Breeding Policy for Devon Rex (33a)
This document is seen as a way of ensuring breeders observe
what is considered 'best practice' in their involvement with Devon Rex and
particularly in their Devon Rex breeding programmes.
Devon Rex, unlike most breeds, owe their origin to one cat -
Kirlee. It should always be remembered that most of the females bred to Kirlee
were very closely related as well as being immediate descendants of Kallibunker
- the original Cornish Rex, as at that time it was assumed Kirlee resulted from
the same mutation as Kallibunker. Inbreeding was then carried out in the ensuing
generations to produce the three generations of Rex to Rex breeding needed to
obtain breed recognition. This practice of inbreeding has continued. From the
beginning, serious health problems have beset Devon Rex, i.e. Luxating Patellae,
Coagulopathy and Inherited Myopathy (Spasticity). Two blood types have been
confirmed in Devon Rex - type A and type B. Type A is dominant over type B. This
means that a cat with type B blood is homozygous for B. Type A cats can either
be homozygous for A or heterozygous (carrying the B gene). Cats with type B
blood have strong antibodies against type A red blood cells. These anti-A
antibodies can cause two serious problems : Neonatal Isoerythrolysis (Fading
kitten syndrome) and transfusion reactions.
Aims
It is vital regular selective outcrossing be introduced and
maintained to increase the gene pool and improve stamina and health. This is
'best for the breed' in its ongoing development.
Guidelines
Breeders and owners of Devon Rex and Devon Rex Variants are
recommended to blood type test all their cats but more especially all breeding
stock. Blood type A kittens resulting from a mating between a type A stud and a
type B queen may die within the first few days of life if allowed to suckle
their mother's colostrum. It is also important to know that cats with the
relatively rare type B blood can die if given a transfusion of the common type A
blood.
All cats used for outcrossing should be thoroughly
researched, of sound temperament and free from any hereditary defects.
Breeders should ensure, to the best of their knowledge, that
any Devon Rex or Devon Rex Variants from which they breed are of sound
temperament, free from any hereditary defects, (including those listed in the
GCCF Standard of Points), and conform as closely as possible to the Standard of
Points (excluding the coat description where variants are concerned).
Devon Rex are not compatible with Cornish Rex. Such matings
are therefore highly undesirable. The product of such matings will be registered
on the Reference Register and cannot be considered to be variants. They
cannot be used in either Rex breeding programme and should be
placed on the non-active register. It is considered to be in the best interest
of the Devon Rex breed to keep it entirely separate from other incompatible Rex
mutations.
Under no circumstances should any cat with Sphynx ancestry be
introduced into the Devon Rex breed. Selection for hairlessness contradicts the
coat quality requirements for Rex cats. The product of any matings between
Sphynx and Devon Rex will be registered on the Reference Register. They cannot
be considered to be variants nor be used in any Devon Rex breeding programme and
should be placed on the non-active register.
Breeders are recommended not to breed from Devon Rex or Devon
Rex variants with Longhair. The long-hair gene has been present in the breed
since the beginning, as Kirlee was a proven Longhair carrier. It is considered
in the best interest of Devon Rex coat quality not to perpetuate this
factor. Outcrosses made to breeds with Longhair ancestry should be undertaken
with caution and where possible only to cats proven not to be carriers of
the long-hair gene.
Breeders shall ensure that any Devon Rex or Devon Rex
Variants from which they breed, shall be registered with the GCCF in accordance
with the Rules in force at the time.
It is recommended that the progeny from any matings that are
not required for Devon Rex breeding, should be placed on the Non-Active
Register, to avoid the introduction of the Devon Rex gene into other varieties
of pedigree cats.
The majority of matings are most likely to be between Devon
Rex x Devon Rex and Devon Rex x Devon Rex Variant, but to ensure maximum benefit
from outcrossing Devon Rex Variant x Devon Rex Variaot matings are also
necessary.
Normal coated progeny from Variaot x Variant matings cannot
be considered variants as this can ooly be proven by test matings.
Breeds which have been approved for use in outcrossing are:
Abyssinian, Asian Shorthair, British Shorthair, Burmese, Korat.
All other breeds are listed as non-approved.
Breeders will be encouraged to take advantage of any relevant
official scheme, which may be devised by the Cornish Rex & Devon Rex Joint
BAC to test the soundness of the Devon Rex breed.
