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The Sphynx Cat!
Today, Pet Hangout is shining the light on the most unique Sphynx Cat. The one thing that makes them very different is the apparent lack of hair. Although they do have very short hair, their coat most closely resembles the feel of velvet or chamois.
They look a bit quirky and wrinkly but have the most precious personality.
Name: Felis Catus, Canadian Hairless, Canadian Sphynx
General Description:
The Sphynx Cat originated from Toronto, Canada. Despite the temptation to label this cat with the ancient Egyptian cat because of its looks, its roots are from a very cold climate.
It actually started in the 1960s from a domestic shorthair cat giving birth to a hairless kitten, named Prune, due to a genetic mutation.
The Sphynx is high energy and is very needy. Despite most cat’s desires to be independent, this breed doesn’t like to be left alone and has been known to follow their human around much as a dog would.
Overview:
The male will grow to be a medium-sized cat and normally weighs 8 - 11 pounds. The female will be of medium size and weigh 6 - 8 pounds.
Their life expectancy is anywhere from 8-14 years (indoors).
Fur colors: White, Black, Blue, Red, Cream, Chocolate, Lavender, Cinnamon, Blue Point, and Tri-colored (like a Calico).
Their eye color ranges from Gold, Bright Green, Yellow, Bright Blue, and Deep Blue.
The cat can be very friendly around others, especially children that treat them with respect. They are among the top 10 most popular breeds.
Although kitties do generally bathe, this breed will need some help with grooming. The natural oils in their skin are too much for them to keep clean. A weekly bath is recommended.
They are very personable and full of antics - never a boring moment for you or this quirky breed!
Profile of the perfect Sphynx cat parent:
Questions to ponder before taking the leap with this kitty:
Sphynx Cat at a glance (score 1 - 10 1 = low/small; 10 = high/large)
Care Demand: 9 (eats 2.5 times as much as a domestic cat)
Social: 4 (not overly happy to be around strangers)
Good with children/elderly: 8
Needs to be around their humans: 9
Can be independent: 5
Likes to be around other animals: 8 - (generally gets along with other pets including dogs and cats)
Destructive with claws: 9
Health issues: 7
Life Expectancy: 7
Playful: 9
Needs lots of exercise: 7
Vocal: 10 (will talk back to you too)
Needs lots of grooming: 10 (baths, nail trims, ears cleaned)
Amount of shedding: 1 (well, there isn’t any hair, only fuzz)
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More about the Sphynx cat:
Notable Cool Facts: The Sphynx Cat can be trained to do tricks! They are highly intelligent and can learn simple tricks just as easy, or easier, than dogs.
They are very expensive due to high demand and low supply. Normal pedigree range from $1500 - $3000.
Some well-known breeders charge from $3500 - $6000 for nice colors.
They are cuddle bugs - perhaps in an attempt to keep warm.
Due to the excess oils on their skin (and no hair to absorb it), they will carry a smell. This can be managed with regular baths.
Despite the assumption that they are hypoallergenic, they ARE NOT. Actually, maybe worse for your allergies because their dander falls all over your home and you (instead of getting stuck in their fur.)
DON’T DO IT - don’t let them sleep on your bed. They will leave huge oil stains on your bedding - and you will be washing sheets every single day! DON’T DO IT!!
They are neat nuts - they will want their litter box to be kept ultra-clean!
They love cat trees - especially since they cannot go outdoors and climb a real tree.
Behavior (personality):
Children - Best around older children who can be taught to respect this breed. Sphynx’s will not appreciate rough child play and might use their claws.
Elderly - Although Sphynx's love laps and are loyal to their human, they may be too much of a “busy body” for less active seniors.
Play - They can turn anything into playtime, including running water, your furniture, your drapes, and your total house.
Other Pets - Plays well with other dogs normally. Some males may be too dominant to peacefully co-exist with other cats.
Strangers - Does not like strangers very much. You will need to introduce them slowly and in a controlled environment.
When in a new environment - May feel a bit anxious until they are allowed to explore the new terrain.
Care
Feeding: The Sphynx needs about 2.5 more amount of food than other kitties due to the fact that they are constantly burning energy to stay warm.
Generally speaking, a domestic feline with normal activity should eat approximately 20 calories/pound of weight.
For more active and energy-burning kitties like the Sphynx, you should feed them 40 - 50 calories/pound of weight.
Be sure to select a quality cat food with whole foods and not empty fillers in them. This will make a huge difference in the long term health of your Sphynx.
Grooming - A large amount of grooming on your part is required. They should be bathed at least once / week with a gentle shampoo (think baby shampoo). Their ears and claw beds also need to be cleaned since oils and grime build up in these areas.
They will learn to love bath time if you start them out as a kitten. It will be a calm and peaceful event. Just be sure to get the water temperature warm but not hot.
If you would enjoy getting in the water, then it's a good temp for them.
Exercise - This kitty will not want to sleep all day. Play, explore, and curiosity will rule a lot of his or her waking hours.
Provide plenty of play space like cat trees, tunnels, and intellectual stimulation.
Although they are delicate due to having no hair, they are generally healthy cats.
However, Common Health Issues are:
Rescues/Clubs:
Breeders:
https://kittysites.com/breed/sphynx/breeder/
There are a lot of things to think about when searching for a reputable Sphynx Cat Breeder.
We encourage you to check out all the information from The International Cat Association.
https://www.tica.org/sphynx-breeders
It’s full of a wealth of information on questions to ask, things to look for, the different types of breeders, and all the good, bad, and ugly of the breeding world.
Educate yourself with the facts first before talking to a breeder for the love of the Sphynx Cat Breed!
Watch this video on the Sphynx Cat!
Thinking about getting a Sphynx?
What attracts you to this unusual feline?
Comment below...
For more smart cat reads, check out The Bengal Cat Breed What you Need to Know, 35 Little Known Kitty Trivia that will Astonish you, and 7 Ways to Know if Your Toddler is Ready For a Kitten.
