Adult weight5–8 lbs
Lifespan12–16 yrs
Monthly run-rate$72
First-year total (acquisition + setup + care)$1,935
−$30 vs. Cornish RexAnnual recurring run-rate$863 / year≈ $72 / month steady state
Emergency reserve
Lifetime financial exposure, clinical risk tiers, and routine veterinary spend for the German Rex and the Cornish Rex, audited line by line against the US national baseline.
Over their full lifetimes the German Rex runs $13,154 ($940 / yr amortized) against the Cornish Rex's $12,681 ($975 / yr). Choosing the Cornish Rex saves roughly $473 over the animal's lifetime. The Cornish Rex's premium is led by vet & insurance.
One-time onboarding capital and steady-state maintenance, line by line.
| Expense category & rationale | German Rex | Cornish Rex | Variance (German Rex delta) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 · Initial Acquisition & Onboarding Capital | |||
Purchase / Adoption Fee Varies by breeder vs rescue | $600 | $600 | $0 (Parity) |
Initial Vet Visit & Vaccinations Spay/neuter, microchip, health check | $276 | $276 | $0 (Parity) |
Starter Supplies Litter box, scratching post, carrier, bowls | $239 | $239 | $0 (Parity) |
Litter & Behavior Basics Litter box training, scratching post basics | $40 | $40 | $0 (Parity) |
| Subtotal · One-time onboarding capital | $1,155 | $1,155 | $0 (Parity) |
| Phase 2 · Annual Recurring Operations (Year 2+) | |||
Food | $174 | $204 | −$30 (−15%) |
Vet Care | $239 | $239 | $0 (Parity) |
Grooming | $60 | $60 | $0 (Parity) |
Pet Insurance | $307 | $307 | $0 (Parity) |
Supplies & Toys | $83 | $83 | $0 (Parity) |
| Subtotal · Annual recurring | $863 | $893 | −$30 (−3%) |
| Total annual run-rate (steady state) | $863 / yr | $893 / yr | −$30 (−3%) / yr |
| Lifetime actuarial total | $13,154 | $12,681 | +$473 (+4%) |
German Rex: 14 yrs · Cornish Rex: 13 yrs
Why the underwriting tiers diverge, and the liquid buffer each breed warrants before acquisition.
A thin, low-insulation coat and a historically narrow gene pool create moderate, monitorable risk, though the breed has fewer documented syndromes than its more established rex relatives.
As with other rex breeds, a slipping kneecap occurs often enough to warrant a vet check during routine visits and, occasionally, surgery.
The thin, wavy coat offers little insulation or sun protection, making the German Rex more prone to cold stress and sunburn than a fully coated cat.
A historically small founding population raises the odds of recessive hereditary conditions surfacing, which is why genetic screening before breeding matters more than in a larger-population breed.
Coat load, energy, and temperament shape boarding, grooming, and handling costs beyond the medical ledger.
Adjust the compounded annual CPI. Veterinary clinical services have trailed near +7.8% YoY; the pet-care basket sits lower.
Tune your metro ZIP, daily-care schedule, nutrition grade, and insurance deductible in the live actuarial engine.
Primary cost driver: Vet & insurance
Primary cost driver: Vet & insurance
A hereditary retinal disease and a rex-typical patellar luxation risk create moderate, monitorable costs, tempered by the breed's otherwise low grooming and food needs.
A hereditary, gradual degeneration of the retina that can lead to blindness and is best caught early with ophthalmology screening.
A kneecap that slips out of its groove, common enough in the breed that some cats need surgical correction to walk normally.
With no guard hairs to buffer temperature or sun, the skin is more exposed to sunburn, cold stress, and minor scrapes than a coated cat's.