Personality and Temperament
The Oregon Rex cat was a fairly playful, friendly cat with headstrong ways and a tendency to bond with its family members. These cats did not like to be alone, which is a trait that they shared with other Rex cats, Orientals, and Siamese.
Unfortunately, the Oregon Rex cat breed is no longer produced, meaning that for all intents and purposes, Oregon Rex cats are extinct. The closest relatives of the Oregon Rex are Selkirk Rex cats, which originate in Montana rather than Oregon.
Care
Nutrition
Grooming
Exercise
Health
Oregon Rex Cats had no special nutritional needs. They remained healthy on a high-quality commercial diet or when allowed to hunt for fresh food on their own.
The Oregon Rex cat had no guard hairs, just a downy coating of curly hair that required very little maintenance. Like other Rex cat breeds, these cats probably benefited from occasional bathing to remove excess body oils that could cause the hair to feel greasy.
Just like all other cats, Oregon Rex cats enjoyed playing with toys, and they had a strong appreciation for athletic activities that called for jumping and climbing.
Oregon Rex Cats did not suffer from any health issues other than those that all cats are susceptible to such as parasites, fleas, and issues caused by lifestyle, i.e. obesity.
History
The Oregon Rex cat was developed after a curly coated kitten was discovered in the state of Oregon in 1944. This kitten was a founding member of the breed, which was only documented in 1955 before gaining popularity around the same time when the Cornish Rex cat was imported to the United States. The Cornish Rex was bred with offspring from the original curly coat of kitten, creating a purebred Oregon Rex.
Breeders continue to develop Oregon Rex cats, continually outcrossing curly coated cats with domestic cats to prevent inbreeding. The breed remains popular through the 1960s but as its popularity waned, breeders lost interest and eventually stopped developing Oregon Rex cats. The last known Oregon Rex purebred cat is believed to have died in 1972.
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