Sphynx

In Toronto, Canada in 1966, an ordinary domestic cat gave birth to a completely hairless kitten.  Some research revealed that this was a natural gene mutation.  A breeding program began, with other rare hairless cats being sought out.  Breeding healthy cats is impossible without a large enough gene pool to draw from, so much cross-breeding with non-hairless cats was required.  As there were so few hairless cats in existence, many, many years of back and forth breeding of the hairless with the shorthaired has produced the healthy Sphynx cat we have today.  The Sphynx cat is also known as the Canadian Hairless or the Canadian Sphynx.

Sphynxes are sturdy, mid-sized cats.  They’re strong and heavy with good muscle tone.  Breeding standards like them to have a bit of a protruding stomach, or pot belly.  Most Sphynxes have wedge shaped heads, similar to some Siamese.  They may or may not have whiskers and eyebrows.

Sphynx cats are not all completely 100% hair free.  Many have a light, fine fuzz on their skin – much like a peach.  The Sphynxes skin is the color its hair would be, and all of the known cat coat patterns (tabby, tortoise, points, etc) can be found on their skin.

Suprisingly, a Sphynx cat is higher maintenance than you’d think.  Though their is no coat to brush, their skin produces oil – and as there is no hair to absorb it, they need to be bathed regularly to remove it.  Like humans, they have no fur to protect themselves from the elements.  Their time outdoors should supervised and monitored so they don’t get a sunburn, or get too cold.

The Sphynx is a very outgoing, extroverted cat.  They’re known for being very energetic, intelligent, and curious – yet also showing a great deal of love and affection for their human families.

Sphynxes are still a very rare breed of cat, and most breeders have a waiting list for Sphynx kittens.