats, so regular veterinary checkups matter. The thin coat can mean oily skin, waxy ears and sunburn through a window. Many Rex cats have big appetites, so measure portions. Indiana requires rabies vaccination for cats three months and older.
A Cornish Rex can do well in a studio, a flat or a house as long as it's warm and has vertical space to climb. Indianapolis has plenty of rentals, so look for a unit with reliable heat. Keep the cat indoors, with heated beds and sunny perches.
| 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.
* Litter, parasite prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys and scratchers, bath and ear-care supplies, and warm bedding or a sweater for the thin coat.
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 both a city shelter and private nonprofit rescues working to place cats and dogs in loving homes. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Indy area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Cornish 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, a Cornish Rex can ride IndyGo buses, including the Red and Purple Line rapid-transit routes, when it's in a carrying case. IndyGo allows service animals and other pets in a carrier. Indianapolis has no subway. Use a secure, ventilated carrier with a blanket, since waiting at a winter stop is hard on a thin-coated cat, and check current fares with IndyGo.
Yes, as long as they live indoors with dependable heat. Cold snaps here can last for days, as in January 2014, when temperatures stayed below zero for 34 straight hours. A Cornish Rex's single down layer gives little insulation, so provide heated beds, blankets and warm spots away from drafts, and never leave the cat outside.
Yes. Indianapolis has no breed restrictions, and the city sets no fixed limit on how many cats a household can keep, though nuisance rules and leases may. The practical hurdles are lease terms and keeping the home warm enough for a thin-coated cat. Adopting a Cornish Rex here mostly comes down to whether your routine fits its energy.
Yes, a Cornish Rex can thrive in an Indianapolis apartment because it needs vertical space more than square footage. A tall cat tree, wall shelves and a window perch go a long way, along with several play sessions a day. Look for a unit with reliable heat, and use curtains to soften strong afternoon sun.
It can be, for someone who wants a busy, social cat and can keep the home warm. Indy's cold winters and spring storms keep a Rex indoors anyway, so daily play and company matter most. It's less suited to a household that's away long hours or wants a quiet lap cat. Cats vary, so meet the cat before deciding.
A Cornish Rex needs no brushing, but it does need occasional baths to manage skin oils, anywhere from every week or two to less often, plus weekly ear cleaning. In winter, dry the cat fully in a warm room and skip the blow dryer. Humid summers can make skin oilier. Bath and ear-care supplies fall under the yearly Other costs.
No, Cornish Rex cats are not hypoallergenic. The main cat allergen, a protein called Fel d 1, comes from saliva and skin glands rather than hair, and Cornish Rex cats produce it like other cats. Because they shed little, some people with mild allergies report fewer symptoms. Spend time with a specific cat before adopting to test your reaction.
A Cornish Rex is a small, slender cat breed from Cornwall, England, known for its short, wavy coat made only of soft down hair. It has large ears, a long arched body, long legs and an egg-shaped head. Cornish Rex cats are typically active, affectionate and playful, and they need indoor living, warmth and plenty of attention.
Cornish Rex cats shed very little. They lack the outer guard hairs and middle awn hairs most cats have, so their short, curly down coat drops far less hair around the home. Light shedding still happens, and the coat can thin seasonally. Instead of brushing, many owners just stroke the coat or wipe it with a soft cloth.
Expect about $20 to $40 a month for food and $25 to $50 for insurance, plus $150 to $350 a year for routine vet care and $500 to $1,350 for other costs such as litter, parasite prevention and dental care. That adds up to roughly $1,200 to $2,800 a year, and Indianapolis charges no cat license.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Indianapolis.
