The Devon Rex is a feline version of "E.T". Its short wide-cheeked face, huge lowset batwing ears and delicately sculpted body - combined with a devlish sense of mischief - give it a pixie-like persona.

The Devon Rex is named after the English county where they first appeared. They have much wider ears, smaller faces, pronounced cheek-bones and shorter noses than their Cornish counterparts, and their distinctive coat is curly and feels like suede or brushed corduroy.

The Devon Rex make intelligent, extroverted and very affectionate pets. Alert and quick, they usually display a great inquisitiveness. Curiously, they tend to waver their tails when they are pleased.

Their low allergenic "Poodle-type" coat is low maintenance and sheds minimally and means that many asthma or allergy suffers who are unable to enjoy ownership of other breeds, may be able to do live with a Rex. The Rex's coat is extremely low maintenance but as it does not afford the same protection as a normal coat, these cats do need to be kept warm and dry. To compensate for their lack of guard hairs, the Devon Rex has a slightly higher surface body temperature than other breeds - making them wonderful lap and foot warmers.