This breed is characterized by its curly coat, which was discovered in a cat in the west of England in 1950, the result of a mutant gene that inhibits [he production of normal guard hairs and, in some cases, of awn hairs too. Individuals of German Rex stock contributed to the development of the breed in the USA but the introduction of Siamese and other oriental blood give this cat a different look. Similar curled coats discovered in Oregon and New York State contributed to the development of the American Wirehair.