The Devon Rex weighs between 2.5 kg and 4.5 kg, is small in size and high in energy. According to VCA Animal Hospitals, the breed has an appetite beyond his size and a tendency to nibble at hidden food. A sparse coat, almost without undercoat, comes with an active metabolism. The ideal food is rich in protein and antioxidants, avoiding a lot of corn, wheat and dairy.
In the current My Pet Magazine analysis, the best food for the Devon Rex is ACANA Indoor Entrée (ACANA), with a technical score of 87.8/100 (🌟 Superior Quality), calculated with the My Pet Magazine IDNM/IPFI methodology across 50 cat foods reviewed in July 2026. See the full ranking ↓
What to weigh in food for the Devon Rex
Two things weigh most in the choice of a Devon Rex's food: the size of the appetite and the quality of the ingredients.
An appetite that belies his size. VCA Animal Hospitals describes the Devon Rex as a cat who "likes to steal food" and has an appetite that seems to exceed his own stature. That calls for a measured portion — even without a documented predisposition to excess weight, a strong appetite without portion control can turn into extra weight over time, especially combined with the high energy the breed keeps when it does not have enough stimulation to burn it off.
A sparse coat, quality protein. The Devon Rex's coat ranges from fine, suede-like, to wavy, with undercoat practically absent compared with a cat with a conventional coat. VCA itself recommends a high-quality food, rich in protein and antioxidants, avoiding diets with a lot of corn, wheat, dairy or by-products — nutritional guidance specific to that breed from the source, not a generic market standard.
Criteria scored against the My Pet Magazine nutritional targets (protein, fat, calcium and caloric density ranges by size — see our methodology).
Breed profile and predispositions
The Devon Rex, like the Cornish Rex, does not carry — in the veterinary literature consulted — a documented genetic predisposition that changes the food's nutritional composition. What marks the breed is feeding behavior: Devon Rex — VCA Animal Hospitals describes an appetite "that seems to exceed the stature" of the cat, with a tendency to steal food when he has the chance. That is why a controlled portion matters, even without a clinical picture of obesity documented specifically in the breed.
The coat also differs from an ordinary cat's: fine, suede-like, to wavy, with little undercoat. That is why VCA itself recommends a high-quality food, rich in protein and antioxidants, avoiding ingredients such as corn, wheat, dairy and by-products. Added to that is the general principle from AAFCO — Selecting the Right Pet Food: the food's caloric density should follow the animal's actual activity level — and the Devon Rex's high energy calls for a formulation that sustains that expenditure without relying on the cat's appetite as a guide to the portion.
Recommended foods for the Devon Rex
Ranked by IDNM/IPFI technical score across 50 cat foods — no manual product curation.
- 1
ACANA Indoor Entrée · ACANA
87.8/100 - 2
Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach · Purina Pro Plan
86.5/100 - 3
BLUE Wilderness Adult Indoor · Blue Buffalo
86/100 - 4
Nulo Freestyle Cat & Kitten · Nulo
85.8/100 - 5
Tiki Cat Born Carnivore Indoor Health · Tiki Cat
85.8/100
Frequently asked questions about Devon Rex food
- Why does the Devon Rex always seem hungry?
- VCA Animal Hospitals describes the Devon Rex as a cat who likes to steal food and has an appetite that seems to exceed his own stature — the breed weighs between 2.5 kg and 4.5 kg. That does not mean genuine hunger all the time; it means the portion needs to be measured, not guided by the cat's wishes.
- Does the Devon Rex's fine coat change what he should eat?
- Indirectly. The Devon Rex's coat ranges from fine, suede-like, to wavy, with little undercoat compared with an ordinary cat. VCA Animal Hospitals recommends a high-quality food, rich in protein and antioxidants, avoiding diets with a lot of corn, wheat, dairy or by-products — guidance specific to the breed.
- Is ordinary cat food suitable for the Devon Rex?
- It is, as long as it is of good quality. According to AAFCO, the food's caloric density should follow the animal's actual activity level — and the Devon Rex's high energy, added to his out-of-the-ordinary appetite, calls for extra attention to the portion, not a generic food designed for sedentary cats.
- Does the Devon Rex have any genetic predisposition that food should correct?
- No, not in the veterinary literature consulted. The Devon Rex does not carry a documented hereditary condition linked to diet, unlike breeds such as the Persian. What weighs in the choice of food is the breed's feeding behavior — a strong appetite and a tendency to steal food — not a specific disease.
- Does every Devon Rex have that out-of-the-ordinary appetite?
- It is a widely reported trait of the breed, but it varies from individual to individual. VCA Animal Hospitals warns specifically about the Devon Rex's tendency to pilfer or steal food when he has the chance — which is why it is worth controlling where the food is stored and keeping the portion measured, even without a diagnosis of excess weight.
Methodology
The block of recommended foods on this page is ordered by My Pet Magazine's IDNM/IPFI technical methodology, which evaluates the nutritional density and ingredient purity of each product in the active dataset for the Devon Rex's small-size profile — with no manual curation or brand influence.
The score takes into account how well the food fits the breed profile: quality protein, the presence of antioxidants and the absence of generic filler ingredients are factors that weigh in the ranking, recalculated whenever the product dataset is updated.
The ranking on this page is a projection of the My Pet Magazine IDNM/IPFI scoring engine over the cat dataset, with no manual product curation. See the full methodology →
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