Sphynx Cat Breed - Overview and History

Dog Breeds

The Sphynx is one of the most unusual and rare of all domestic feline breeds. