Cornish Rex

In 1950 a cat named Serena, owned by Mrs. Ennismore gave birth to a litter. One kitten in this litter had an unusual curly coat. The kitten was named Kallibunker became the father of the Cornish Rex breed. Kali's veterinarian suggested the owner contact geneticist A C Jude who advised she mate Kalli back to his mother. This breeding produced three kittens. Two curly coated though, sadly, one died at 7 months of age, the second male named Poldhu, along with Kallibunker, went on to sire further litters. Due to the gene pool being very small in beginning, but in '56, Life magazine published an article on the Cornish Rex that got attention worldwide. The next year Frances Blancheri of California imported a pregnant female who went on to have a litter of 4 kittens...the start of the Cornish Breed in North America.