Sphynx Cats

Though the name and appearance may remind people of ancient Egypt, this is misleading. The Sphynx breed of cats originated in Canada in 1966. The beginning of the Sphynx breed was the birth of a hairless kitten by a domestic cat. The hairlessness was a natural, genetic mutation.

The hairless Sphynx cat was carefully bred to promote genetic diversity in the breed. The breeding also encouraged a solid genetic foundation for the breed. Over thirty years of breeding, the Sphynx lost and regained its hairless characteristic. A Sphynx cat may be completely hairless or have a fine down covering of hair, similar to the skin of a peach.

The coloring of the Sphynx cat reflects the pigmentation of the skin and the slight amount of downy hair it has. There are many variations of colorings included solid colors, tabby, tortoiseshell, calico, bi-colored, and pointed. The possible solid colors are black, white, red, blue, cream, chocolate, lavender, cinnamon, and fawn. Most Sphynx cats do not have whiskers.

The Sphynx is a medium-sized, muscular breed with a slender body. The adult males weigh slightly more than the adult females. They have wide eyes and a seemingly friendly expression. They are playful and love to be the center of attention.

Even though the Sphynx cat is generally hairless, it has some basic grooming needs. Hair on a cat would normally distribute and absorb the oils from the skin. Because of the Sphynx’s lack of hair, it needs bathed and its ears cleaned. Though most cats would fight bathing, the Sphynx cat is usually acclimated to this activity since it was a kitten. Weekly bathing is often recommended, though some prefer a routine of a daily sponge bath.

The Sphynx is a robust breed, but they are susceptible to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Sphynx cats are prone to allergies. Potential cat owners with allergies may feel that this breed may be safe due to the fact that it is hairless. Some cat owners may still have problems due to dander. Sphynx cats are rare. A Sphynx may be difficult for a cat owner to purchase since most breeders of Sphynx cats have a waiting list.