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Sphynx
Cats
The
Sphynx (aka Canadian Hairless) is a rare breed of cat.
The Sphynx appears to be a hairless cat, although it
is not truly hairless. The skin should have the texture
of chamois. It may be covered with very soft, fine down,
which is almost imperceptible to both the eye and touch.
On the ears, muzzle, tail, and feet, a short, soft, fine
hair is allowed. Lack of coat makes the cat quite warm
to the touch. Whiskers and eyebrows may be present, either
whole or broken, or may be totally absent. Their skin
is the color their fur would be, and all the usual cat
marking patterns (solid, point, van, tabby, tortie, etc)
may be found in Sphynx too. People are surprised by how
different their personalities are. Many describe them
as part monkey, pig and human because of how intelligent,
extroverted and affectionate they are.
Check
our Kitten Page to see what is available for adoption,
kittens and retired adults!
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 Many
people with typical allergies to furry cats find that they
tolerate the sphynx breed. This may be due to the fact that
the proteins in cat saliva are often the culprit. Because
sphynx lack hair and do not leave it behind, many have fewer
difficulties living in harmony with the breed. There is no
guarantee, however, and allergies vary greatly between individual
people. |
Sphynx
cats are not maintenance-free. Their lack of hair
results in increased body oils. Regular bathing is
often necessary. Care should be taken to limit the
Sphynx cat's exposure to outdoor sunlight at length,
as they can develop a sunburn, similar to that of
human exposure. In general, Sphynx cats should never
be allowed outdoors unattended, as they have limited
means to conserve body heat in colder temperatures,
and their curious nature can take them into dangerous
places or situations.Two-week-old Sphynx kitten.
The Sphynx breed is known for a sturdy, heavy body (many
cats of this breed also develop a pot belly), a wedge-shaped
head, and an alert, friendly temperament. Although hairless
cats have been reported throughout history (hairless
cats seem to appear naturally about every 15 years or
so), breeders in Canada have been working on the Sphynx
breed since the early 1960s. The current American and
European Sphynx breed is descended from two lines of
natural mutations:
Dermis and Epidermis (1975) from the Pearsons of Wadena,
Minnesota, USA.
Bambi, Punkie, and Paloma (1978) found in Toronto, ON,
Canada and raised by Shirley Smith.
Other hairless breeds might have different body shapes
or temperaments than those described above. There are,
for example, new hairless breeds, including the Don Sphynx
and the Peterbald from Russia, which arose from their
own spontaneous mutations. The standard for the Sphynx
differs between cat associations such as TICA, FIFE and
CFA.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphynx_(cat)
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