Note: It is recommended where the colour of a cat is in
question a DNA test, (where such a test exists), be arranged.
what is considered 'best practice' in their involvement with Devon Rex and
particularly in their Devon Rex breeding programmes.
Devon Rex, unlike most breeds, owe their origin to one cat -
Kirlee. It should always be remembered that most of the females bred to Kirlee
were very closely related as well as being immediate descendants of Kallibunker
- the original Cornish Rex, as at that time it was assumed Kirlee resulted from
the same mutation as Kallibunker. Inbreeding was then carried out in the ensuing
generations to produce the three generations of Rex to Rex breeding needed to
obtain breed recognition. This practice of inbreeding has continued. From the
beginning, serious health problems have beset Devon Rex, i.e. Luxating Patellae,
Coagulopathy and Inherited Myopathy (Spasticity). Two blood types have been
confirmed in Devon Rex - type A and type B. Type A is dominant over type B. This
means that a cat with type B blood is homozygous for B. Type A cats can either
be homozygous for A or heterozygous (carrying the B gene). Cats with type B
blood have strong antibodies against type A red blood cells. These anti-A
antibodies can cause two serious problems : Neonatal Isoerythrolysis (Fading
kitten syndrome) and transfusion reactions.
Aims
It is vital regular selective outcrossing be introduced and
maintained to increase the gene pool and improve stamina and health. This is
'best for the breed' in its ongoing development.
Guidelines
Breeders and owners of Devon Rex and Devon Rex Variants are
recommended to blood type test all their cats but more especially all breeding
stock. Blood type A kittens resulting from a mating between a type A stud and a
type B queen may die within the first few days of life if allowed to suckle
their mother's colostrum. It is also important to know that cats with the
relatively rare type B blood can die if given a transfusion of the common type A
blood.
All cats used for outcrossing should be thoroughly
researched, of sound temperament and free from any hereditary defects.
Breeders should ensure, to the best of their knowledge, that
any Devon Rex or Devon Rex Variants from which they breed are of sound
temperament, free from any hereditary defects, (including those listed in the
GCCF Standard of Points), and conform as closely as possible to the Standard of
Points (excluding the coat description where variants are concerned).
Devon Rex are not compatible with Cornish Rex. Such matings
are therefore highly undesirable. The product of such matings will be registered
on the Reference Register and cannot be considered to be variants. They
cannot be used in either Rex breeding programme and should be
placed on the non-active register. It is considered to be in the best interest
of the Devon Rex breed to keep it entirely separate from other incompatible Rex
mutations.
Under no circumstances should any cat with Sphynx ancestry be
introduced into the Devon Rex breed. Selection for hairlessness contradicts the
coat quality requirements for Rex cats. The product of any matings between
Sphynx and Devon Rex will be registered on the Reference Register. They cannot
be considered to be variants nor be used in any Devon Rex breeding programme and
should be placed on the non-active register.
Breeders are recommended not to breed from Devon Rex or Devon
Rex variants with Longhair. The long-hair gene has been present in the breed
since the beginning, as Kirlee was a proven Longhair carrier. It is considered
in the best interest of Devon Rex coat quality not to perpetuate this
factor. Outcrosses made to breeds with Longhair ancestry should be undertaken
with caution and where possible only to cats proven not to be carriers of
the long-hair gene.
Breeders shall ensure that any Devon Rex or Devon Rex
Variants from which they breed, shall be registered with the GCCF in accordance
with the Rules in force at the time.
It is recommended that the progeny from any matings that are
not required for Devon Rex breeding, should be placed on the Non-Active
Register, to avoid the introduction of the Devon Rex gene into other varieties
of pedigree cats.
The majority of matings are most likely to be between Devon
Rex x Devon Rex and Devon Rex x Devon Rex Variant, but to ensure maximum benefit
from outcrossing Devon Rex Variant x Devon Rex Variaot matings are also
necessary.
Normal coated progeny from Variaot x Variant matings cannot
be considered variants as this can ooly be proven by test matings.
Breeds which have been approved for use in outcrossing are:
Abyssinian, Asian Shorthair, British Shorthair, Burmese, Korat.
All other breeds are listed as non-approved.
Breeders will be encouraged to take advantage of any relevant
official scheme, which may be devised by the Cornish Rex & Devon Rex Joint
BAC to test the soundness of the Devon Rex breed.
Note: It is recommended where the colour of a cat is in
question a DNA test, (where such a test exists), be arranged.