Breed: Sphynx
Also Called: Canadian Hairless
Size: The Sphynx cat weighs from 8-15 lbs.
Recognized Colors: The Sphynx can be any color and pattern.
Physical Appearance: The Sphynx is a rare breed of cat known for its lack of a coat. The Sphynx is not always totally hairless; there can be a fine down on the body, which makes the cat fuzzy like a 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 heated chamois leather. The skin is the colour their fur would be, and all the usual cat marking patterns (solid, point, van, tabby, tortie, etc) may be found on Sphynx skin. Sphynxes usually have wedge-shaped heads and sturdy, heavy bodies. Sphynx cats should have a full round abdomen (pot belly).
Temperament/Personality: Sphynx cats are extroverted animals, they have high levels of energy, intelligence, curiosity, and affection for their families.
Health Concerns: The lack of hair on the Sphynx cat can cause health issues with kittens in the first weeks of life due to susceptibility to respiratory infections. Good breeders will not let their kittens go to new homes for least 12 weeks after birth to ensure the kitten is mature enough to cope in a new environment.
Sphynx cats have no hair to absorb the oil from their hair follicle glands, so Sphynx cats need daily rubbing down with a chamois. Because they do not have hair, these cats are vulnerable to both heat and cold and must be kept indoors. They are also very susceptable to sunburns.
The Sphynx cat is also prone to suffering from extreme sensitivities to anesthetics, vaccines, and pesticides as well as heart disease.
Life Span: A Sphynx adopted from a Texas Humane Society, reached 34 years, 2 months and 4 hours old in 1998. Although this is not the norm, most cats live up to 14 years old at the most.
Country of Origin: The Sphynx originated in Canada and Europe
Brief History: Evidence has shown that hairless cats have been the results of natural mutation that occurs in the cat population every 15–20 years. This breed of Sphynx is different from the Russian Sphynx breeds (Peterbald and Don Sphynx). The first Sphynx was born in 1966, in Cabbagetown, Toronto when a hairless kitten named Prune was born. The kitten was bred to its mother, which produced another naked kitten. Using a few naked kittens found later they became the foundation of the breed. One of these kittens was exported to Europe and bred to a Devon Rex. Hairless offspring resulted, implying that this recessive gene may have some dominance over the Devon gene.