Off-Standard Traits in Devons: What’s Safe and What’s Risky

The Devon Rex is beloved for its playful personality, large ears, and soft, wavy coat. Within the breed, some traits fall outside the official standard. Some of these off-standard traits are harmless, naturally occurring variations — like the Longhair Devon — while others, such as Dominant Blue Eyes (DBE), may carry significant health risks.

Currently, two traits appear most frequently in the Devon Rex that are off-standard:

1. Longhair gene – naturally occurring

2. Dominant Blue Eye (DBE) gene – experimental

This guide will explore the science behind these traits, their health impacts, and why ethical breeding practices are vital for the breed’s future.

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Longhair Devons: Safe, and Naturally Occurring.

The Longhair Devon Rex is a naturally occurring, recessive trait that produces cats with longer, softer coats. This variation is generally safe and healthy, with no known increased risk of disease compared to standard Devons.

Recognition and Championship Status

• The Australian Cat Club has officially approved the Longhair Devon Rex for championship status.

• Recognition was first granted by the New Zealand Cat Fancy in 2021, marking a milestone for the breed.

• Longhair Devons are identical in type to standard Devons, with the only difference being coat length.

• Recently, a Longhair Devon was awarded a Supreme title, showing full acceptance in competitive circles.

Breeding Considerations

• The gene is recessive, so two carriers may produce longhaired kittens.

• Pedigree tracking ensures informed breeding choices without negatively affecting overall breed health.

• Grooming needs differ slightly, but this poses no inherent risk.

• Importantly, the Longhair gene is already included in nearly all genetic test panels available in the USA, making testing straightforward and accessible for breeders.

Longhair Variants Across Breeds

TICA currently recognizes 73 championship breeds, and many of these have both shorthair and longhair forms. Some of these are treated as variants within the same breed, while others are considered separate breeds entirely. Examples include:

Shorthair breeds with a recognized longhair counterpart:

• Abyssinian → Somali

• Siamese → Balinese

• Burmese → Burmilla Longhair variant

• British Shorthair → British Longhair

• American Curl → American Curl Longhair

• Scottish Fold → Scottish Fold Longhair

• Scottish Straight → Scottish Straight Longhair

• Selkirk Rex → Selkirk Rex Longhair

• Munchkin → Munchkin Longhair

• LaPerm Shorthair → LaPerm Longhair

• Pixiebob → Pixiebob Longhair

• Bengal → Bengal Longhair

This demonstrates that naturally occurring longhair variants exist across multiple breeds and can be safely integrated into breeding programs without compromising health, structure, or breed type. Of the Rex breeds in TICA, the LaPerm, Selkirk Rex, and Tennessee Rex all allow both short and longhair in their breed standards. It's only the Devon Rex and Cornish Rex that are strictly shorthair.

From my experience, incorporating the longhair gene into your shorthair breeding program can even enhance the coat quality on standard Devon Rex cats, further illustrating how natural genetic diversity can benefit the breed responsibly.

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Dominant Blue Eyes (DBE): High Risk, Low Oversight

Naturally, blue eyes in cats usually appear only in pointed cats (like Siamese) or in cats that are white or have high white markings. These cats have the genetics that allow for blue eyes without any unusual mutations. The Dominant Blue Eye (DBE) gene, however, allows cats that normally could never have blue eyes—such as solid black, red tabbies, or other standard-colored Devon Rex—to express vivid blue eyes. This is what makes the trait visually striking and rare, but it also comes with potential health risks, like deafness, particularly when two DBE cats are bred together. It essentially overrides the usual genetic limitations for eye color, which is why it attracts attention in the breeding community.

The Dominant Blue Eye (DBE) gene has recently appeared in some Devon Rex lines, often promoted as a method to introduce “genetic diversity.” While this may seem appealing, the introduction of this gene raises significant health, ethical, and breed-standard concerns that breeders and potential owners should carefully consider.

Altai and Celestial (Cel) DBE Genes

Within the Devon Rex, two primary DBE mutations have been identified:

• Altai Gene – Found in Russian and Ukrainian lines.

• Celestial (Cel) Gene – A separate mutation not compatible with Altai.

These mutations must never be bred together, mixed, or bred to naturally occurring cats with blue eyes like pointed, as combining them can lead to severe health consequences, including eye pigmentation anomalies, premature greying, and structural deformities.

How DBE Affects Cats

DBE cats, particularly those with minimal white spotting, show pigmentary abnormalities of the iris and skin and may experience sensorineural hearing loss. These effects stem from abnormal melanocyte distribution during embryonic development, as the gene resides in the PAX3 transcription factor, which regulates melanocyte differentiation.

