Oregon Rex facts for kids

The Oregon Rex was a special type of house cat known for its unique, curly fur. This special coat came from a natural change in its genes, called a mutation.

For a short time, the Oregon Rex was quite popular with cat breeders in the United States. However, over time, it was bred with other curly-haired cats like the Cornish Rex and the Devon Rex. Because of this, the Oregon Rex eventually became part of these other breeds and is no longer seen as a separate type of cat today.

History of the Oregon Rex

The first Oregon Rex cat was discovered in 1955 in the state of Oregon, United States. In a litter of kittens, one stood out because it had soft, curly fur. All its brothers, sisters, and its mother had straight fur.

Around the same time, the first Cornish Rex cats arrived in the U.S. from Great Britain. These cats were soon bred with the new Oregon Rex. Breeders in Oregon worked to create a pure Oregon Rex breed. It quickly became one of the most liked curly-haired cat breeds in America. However, breeders later mixed all types of Rex cats, even though they had different genes. This mixing meant the Oregon Rex did not remain a separate breed.

What the Oregon Rex Looked Like

The Oregon Rex had a special curly coat that felt soft, short, and close to its body. It had very few or no long, stiff hairs, which are called guard hairs. Its fur was unique, different from other curly-haired cats.

Its head was shaped like a wedge, with a long nose. The ears were large and rounded, set high on its head. Its eyes were medium-sized and oval-shaped.

The body of the Oregon Rex was long and slender. It had a long, thin tail that tapered to a point. Its legs were long, graceful, and slim, ending in tiny, round paws.

Personality of the Oregon Rex

The Oregon Rex shared many traits with other Rex cat breeds. They were known for being very loving and needing lots of attention. They were also playful and funny. Sometimes, they could be a bit wild or even a little proud. People also said the Oregon Rex could be quite dominant, which sometimes made them a bit tricky to handle.

Genetics and the Curly Coat

The special curly fur of the Oregon Rex came from a mutation, which is a natural change in a gene. Changes in the genes that control curly hair seem to happen quite often in cats. The Oregon Rex was just one of several types of cats with this unique fur, though it is now extinct.

When Oregon Rex cats were bred with Cornish Rex cats and later with Devon Rex cats, their kittens had normal, straight fur. Scientists found that the Oregon Rex's curly fur was caused by a special recessive allele (a specific form of a gene), which was different from the genes causing curly fur in other Rex breeds. This meant the Oregon Rex truly had its own unique genetic makeup.