Ural Rex

• ExerciseModerate

  A couple of daily play sessions keep body and mind sharp.

• GroomingWeekly brushing

  A weekly brush keeps shedding under control.

• Living spaceApartment-friendly

  Perfectly happy indoors — add vertical space to climb.

• Owner experienceSome experience helps

  A little know-how makes life smoother.

• Commitment14–18 years

  Plan for a long, loving relationship.

Health to watch: Obesity · Dental issues · Kidney disease

The Ural Rex is a natural Russian rex breed from the Sverdlovsk region, where the curly-coated cats were noticed in the 1940s and deliberately bred from the 1980s. It is recognised by WCF and remains genuinely rare outside Russia and Germany. Its coat is the distinguishing feature among rexes: where the Cornish Rex has soft marcel waves and the Devon Rex a loose open curl, the Ural's wave is tight, elastic and springs back when smoothed, and it covers the whole cat including the whiskers. Temperament is the opposite of the flashier rexes. Ural Rexes are quiet, gentle, patient cats that attach hard to one household and adapt calmly to travel, children and other animals. They ask for company more than for activity, and they suit an owner who is home a lot far better than one who is not. The curly coat sheds very little but is not hypoallergenic, and it should be combed weekly rather than brushed hard, since aggressive brushing pulls the wave out. Because the breeding pool is small, buy from a breeder who can show you the pedigree and who outcrosses responsibly; ask specifically about heart and kidney screening in the line. Otherwise this is a robust, long-lived cat, often reaching sixteen to eighteen years.

• How much play does a Ural Rex need?

  Moderate. A couple of daily play sessions keep body and mind sharp.

• How much grooming does a Ural Rex need?

  Weekly brushing. A weekly brush keeps shedding under control.

• Is a Ural Rex suited to apartment living?

  Apartment-friendly. Perfectly happy indoors — add vertical space to climb.

• Is a Ural Rex a good fit for first-time owners?

  Some experience helps. A little know-how makes life smoother.

• How long do Ural Rex live?

  14–18 years. Plan for a long, loving relationship.

• What health issues affect the Ural Rex?

  Keep an eye out for Obesity, Dental issues, Kidney disease. These are worth raising with your vet, along with any screening they recommend.

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