Key points:

• Homozygous DBE-RE cats are predicted to be lethal.

• Latent carriers may appear normal but still produce affected kittens. Indicators such as red-eye effects in infancy can signal carrier status.

• Breeding DBE cats to other DBE lines, or to cats with naturally blue eyes, carries unpredictable structural and developmental risks.

Observed Health Concerns in DBE Cats

Real-world breeding evidence highlights several health concerns:

1. Pigmentation and Melanocyte Abnormalities

   • Iris hypopigmentation (very pale or sectoral blue eyes)

   • Skin depigmentation

   • Variable or partial coat spotting

2. Hearing Impairments

   • Sensorineural hearing loss is observed in some DBE cats.

   • Latent carriers may appear normal but still produce kittens with hearing deficits.

3. Structural Deformities

   • Cranial and skull deformities have been reported even without direct breeding of two carriers.

   • Premature greying and coat pattern anomalies may also appear.

   • Some kittens exhibit orbital hypertelorism (wide spacing of the eyes), abnormal head shape, or disproportionate facial features.

   

4. Lethality in Homozygous DBE Cats

   • Breeding two carriers risks non-viable embryos.

   • Even heterozygous carriers can produce kittens with significant health or structural issues.

5. Latent Carriers and Hidden Risks

   • Cats with minimal white spotting may appear normal but still carry the DBE gene.

   • Subtle signs, such as red-eye effects or minor pigment differences, may only appear later or in offspring.

6. Comparison to Other Species

   • Similar mutations in humans (Waardenburg Syndrome Type 1) and horses (Splashed White) produce comparable hearing and pigmentation issues, reinforcing the developmental risks linked to DBE mutations.

Misrepresented Research and Incomplete Testing

Some breeders claim that DBE is safe and argue for further research—or even exaggerate or misrepresent the research that has been conducted. In reality, the available data is extremely limited.

For example, of the DBE cats studied to date, only a portion of the population (e.g., 117 cats in certain reports, of which only 15 were DBE Altai, and 52 were DBE Celestial) underwent evaluation, and not all relevant health tests were completed or submitted, including critical assessments such as hearing examinations. This incomplete dataset means that latent health risks may be overlooked, and assumptions of safety are premature.

One of the major concerns with breeding Dominant Blue Eye (DBE) cats is the lack of comprehensive health testing. For both the Altai and Celestial (Cel) DBE lines, very few DBE Celestial and No DBE Altai cats underwent hearing assessments (BAER testing), despite the known link between PAX3 mutations and sensorineural hearing loss. Most testing focused solely on identifying the DBE mutation and documenting eye color or white spotting patterns. This means latent carriers could appear normal yet still pass on genetic risks, including deafness or other developmental issues, to their offspring. Claims that the DBE gene has been fully researched are therefore misleading, as many critical health evaluations were either incomplete or not submitted, underscoring the ethical and practical risks of incorporating this gene into breeding programs.

Even when testing is reported, it is often unclear whether results were collected systematically or independently verified, raising concerns about the reliability of claims that the gene is “safe.” Until comprehensive, peer-reviewed studies assess all potential health implications—including hearing, cranial structure, pigmentation anomalies, and breeding outcomes—DBE should be considered high-risk and experimental.

Key Takeaways on DBE Health Risks

• DBE is associated with pigmentation anomalies, hearing loss, structural deformities, lethality, and hidden carriers.

• Even controlled breeding does not guarantee healthy offspring.

• Ethical breeders avoid experimental programs without rigorous genetic testing and oversight from a qualified geneticist.

Limited Testing and Accessibility

DBE testing is currently only available in Europe, making it expensive and less accessible for breeders in the U.S. This raises concerns about whether all cats used in DBE programs are being fully screened, especially since latent carriers can appear normal yet still pass on the gene.

Ethical Considerations and Breed Standards

The Dominant Blue Eye (DBE) gene was introduced into Devon Rex through British Shorthairs —a breed without an approved outcross. Within British Shorthair and Longhair lines, at least four breeding lines have been studied: some were founded from outbred domestic cats, while others trace back to British cats of somewhat obscure origin. This raises the question of how these genes entered pedigreed lines if such outcrosses were not permitted. It also casts doubt on pedigree integrity and legitimacy and suggests that, in some cases, breeding decisions may have prioritized aesthetic traits over the overall health and welfare of the breed. Another breed that contributed DBE genes to the Devon Rex is the Sphynx. Unlike British Shorthairs, Sphynx breeders are permitted to use Domestic Shorthairs in their programs, which—when done responsibly—reduces concerns about pedigree integrity or falsifying papers.

Many DBE cats fail to conform to Devon Rex standards, exhibiting traits such as bald coats, disproportionately large eyes, or orbital hypertelorism. In November 2025, TICA banned DBE cats from the show ring, removing the primary avenue for evaluating these cats against breed standards. Without the ability to show, breeding DBE cats appears increasingly driven by financial motives rather than advancing the breed or maintaining standard conformity.

This focus on aesthetic traits over health is not unique to Devon Rex; similar issues have arisen in other breeds, such as Merle French Bulldogs. In that case, a visually desirable trait is propagated for profit despite well-documented health risks. Unlike the Merle gene, which has undergone extensive study, the long-term consequences of the DBE gene remain largely unknown, leaving breeders and owners with limited knowledge of potential health and developmental issues.

Ethical concerns around DBE breeding practices are already apparent. In the USA, there has been at least two cases where a breeder deliberately mated two DBE cats to see if the kittens would survive. One of which produced an astonishingly small Devon that they are moving forward with adding to their breeding program. While many breeders handling this gene claim to take precautions and avoid DBE-to-DBE matings, real-world evidence shows that some prioritize novelty or profit over kitten welfare, acting unethically in the process. Additionally, another breeder within their first year of having the DBE gene in their cattery, produced multiple litters simultaneously—sometimes four or more litters on the ground at once, all year long, counting at least 12 litters within a year span that was posted—while all of their DBE kittens, and even some normal kittens, show signs of eye discharge and illness in posted photos.

These practices highlight serious welfare concerns and underscore the urgent need for responsible breeding standards. Ethical breeding must prioritize the health, socialization, and genetic integrity of cats over the pursuit of rare aesthetic traits.

Inflated Pricing and Misleading Claims in DBE Programs

Some breeders publicly claim they do not charge more for rare colors or Dominant Blue Eye (DBE) kittens. If true, that would be an ethical approach. However, as with any new or experimental trait, it is important for potential owners to verify these claims rather than accept them at face value.

In reality, many prospective pet owners—people seeking a fixed companion, not a breeding cat—are reporting quotes of $6,000–$7,000 for DBE kittens, with even kittens without blue eyes from DBE litters being priced as high as $4,000. These numbers significantly exceed typical Devon Rex pricing in North America and contradict the breeders’ public statements that their DBE kittens are “priced the same” as standard kittens.

This discrepancy highlights the need for transparency. Public posts often promote fairness and ethical pricing, while private conversations with inquiring families show a different pattern. For this reason, buyers should always request clear written pricing policies, ask questions directly, and compare information from multiple breeders.

Ethical breeders maintain consistent pricing regardless of hype, rarity, or aesthetics. Inflated pricing for an experimental trait—especially one with documented health risks—places profit above welfare and encourages irresponsible expansion of a gene that is not yet fully understood.

Responsible Trait Development: Lessons from Other Breeds

Introducing new traits into a breed is not inherently negative. The Devon Rex itself originated from a naturally occurring mutation. My personal experience reinforces the importance of oversight: my mother worked alongside a TICA geneticist monitoring new breed health programs, including the Munchkin and LaPerm.

Key principles of responsible trait development include:

• Health concerns must be immediately addressed.

• Traits are only presented for approval after demonstrating safety and sustainability.

• Kittens that do not meet criteria are sold at standard pricing, not inflated for profit.

• Submit the new trait through the appropriate channels with the clubs.

For example, this is how a new trait gets approved into a breed with TICA:

1. Submit an application to TICA - Provide detailed information describing the new trait, its significance to the breed, its purpose, and how it aligns with breed integrity and welfare.

2. Provide genetic evidence - Include any available genetic testing, lab documentation, and inheritance-tracking records. This helps confirm that the trait is heritable, predictable, and not associated with harmful mutations.

3. Submit proof of pedigree - Provide multi-generation pedigrees showing consistent expression of the trait within the breed’s lineage. This documentation helps verify that the trait is stable and not the result of outcross errors or spontaneous anomalies.

4. Demonstrate responsible development - TICA expects breeders to follow ethical standards throughout trait development, including presenting the new trait in the New Traits class at shows. Cats shown in this class do not earn titles or points; instead, they are evaluated against the existing breed standard to demonstrate that the new trait can hold its own alongside peers that already meet the established criteria. This step helps verify that the trait does not compromise structure, type, or overall quality before it can be considered for acceptance into the breed standard.

5. Follow TICA’s guidelines - Adhere to all TICA rules and regulations for trait advancement, including communication with breed committees, timely submission of updates, and compliance with any requested health or genetic evaluations.

