The Rex is a novelty breed, its short, curly coat also earning it the name of Poodle Cat. Even its whiskers are curly. Genetically this is a dominant characteristic, and so the dense, wavy coat may appear in litters of any cats with Rex in their breeding. The Rex first appeared in 1950 and is named for the Rex rabbit that has a similar kind of coat. Because of its rarity, the Rex remains quite expensive.

An affectionate cat, the Rex makes an excellent pet and responds well to training. It is becoming popular with those who are disturbed by the constant shedding of the longhaired breeds but do not like straight, short hair. The Rex has a long, slim body, commonly carrying its back arched. The head is wedge-shaped, the ears are large and the eyes almond-shaped. The tail is long and tapered, the legs long and straight. The Rex occurs in all solid and mixed colors for cats. Two similar but distinct types are recognized: Cornish Rex, which was first to be recognized; and Devon Rex, which did not appear until 1960. When these two are mated their offspring have straight coats.