Curly-haired cats don’t all have the same coat: some wear short, soft waves, while others have loose ringlets or a satin-like curl. Six breeds commonly featured for their curly coats are the Cornish Rex, Devon Rex, LaPerm, Selkirk Rex, Tennessee Rex, and German Rex. Their recognition varies by registry, and a curly coat alone does not tell you what a cat’s temperament, health, grooming needs, or allergy impact will be.
What makes a cat’s fur curly?
Curly coats arise from spontaneous genetic mutations, rather than from one shared “curly cat” type. CFA allbreed judge Teresa Keiger put it this way in a February 4, 2025 CFA article: “These are all spontaneous gene mutations—Mother Nature gave them to us—and we can trace each breed’s history back to the original cat.” The breeds developed from different foundation cats, so their coat textures and lengths vary.
One documented example is the Selkirk Rex: CFA reports that its foundation cat, Miss DePesto, produced three curly-coated kittens in a litter of six when bred to a black Persian male. That historical litter illustrates the Selkirk’s dominant mutation; it should not be taken as an inheritance rule for the other breeds.
What are the six curly-haired cat breeds?
The comparison below describes the coat information available from breed profiles and standards. Recognition is registry-specific: CFA’s overview describes four curly-coated breeds, while TICA’s standards resource includes Tennessee Rex. Check the relevant registry for current recognition rather than assuming a breed is accepted everywhere.
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- ERGONOMIC CURVED HEAD FOR EFFORTLESS BRUSHING: The naturally contoured backing follows the curves of your pet's body, ensuring even pressure across every stroke. Allows the pins to glide smoothly over broad areas like the back, chest, and flanks, cutting grooming and drying time in half.
- EXTRA-LONG BENT WIRE PINS FOR THICK UNDERCOAT: Engineered with flexible stainless steel pins angled at 135 degrees that reach deep into dense double coats without scratching or pulling delicate skin. Safely breaks up stubborn mats, untangles dense curls, and lifts trapped dead hair while maximizing coat volume.
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| Breed | Coat and length | Origin or history | Grooming notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cornish Rex | Extremely soft, wavy coat; shorthair. | Traced to a curly-coated kitten in Cornwall, England. | The cited CFA profile describes the coat but does not specify a grooming routine. |
| Devon Rex | Short, velvety-soft coat that ripples in waves. | Associated with Devon, England. | The cited TICA profile does not specify a grooming routine. |
| LaPerm | Soft curls and ringlets; shorthair and longhair varieties. TICA identifies LaPerm as the only Rex breed with long, flexible whiskers, in contrast with brittle whiskers in several other Rex breeds. | Not stated in the cited TICA profile. | The cited TICA profile does not specify a grooming routine. |
| Selkirk Rex | Distinct, loose, individual curls; shorthair and longhair varieties. Its coat is denser than the looser waves described for Cornish and Devon Rex. | Breed history traces to foundation cat Miss DePesto. | Guidance differs by source and coat length; see the care section below. |
| Tennessee Rex | Satin-textured curls; shorthair and longhair varieties. | Not stated in the cited TICA standard. | TICA’s breed standard says the coat should not mat and is easy to groom; this is a standard description, not a guarantee for every cat. |
| German Rex | Included among the six curly-coated breeds in the matching overview; further coat details are not established in the cited primary sources. | Not stated in the cited primary sources. | Not stated in the cited primary sources. |
Cornish Rex
The Cornish Rex is the shorthaired, softly waved option in this group. CFA traces the breed to a curly-coated kitten born in Cornwall. Its wave is distinct from the Selkirk Rex’s denser, individual curls.
Devon Rex
TICA describes a small-to-medium cat with a short coat that feels velvety-soft and ripples in waves. The breed is associated with Devon, England. That description helps distinguish its coat, but does not establish a shared personality or care profile for all curly-coated cats.
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LaPerm
LaPerm coats can be short or long, with soft curls and ringlets. TICA notes a distinctive whisker trait: LaPerms are the only Rex breed with long, flexible whiskers, while several other Rex breeds have brittle whiskers.
Selkirk Rex
Selkirk Rex curls are loose and individually defined, and the breed comes in both hair lengths. CFA’s account of Miss DePesto’s first litter offers a specific origin story for the breed’s curly-coat mutation.
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Tennessee Rex
TICA’s standard describes a medium-sized cat with a satin-textured curly coat, in both longhair and shorthair varieties. It says the coat should not mat and is easy to groom; actual care still depends on the individual cat and coat.
German Rex
German Rex is included in the six-breed overview, but the cited primary sources do not provide enough detail to make a precise comparison of its coat, grooming, health, size, or recognition. For those specifics, consult a current registry standard or breed organization.
