Editing Cornish Rex (section)

== Origin ==
The distinctive look of the Cornish Rex is a [[mutation|genetic mutation]] that originated from a litter of kittens born in the 1950s on a farm in [[Cornwall]], [[United Kingdom|UK]].<ref>{{cite news |title=A New Look In Cats |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=31 January 1965 |newspaper=[[The Observer]] |pages=4–5}}</ref> One of the kittens, a cream-colored male named Kallibunker, had an extremely unusual, fine and curly coat; he was the first Cornish Rex. The owner then [[backcross]]ed Kallibunker to his mother to produce 2 other curly-coated kittens. The male, Poldhu, sired a female called Lamorna Cove who was later brought to America and crossed with a [[Siamese cat|Siamese]], giving the breed their long whippy tails and big ears.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

The [[Devon Rex]] looks similar in appearance to the Cornish Rex but has guard hairs and sheds. The Devon Rex mutation is different from the Cornish Rex mutation in that the Devon has shortened guard hairs, while the Cornish Rex lacks guard hairs altogether.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Robinson |first=R. |date=1971-12-01 |title=The rex mutants of the domestic cat |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00122078 |journal=Genetica |language=en |volume=42 |issue=4 |pages=466–468 |doi=10.1007/BF00122078 |pmid=4945689 |issn=1573-6857}}</ref>
[[Image:White Cornish Rex.jpg|thumb|right|Profile view of a white Cornish Rex]]

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THIS STORY ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF THE WORD 'REX' IN A PET-NAME CONTEXT HAS BEEN COMMENTED OUT, PENDING A SOURCE.

NOTE THAT ANY SUCH SOURCE MUST COME FROM EARLIER THAN 2003. I FOUND MANY PUBLISHED SOURCES POSTDATING 2003, BUT THEY MOSTLY USE PHRASING IDENTICAL TO THAT USED IN OUR ARTICLE, AND THUS CANNOT BE CONSIDERED INDEPENDENT.

Using the word "Rex" to imply curly or otherwise unusual fur originates from an occasion when King [[Albert I of Belgium]] (1875–1934) entered some curly-haired rabbits in a rabbit show. They did not meet the breed standard, but the show's officials did not wish to risk offending the king by rejecting them. Instead, they accepted them but wrote "Rex" ([[Latin]] for "king") beside their names.

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