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Breed Profile: Sphynx
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A domestic cat gave birth to a hairless kitten in Toronto
Canada in 1966. This hairless
kitten was discovered to be a natural mutation and the Sphynx Cat as we know it
today, came to be. There have been
other naturally hairless cats found worldwide.
Mother Nature magically produces them and these cats are the foundation
for this unique breed.
Cat breeders in Europe and North America have bred the
Sphynx to normal coated cats and then back to hairless cats for more than thirty
years. This is working with
outcrosses to improve the breed.
The purpose of these selective breeding was to create a genetically sound cat
with a large gene pool and hybrid vigor.
The hope is that the breed will be robust and have few health or genetic
problems.
The Sphynx is not always a totally hairless cat.
A fine down can be found on some and it is very soft and when you touch a
cat like this is makes you think of a warm fuzzy peach.
Some light hair is often present on the nose, tail and toes.
The texture of the 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 state of maturity.
Because of the lack of hair the color of the Sphynx is seen in the
pigment of the skin and the few hairs that they do have.
The cat should be substantial and be medium sized and
strong. The adult males are larger
than the adult females. They should
have sturdy boning and good muscle development and have a bit of a belly.
Oh to be a Sphynx!!! lol
The belly will make you think of them just finishing their Thanksgiving
Dinner! They have an open-eyed
intelligent face and you will find a friendly expression on their face.
Sphynx are very inquisitive and love to be the center of
your attention. they love to
perform for your amusement and seem to do things on purpose to see if you notice
or think that they are funny. Their
personalities make for great show cats and are easy for new comers into your
home or a judge to handle them.
They prefer human attention but will also enjoy the company of dogs or other
cats. They are full of energy and
mischief but are not home wreckers!
They will want to be with you and entertain you.
They love their humans!!!
For someone that wants to be loved by a cat we consider them a purrfect breed!!!
A coated cats hair normally absorbs body oils so the Sphynx
need periodic bathing and ear cleaning because of the lack of hair. This is not
a difficult task with a cat that has been acclimated from kitten hood with
bathing and grooming proper for the Sphynx. We have personally found the bathing
and grooming a small price to pay to have cats that don't shed all over your
home!! If you have Sphynx no one
will be able to guess how many cats you have in your home unless they see them.
Some people who suffer from cat allergies can tolerate
living with Sphynx cats. How much a Sphynx cat affects an allergy suffering
person will depend on what type of allergy each person suffers from.
If a person is allergic to the hair of a cat then owning a Sphynx will be
a wonderful experience. The other allergy that people can suffer from is the protein
in the saliva then it might not help as much.
There are still some people who cannot live with this breed or any other
cat breed. Personally I do suffer
from asthma. I have had trouble
when I am loaded up with hairy cats and do have a reaction time to time.
I have found the Sphynx to be a wonderful break for me and I can even
tolerate being licked by one of mine and it does not send me into a reaction.
So I am a lucky one for sure.
The Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) accepted the Sphynx for
competition in the Championship Class in 2002.
This rare and wonderful breed of cat is considered by many to truly be a
gift to cat fanciers all over the world.
Sphynx are rare and most breeders have a waiting list for
their kittens.
Pricing on Sphynx usually depends on type, applicable
markings and bloodlines distinguished by Grand Champion (GC), National, National
Breed and/or Regional winning parentage (NW, BW, RW) or of Distinguished Merit
parentage (DM). The DM title is achieved by the dam (mother) having produced
five CFA grand champion/premier (alter) or DM offspring, or sire (father) having
produced fifteen CFA grand champion/premier or DM offspring. Usually breeders
make kittens available between twelve and sixteen weeks of age. After twelve
weeks, kittens have had their basic inoculations and developed the physical and
social stability needed for a new environment, showing, or being transported by
air. Keeping such a rare treasure indoors, neutering or spaying and providing
acceptable surfaces (e.g. scratching posts) for the natural behavior of
scratching (CFA disapproves of declawing or tendonectomy surgery and so do we!!)
are essential elements for maintaining a healthy, long and joyful life.
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