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- ERGONOMIC CURVED HEAD FOR EFFORTLESS BRUSHING: The naturally contoured backing follows the curves of your pet's body, ensuring even pressure across every stroke. Allows the pins to glide smoothly over broad areas like the back, chest, and flanks, cutting grooming and drying time in half.
- EXTRA-LONG BENT WIRE PINS FOR THICK UNDERCOAT: Engineered with flexible stainless steel pins angled at 135 degrees that reach deep into dense double coats without scratching or pulling delicate skin. Safely breaks up stubborn mats, untangles dense curls, and lifts trapped dead hair while maximizing coat volume.
- DUAL-DENSITY STEEL FINISHING COMB: Built with rounded metal teeth that gently lift flat coats. Use the wide-spaced side to detangle large areas and the fine-spaced side for precision work around delicate zones like the face, muzzle, paws, and ears to ensure zero mats remain.
- [Ergonomic Handle] Grooming thick coats takes time. This streamlined, ergonomic pet grooming brush handle provides a secure and comfortable grip. This thoughtful design significantly reduces wrist fatigue and hand cramping, making it the ideal detangling brush for grooming Dogo Argentinos over long periods.
How much grooming do curly-coated cats need?
There is no single grooming rule for all curly coats. Coat length, density, and the individual cat matter. Selkirk Rex guidance illustrates why: CFA says, “No special grooming tools are needed to care for the Selkirk Rex coat,” while GCCF advises daily grooming with a wide-toothed comb for longhaired Selkirks to remove loose hair and prevent tangles. GCCF also cautions that over-grooming can reduce the curl.
These recommendations address different practical concerns, so ask a breeder or veterinarian how to care for the particular cat. Do not assume a tool or routine suitable for a longhaired Selkirk is necessary for every curly-haired breed.
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- COMPLETE 2-IN-1 PROFESSIONAL GROOMING KIT: The essential salon-grade pair for daily maintenance and line combing! Includes 1x extra-large curved long-pin slicker brush to loosen thick double coats and 1x heavy-duty stainless steel comb (wide & narrow teeth) to check for hidden mats. Perfect for Doodles, Poodles, Golden Retrievers, and long-haired cats.
- ERGONOMIC CURVED HEAD FOR EFFORTLESS BRUSHING: The naturally contoured backing follows the curves of your pet's body, ensuring even pressure across every stroke. Allows the pins to glide smoothly over broad areas like the back, chest, and flanks, cutting grooming and drying time in half.
- EXTRA-LONG BENT WIRE PINS FOR THICK UNDERCOAT: Engineered with flexible stainless steel pins angled at 135 degrees that reach deep into dense double coats without scratching or pulling delicate skin. Safely breaks up stubborn mats, untangles dense curls, and lifts trapped dead hair while maximizing coat volume.
- DUAL-DENSITY STEEL FINISHING COMB: Built with rounded metal teeth that gently lift flat coats. Use the wide-spaced side to detangle large areas and the fine-spaced side for precision work around delicate zones like the face, muzzle, paws, and ears to ensure zero mats remain.
- [Ergonomic Handle] Grooming thick coats takes time. This streamlined, ergonomic pet grooming brush handle provides a secure and comfortable grip. This thoughtful design significantly reduces wrist fatigue and hand cramping, making it the ideal detangling brush for grooming Dogo Argentinos over long periods.
Does a curly coat mean fewer allergies or less shedding?
No. The available sources do not establish that these breeds are hypoallergenic or that they all shed less. Curly texture by itself is not enough to predict how a person with allergies will respond, or how much hair a particular cat will shed. If allergies are a concern, spend time with the individual cat before making a commitment and discuss symptoms with a healthcare professional.
What should you know about health and temperament?
A curly coat does not establish a shared temperament or health profile across these six breeds. The sources cited here do not provide comparable health or population statistics for all six, so broad claims about their relative rarity, popularity, or health would be misleading.
For Selkirk Rexes specifically, CFA says breeders commonly screen for conditions seen in breeds used in the Selkirk’s development: polycystic kidney disease, hip dysplasia, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This is a breeder-screening consideration, not a claim that every Selkirk will develop one of these conditions, and it should not be generalized to the other five breeds.
How to learn more before choosing a breed
Meet cats in person and ask questions about the individual animal’s coat care, health history, and needs. CFA suggests cat shows as a way to meet breeders and provides a breeder-finding resource. TICA’s LaPerm breeder listings are for members who have signed its Code of Ethics. These are starting points for learning and careful research, not endorsements or guarantees about any breeder or cat.
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