Devon Rex Coat & Skin Care in Brisbane

Why the coat needs a different approach

Most cat grooming is about managing loose hair from a full coat. A Devon Rex is different, because its coat is soft, fine, wavy and unusually sparse, made mostly of down with delicate, fragile curly guard hairs, sometimes with bare patches. That changes two things. First, the coat is easily damaged: brushing it the way you would a normal cat can snap the fine hairs and cause bald spots, so you brush a Devon Rex far less, if at all. Second, and more importantly, a sparse coat changes how the skin's natural oils behave, which is the key to the whole care routine below. The coat also sheds very little, so grooming is not about hair removal at all.

Grooming: gentle, and less than you think

• Do not over-brush. The fragile coat breaks under vigorous brushing. Most owners simply smooth the coat with a hand or a soft, slightly damp cloth, or use a very soft brush lightly and only occasionally.
• Keep it clean, not brushed. A gentle wipe-over that keeps the coat and skin clean does more good than any real brushing.
• Be gentle with a new rescue cat. Build up handling slowly so the cat is relaxed about being touched, wiped and, later, bathed.

Oily skin, and the occasional bath

Here is the part that surprises new owners. In a normal cat, the skin's oils are absorbed and spread through a full coat. In a Devon Rex, with so little coat, those oils build up on the skin instead, so the cat can become noticeably greasy, particularly on the belly, feet, nail beds and ears. That is why the Devon Rex is one of the few cats that genuinely benefits from an occasional gentle bath, using a mild, cat-specific shampoo, to keep the skin clean and comfortable, something most cats never need.

How often depends on the individual cat, so ask your vet for a sensible schedule rather than over-bathing, which can dry the skin. Never use a human or dog shampoo, dry the cat thoroughly and keep it warm afterwards, since the thin coat gives little insulation. The RSPCA Knowledgebase has good general guidance on grooming and skin care. If the skin looks red, sore, flaky or greasy beyond what a bath resolves, see a vet, because it may be a skin condition such as a yeast (malassezia) problem that needs treatment.

Ears, nails and skin checks

The same oil build-up that affects the skin also collects in the Devon Rex's large ears as brown, waxy debris, which if left can lead to irritation and infection, so check the ears often and clean them gently when waxy, using a vet-recommended ear cleaner and never poking into the ear canal. See a vet if an ear smells, looks red or sore, or the cat is scratching or head-shaking. Trim the nails regularly and wipe the greasy nail beds while you do, and use grooming time to run your hands over the skin, checking for redness, sores, or paralysis ticks, which are a year-round risk across South East Queensland and easy to feel on a sparse-coated cat.

Warmth and sun in the Brisbane climate

A thin coat cuts both ways. It means a Devon Rex feels the cold and actively seeks warmth, which is part of why the breed is such a devoted lap cat. Brisbane's warm subtropical climate is genuinely kinder to a sparse-coated breed than a cold one, a real plus, but cool winter nights and strong air conditioning can still leave a Devon Rex chilly, so provide cosy, warm beds and resting spots away from draughts and the direct blast of the air conditioner. The other side of a sparse coat is less protection from sun and heat: exposed skin can burn, so keeping the cat indoors and out of prolonged direct sun through a hot window is the simple protection, and it happens to suit the breed, which is safest and happiest as an indoor cat anyway.

Frequently Asked Questions

Keep reading