Sphynx

The earliest Sphynx was born in 1966, named Prune. However, Prune’s line died out in 1967 without decedents. Hairless kittens and their long haired mother were later rescued in Brunei. The kittens were neutered, however the mother had other kittens also hairless. Two were sent to London where one was bred to a Devon Rex. The cat once again had hairless kittens, implying this recessive gene was the same as the Devon gene.

The Sphynx has a near hairless body, often compared to suede, with big lemon shaped eyes, large full ears, a long, thin, rat like tail and a medium sized body. They are hard and muscular with a broad rounded chest and “pot belly”. The skin should be wrinkled particularly around the muzzle and between the ears and shoulders. The Sphynx comes in all colors that domestic cats come in. Considered incredibly intelligent, outgoing, people oriented, active and a great cuddlier, these cats are natural hams! They do get lonely and demanding if not given a lot of attention.

The Sphynx prefers an interactive household with lots of affection and attention. They also can be very persistent for attention.

Because of the lack of hair, they require a comfortably warm home

The earliest Sphynx was born in 1966, named Prune. However, Prune’s line died out in 1967 without decedents. Hairless kittens and their long haired mother were later rescued in Brunei. The kittens were neutered, however the mother had other kittens also hairless. Two were sent to London where one was bred to a Devon Rex. The cat once again had hairless kittens, implying this recessive gene was the same as the Devon gene.

The Sphynx has a near hairless body, often compared to suede, with big lemon shaped eyes, large full ears, a long, thin, rat like tail and a medium sized body. They are hard and muscular with a broad rounded chest and “pot belly”. The skin should be wrinkled particularly around the muzzle and between the ears and shoulders. The Sphynx comes in all colors that domestic cats come in. Considered incredibly intelligent, year around with plenty of places to snuggle up for extra heat, they should never be exposed to cold as they can not conserve heat.

Key points about Sphynx cats:

-They do not like to share

-They require regular bathing (once a week) to prevent oil build up on the skin,producing a sticky film.

-The ears produce a heavy amount of waxy build up that catches a lot of dirt and dust, requiring frequent cleaning.

-They cannot be exposed to sunlight for any length of time, as they can sunburn easily.

By: Linda Eastabrooks

Former AKC Breeder

Contributor, Web-DVM.net