In 1966 a domestic cat gave birth to a hairless kitten in Toronto, Canada. It was discovered to be a natural mutation and the Sphynx cat, as we know it today, came into existence. This cat and a few other naturally hairless cats have been found worldwide. These have magically been produced by Mother Nature and are the foundation for this unusual breed. Cat breeders in Europe and North America have bred the Sphynx to normal coated cats and then back to hairless for more than thirty years. The purpose of these selective breedings was to create a genetically sound cat with a large gene pool and hybrid vigor. This is a very robust breed with few health or genetic problems.
The Sphynx is not always totally hairless; there can be a fine down on the body, which makes thecat feel like a warm peach. Some light hair is often present on the nose, tail and toes. The texture of the Sphynx skin has been compared to a suede covered hot water bottle or a heated chamois. All colors and patterns are possible and may be presented at any stage of maturity. The color is seen in the pigment of the skin and the few hairs that they do have. One of the questions most asked is "Don't they get cold?" Well, of course, if it is too cold for you it will be too cold for a hairless cat too. However, these cats are smart enough to find a warm human, dog or cat to curl up with or they will get under your bed covers.
This is a substantial cat, medium sized and strong, with adult males being larger than adult females. Sphynx have sturdy boning and good muscle development and should have a bit of a belly as if they just finished dinner. They have an open-eyed, intelligent face and a friendly expression.
The Sphynx are extremely inquisitive and love to be the center of attention. They perform silly antics for your entertainment and are sometimes downright clumsy.. .on purpose it seems. They make great show cats because of this ''look at me" attitude and they are easy for judges to handle. They prefer human attention but enjoy the company of dogs and other cats. They have an abundance of energy and mischief and are always with you, on you or showing off for you.
Because of the lack of hair that would normally absorb body oils, the Sphynx needs periodic bathing and ear cleaning. This is not a difficult task with a cat that has been acclimated from kittenhood with bathing and grooming proper for the Sphynx.
Some people who suffer from cat allergies can tolerate living with Sphynx cats. However, depending on the type and severity of the individual's allergic reactions, there are still people who cannot live with this breed.
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Caring for a Sphynx
Bathing Sphynx cats do not have fur to absorb the natural oils from their skin they will require periodic bathing. The build up of oils in their coat will collect dirt and dust from their surroundings making them dirty. Depending on the amount of oils secreted from the cat, and the cleanliness of its surrounds, will determine the frequency of bathing. Most Sphynx need bathed once a week. If you have a busy life- take the time at wipe the cat with a warm soapy washcloth and the go back over them with a warm wet rag. Then dry them off with a dry washcloth. If you keep your cat’s surroundings clean and buy dust free litter you can help reduce the frequency of bathing. Bath time should be fun for cat and owner alike. Because bathing is a routine part of having a Sphynx, it should be introduced to kittens and made as stress free as possible. Run your bath water before bringing your Sphynx into the bathroom for a bath. Most Sphynx tolerate bathing well, but if your cat is stressed by the experience, make bath time as quick as possible and wash their face and ears after you take them out of the water. Avoid getting soap into your cat’s eyes or mouth. I use regular shampoo to wash them, just becareful because they do groom themselves and could get poisoned if you use flea dips/chemicals!
Sphynx Paws & Claws
Sphynx will get dirt between their pads and in the pockets of their claws. They can be clean out with a warm wash cloth or baby wipe. Cleaning of the paws will need to be done more often and in conjunction with their bath.
I usually use a baby toothbrush and some Dawn dishsoap to break up the grease and oil around their claws!
The claws (front and back) will need to be clipped. In most cats you can see the vein line inside the claw and you must be very careful not to clip on or beyond it. Begin by clipping off just the tip of the claw until you are confident on how to clip. Ears Sphynx’s ears are hairless and produce a large amount of earwax. Quite often a veteranarian who is not familiar with Sphynx will tell you they have ear mites - but they are indoor cats so this is very RARE!! The ears will need cleaned in conjunction with bath time or about every one to two weeks. A couple drops of ear cleaner in the cat’s ears will make your cat shake its head and dislodge the earwax so that it can be easily removed with a cotton ball or very carefully with a Q-tip. Be very careful when cleaning their ears, and clean only as far in as you can see. Feeding Sphynx love to eat. They should have dry cat food available at all times, and soft food at least twice daily. I feed my babies Purina Cat Chow Naturals and then in the morning they get one can of wet mixed with a pouch of Purrfectly Fish and their vitamins.
Climate Of course the Sphynx is an indoor cat. The general rule of thumb is that if you are comfortable they usually are too. I usually use a heating blanket kept on low, they love it! |