What Is a Tennessee Rex, and How Does Its Curl Gene Differ From Other Rex Breeds?

A Tennessee Rex is a curly-coated domestic cat whose mutation was discovered in 2004 when Franklin Whittenburg found curly-haired kittens in the litter of a semi-feral cat on his property near Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The curl is unusual. It carries a satin sheen that makes the hair sparkle in the light and deepens the coat colour, a quality no other rex breed is described as having.

The founder's breeding showed the curl to be recessive, and it is described as a new gene separate from those behind the Cornish Rex, Devon Rex, Selkirk Rex and LaPerm, although the gene itself has not been identified.

How Does the Tennessee Rex Curl Differ From Other Rex Breeds?

Each established rex breed has its own curl variant, although two of them sit in the same gene:

No published genetic study has characterised the Tennessee Rex mutation. Test matings against Cornish and Devon Rex lines are the usual way to settle whether a curl is new: straight-coated kittens from such a cross show that the two curls come from different genes, which is how the Cornish and Devon Rex were first told apart. No results of such crosses have been published for the Tennessee Rex, so its separate status rests on the coat's appearance and the founder's breeding records.

What Registry Status Does the Breed Hold?

The Tennessee Rex is at a very early stage. TICA registers the breed, which is still working toward championship status.

CFA, FIFe and WCF do not list the breed. The breeding population is very small and concentrated among a handful of breeders.

TICA

Early registration stage

CFA

Not listed

FIFe

Not listed

Origin

Tennessee, United States, 2004

Curl gene

Recessive by breeding records, not yet identified

Coat feature

Satin sheen that makes the hair sparkle

Population

Very small, very few active breeders

The breed's early status means no championship standard to judge against, no formal temperament or health description from a registry, and very little recorded experience to draw on.

What Can You Actually Know About a Tennessee Rex?

Little beyond what the individual cat shows you, because the breed is too new and too small to have a track record.

The domestic shorthair foundation means the body type, size and temperament are broadly typical of a domestic cat. No breed-specific health condition has been reported, but the population is far too small and too recent for meaningful health data to exist.

The satin-curl coat comes in shorthaired and longhaired forms, and both need regular brushing to remove loose hair. Experience with other curly coats points to gentle tools, such as a wide-tooth comb or finger combing, so the curl is not pulled straight.

Shedding patterns have not been formally documented for this mutation. Other rex breeds vary widely in shedding, from the Cornish Rex's very light shed to the Selkirk Rex's moderate seasonal release.

Who Would Consider a Tennessee Rex?

The Tennessee Rex suits someone interested in a new natural mutation at its earliest stage, who accepts that almost nothing about adult size, temperament or health is established yet. Anyone who wants to know in advance what kind of cat they are getting is better served by an established rex breed, because its standard and health record describe what a kitten is likely to grow into.

• Registration documentation from the breeder confirming Tennessee Rex parentage
• The satin-sheen curl visually confirmed, distinct from other rex coat types
• The breeder can explain the mutation's early status and the limited evidence base honestly
• The individual cat's health and temperament assessed by a veterinarian and by direct observation