The Ural Rex is a rare native breed of curly-coated cats. It’s a natural breed that wasn’t deliberately created. And although it belongs to the rex group, the Ural Rex’s coat curls in a completely different way.
History
As the name suggests, the breed comes from the Ural Mountains region of Russia. Curly-coated Russian cats were mentioned as early as the 1940s. But the breed’s founder is considered to be Vaska, a black bicolor tom from the town of Zarechny in the Sverdlovsk region. Born in 1988, he became the ancestor of all Ural Rex cats known today.
In 1992, Ural Rex cats were shown for the first time at a cat show in Yekaterinburg. Later, they were crossed with Bohemian Rex and Cornish Rex cats, but it turned out that their “curly genes” were different. The experimental kittens were born with straight coats. That’s why Ural Rex cats should only be bred within their own breed.
Ural Rex Breed Description
What does a Ural Rex look like? Here’s the description according to the World Cat Federation (WCF) standard:
- Body: medium-sized, muscular, fairly short but slender and graceful;
- Head: wedge-shaped, a short, broad isosceles triangle, with a broad, flat forehead, a slightly curved profile, prominent cheekbones with a full muzzle, and a strong, powerful chin and lower jaw;
- Ears: medium-sized, rounded at the tips, set high and upright;
- Eyes: large, oval and slightly slanted, set wide apart, with a color that matches the coat;
- Legs: medium length and slender, with oval paws;
- Tail: normal length, not broad at the base, slightly rounded at the tip;
- Coat: medium-length, silky, soft and dense, forming waves and curls all over the body and tail. The Ural Rex’s coat is notable for its springy curls. There may be a small ruff.
The Ural Rex’s coat looks nothing like other rexes’ curls. Its waviness is the result of many years of inbreeding. The curls also appear much earlier than in other cats: by 3–4 months, a Ural Rex kitten already has visible ringlets, which by 6–7 months form the breed’s trademark curly waves.
Ural Rex cats are medium-sized, and males are usually larger than females. An adult male can weigh up to about 13 lb, a female about 9 lb.
Colors
Many colors are allowed, including with any amount of white. The most common are blue, red, cream, black tortie (tortoiseshell), blue tortie, black, silver, white and gold. With white, the pattern can be bicolor, tabby, van or harlequin. The breed standard doesn’t accept chocolate, cinnamon, Abyssinian ticking or Burmese-type colors.
The Ural Rex’s color develops in an interesting way, just like its curls. Kittens usually have a grayish tinge to their coat, which disappears with the first shedding if they’re groomed well. Black and black tabby coats in adults oxidize easily and after 2 years can take on brownish and bright golden tones, respectively.
Personality
Ural Rex cats are very sociable, affectionate and attached to people. They’re smart and playful; you’ll never be bored with them. They easily get along with children and are patient with them.
The Ural Rex loves to sit in your lap, sleep in your bed and be petted. This cat shouldn’t be left alone; it needs to be loved. When a family of Ural Rexes lives together, both the mother and the father care for the kittens equally.
Breeders who take the breed to shows also say these cats are very obedient and easygoing, so even the judges can pick them up and evaluate them without trouble.
Care and Health
Many years of inbreeding have shown that the Ural Rex has no known genetic abnormalities or hereditary diseases. It’s a native, natural breed, so it’s known for good health. The average lifespan is 14 years.
Their unique coat, however, needs care. As mentioned, during the first shedding it’s very important to brush out all of the kitten’s gray hairs. The quality of grooming affects the strength of the curls and the intensity of the color. During later shedding, your cat may need trimming (hand-plucking loose hairs), since these cats don’t shed dead hair well on their own. To give the curls shine, you can stroke your cat with a piece of suede.
The Ural Rex’s skin is very delicate and sensitive. It dries out easily, so bathe these cats as rarely as possible.
The Ural Rex has a good appetite but isn’t prone to obesity. Either way, feed it high-quality commercial food, or better yet a variety of foods. The diet should consist of protein, grains and vegetables, and be complete and balanced. Don’t give your cat fried, salty or spicy food, even if it seems to like it.
How Much Does a Ural Rex Kitten Cost?
How much will this wonder set you back? The price of a purebred Ural Rex depends on its pedigree, sex, how well it meets the standard, vaccinations and so on. It’s best to buy from a professional cattery, where prices rise from pet quality to breeding and show quality. Classified ads will be several times cheaper, but you’re unlikely to get a genuine Ural Rex.
There’s no established US price, since the breed is practically unknown in the US: the CFA and TICA don’t recognize it, and we couldn’t find a US cattery. You’d need to import a kitten, which adds shipping, a vet health certificate and a rabies vaccination to the cost.
Where to Buy a Ural Rex
The Ural Rex is a Russian breed, and most of its catteries are in Russia, with a few in Europe. The breed is recognized by the World Cat Federation (WCF), so WCF member clubs are the best place to start looking for a registered breeder. Ask for WCF pedigree papers and a video call with the kitten before you pay.
If you’d like a curly-coated cat that’s easy to find in the US, consider a Cornish Rex or Selkirk Rex from a registered breeder:
- CFA (Cat Fanciers’ Association) Find a Breeder – https://find-a-breeder.cfa.org/;
- TICA (The International Cat Association) breeder listings – https://tica.org/find-a-cat/find-a-cat-breeder-listings/;
