German rex

The German Rex is a cat breed originating from Russia (formerly East Prussia). This medium-sized cat is characterized by its short, wavy and very soft coat.

The German Rex is believed to be the first cat breed with curly or wavy hair. The first subject was discovered in the very early 1930s by Erna Schneider in Königsberg (now Kaliningrad, Russia). She named this cat Kater Munk and it is believed that the parents were a blue colored Persian mother and a Russian blue father, however there is no evidence of this. Either way, she wore that blue dress herself. It is believed that there were also two males from the same litter but who were quickly castrated. We do not know if she had kittens but she died in 1944 or 1945. Later, in 1951, doctor Rose Scheuer-Karpin noticed in the garden of the hospital where she worked in Buch (now Pankow) a black curly cat and white. She called him Lämmchen (meaning “little lamb”). She had litters and it was by crossing her with one of her sons that Dr. Scheuer-Karpin obtained other kittens with wavy and particularly soft hair. Breeding began like this. Lämmchen died in 1964 or 1967 and left behind a number of curly-haired cats or hybrid cats. It is not known if she was related to Kater Munk but it is believed that it is possible due to the strong German immigration of that time. The descendants of Lämmchen were often crossed with Cornish Rex to improve this breed which then had skin problems. In 1986, a German cattery bought the last three descendants of Lämmchen in order to avoid the extinction of the breed. The breed has been recognized by FIFe and LOOF under the name German Rex. The CFA on the other hand associates it with the Cornish Rex. This breed is currently very rare but some German breeders have been working since 1999 on the development of this cat. To avoid too much inbreeding, marriages with smooth-haired cats are practiced. There are now farms in Russia, Sweden, Finland and the Netherlands. Rose Scheuer-Karpin, considered the founder of the breed, still lives in Germany.

It is said to be an active, affectionate and even-tempered cat. He would also be patient. However, the character being above all a function of the history of each cat, it remains perfectly individual.