The Best Food for Selkirk Rex & Devon Rex: What We Feed Our Own Cats
Why Nutrition Matters More Than You Think
When you bring home a Selkirk Rex or Devon Rex kitten, one of the first questions you'll face is: what should I feed them? It's a question we take seriously at Mon Chat Mouton, because nutrition directly impacts coat quality, energy levels, digestive health, and longevity.After years of testing different brands — and watching how our own cats respond — we've narrowed it down to a short list of foods we genuinely trust. These aren't sponsorships or paid placements. These are the products sitting in our kitchen right now.
What to Look For in a Quality Cat Food
Before we get into specifics, here are the criteria we use when evaluating any cat food:High protein content (minimum 35–40%) — Cats are obligate carnivores. The first ingredient should always be a named meat protein (chicken, turkey, salmon), not a by-product or filler.Low carbohydrate content — Many commercial brands pad their recipes with corn, wheat, or rice. Rex breeds tend to have sensitive digestion, and too many carbs can cause loose stools and weight gain.Named fat sources — Look for chicken fat or salmon oil rather than vague "animal fat." Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are especially important for the Selkirk Rex's curly coat.No artificial preservatives — BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin have no place in quality cat food. Natural preservatives like tocopherols (vitamin E) are what you want.
Our Daily Rotation: What Our Cats Actually Eat
Premium Dry Kibble
We rotate between two brands for our adult cats. The kibble is available free-choice throughout the day. Our top pick is a high-protein, grain-free formula specifically designed for indoor cats. The protein content sits around 42%, which keeps our cats lean and muscular without overfeeding. The kibble size is also perfect for Devon Rex — their smaller jaws can struggle with oversized pieces.👉 See our dry food recommendation in the Boutique →
Wet Food for Hydration & Variety
We serve wet food once daily, usually in the evening. This is especially important for cats who don't drink enough water on their own — and Devon Rex are notorious for being picky drinkers.We look for pâté-style wet food with at least 78% moisture content and real meat as the first ingredient. Bonus points if it includes added taurine, which is essential for heart health.👉 See our wet food picks in the Boutique →
Supplements We Actually Use
For pregnant queens, all of our adults cats and growing kittens, we add specific supplements to support bone development and coat quality. A good probiotic also helps during the transition period when kittens move to their new homes — stress can wreak havoc on their digestion.👉 See our supplements in the Boutique →
Special Considerations for Rex Breeds
Selkirk Rex
Their curly coat requires adequate fatty acid intake. If the coat starts looking flat or losing its curl definition, it's often a sign that the diet needs more omega-3s. We've seen dramatic improvements in coat quality just by switching to a food with higher salmon oil content.
Devon Rex
Devon Rex have a faster metabolism than most breeds. They tend to eat more relative to their body weight, and they can be prone to food sensitivities. We appreciate the Oven-backed sensitive stomach, skin and coat grain-free fish recipe formulas for any Devon Rex showing digestive issues and switch to fish or turkey-based alternatives.
Feeding Kittens: The Transition Plan
When our kittens go to their new families, we send them home with a bag of the food they've been eating. We strongly recommend continuing with the same food for at least two weeks before making any changes, and then transitioning gradually over 7–10 days.A sudden food change is the number one cause of digestive upset in newly adopted kittens. Trust us — we've seen it many times.
The Bottom Line
You don't need to spend a fortune on cat food, but you do need to read labels carefully. The difference between a $30 bag and a $50 bag of food is often the difference between fillers and real nutrition. Everything we recommend is available in our boutique, where we only list products we've personally tested with our own Selkirk Rex and Devon Rex over months (and often years).→ Visit Our Boutique for All Our Food & Supplement Recommendations
Mon Chat Mouton is a family-run Selkirk Rex and Devon Rex cattery in Quebec. Our boutique contains affiliate links — when you purchase through our links, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us continue providing quality content and raising healthy, happy kittens.