Devons have been compared to pixies, elves, and, of course, space aliens for their jumbo-sized satellite-dish ears, large, mischievous “window-to-the-soul” eyes, and ethereal appearance. Fanciers laud the “poodle cat” (as the breed is affectionately called), as people-oriented snugglers that love nothing better than to cuddle up with you at night and wake you in the morning with hugs, kisses and purrs of affection. And since the Devon sheds less than other breeds, you can snuggle back without fear of covering yourself in cat hair.

But there are lots of other reasons to acquire a Devon besides their coats: their loyalty, devotion, playfulness, courage, and intelligence, just to name a few of the qualities that make them a good choice for the cat-obsessed. Devons are shoulder perchers, lap sitters, tail waggers, and retrievers of tossed cat toys. They have a well-developed sense of curiosity and want to be involved in whatever you’re doing, whether it’s peeling potatoes for dinner or showering for a Saturday night date.

While the Cornish’s coat lacks guard hairs, the Devon’s coat contains all three hair types (guard, awn, and down), but the guard hairs are typically fragile and stunted, and the whisker hairs are often missing altogether. The hairs break easily and therefore this breed can develop bald patches that remain until the next hair growth cycle (typically fall and spring). Devons need very little grooming; their favorite grooming tool is your hand, applied on their heads and down their backs.

• ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆          Activity
• ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆          Playfulness
• ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆              Need for Attention
• ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆       Affection
• ☆☆☆                            Need to Vocalize
• ☆☆☆☆☆                     Docility
• ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆           Intelligence
• ☆☆☆                             Independence
• ☆☆☆☆☆                      Healthiness and Hardiness
• ☆                                    Grooming needs
• ☆☆☆☆☆                      Good with children
• ☆☆☆☆☆                      Good with other pets