6. Await TICA review and approval - Once submitted, the trait undergoes committee review, discussion, and potential request for additional information. Approval is granted only when evidence supports that the trait is safe, traceable, and meaningful to the breed.

By contrast, many current DBE programs prioritize monetary gain, selling high-risk kittens without proper oversight, sometimes crossing into other breeds and disregarding long-term health implications. This approach raises ethical concerns and threatens the integrity and welfare of the Devon Rex.

Additionally, DBE promoters attempted to bypass registration club's established process entirely—seeking automatic acceptance of a new gene mutation into the breed standard without providing pedigrees, health data, genetic evidence, or multi-generation documentation. Skipping these safeguards undermines the very systems put in place to ensure that any new trait is safe, sustainable, and in the best interest of the cats.

Health concerns about natural blue-eyed cats

Some breeders claim that Dominant Blue Eye (DBE) cats are just as healthy as naturally occurring blue-eyed cats, but this is a misconception. Naturally blue-eyed cats—such as pointed —carry very low health risks when bred together, as the color point gene is well-understood and included in breed standards. Blue-eyed white cats or cats with high white markings may have a slightly higher risk of congenital deafness, particularly if both parents have blue eyes, but otherwise they do not exhibit other structural or developmental problems, and responsible breeders can manage these risks through testing and careful mating. In contrast, DBE is a newer mutation that allows cats like solid black or red tabbies to express blue eyes, but it carries unpredictable health consequences, including deafness, developmental deformities, and other potential issues that are not yet fully understood. Unlike naturally occurring blue-eye traits, which can be safely bred together, breeding two DBE cats together is ethically questionable and unsafe, and suggesting the two scenarios are equivalent ignores the documented and potential risks unique to this mutation.

Guidance for Potential DBE Owners

If you are considering a DBE kitten, research is critical:

• Investigate both the specific DBE line and the breeder’s practices.

• Avoid supporting breeders who prioritize profit over health and ethical practices.

• There is no ethical justification for charging more for a DBE kitten compared to a standard-eyed kitten.

Ethical ownership means understanding the health risks, genetic implications, and responsible breeding practices before making a decision.

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Nightmagic Devons’ Approach

At Nightmagic Devons, we focus on naturally occurring traits, maintaining type, health, and ethical integrity rather than chasing off-standard, high-risk genes for profit. Our priorities remain:

• Health over hype – Protecting the breed from new genetic risks and prioritizing long-term well-being over trends.

• Structure over sparkle – Preserving the characteristic Devon Rex type, balance, and structural integrity in every generation.

• Ethics over profit – Ensuring every breeding decision benefits the breed, not the market.

Both Longhair and Dominant Blue Eye (DBE) traits currently fall outside the TICA Devon Rex breed standard. The Longhair gene is a naturally occurring, healthy recessive trait, while DBE carries significant health risks and ethical concerns. Personally, I’d choose a Longhair Devon over a DBE Devon any day, as the Longhair aligns with breed integrity and health, whereas DBE brings unpredictable complications. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but facts matter.

I don’t support sugar-coating or misrepresenting information to justify sales or push DBE toward recognition. If breeders experiment with DBE, that is their choice—but it should be recognized as an experimental mutation with known, documented health issues, not a proven trait. Honest discussion and responsible handling are essential. It shouldn’t be marketed as healthy and issue-free, nor treated as a cash cow—especially while getting upset when clubs or fellow breeders call for proper health protocols.

At Nightmagic Devons, our ethical standards guide everything we do—including pricing. We never inflate prices for eye color, coat variation, or perceived rarity. Occasionally, a kitten’s price may be slightly reduced for a family home, but we never raise prices artificially for aesthetic traits. Our focus is always on the health, integrity, and proper development of the Devon Rex breed over profit.

Every pairing, program, and decision at Nightmagic Devons reflects a commitment to the long-term betterment of the breed, not trends, hype, or inflated pricing.

We respect breeders who handle DBE cautiously and ethically. But when a trait becomes a marketing gimmick, history has proven that the animals always suffer first. Profit-driven breeding has no place in a healthy, ethical Devon Rex program.

Disclaimer: Some breeders claim that anti-DBE posts are spreading misinformation or that “Google is giving us wrong information.” Having studied in the medical field, I know how crucial it is to rely on credible, peer-reviewed sources and verified research. Breeding decisions—and discussions about health—must be guided by scientific evidence, not hearsay, speculation, or superficial online searches.

For accurate, recorded health information, my main sources are;

• National Library of Medicine

• Oxford Academic

• University of Sydney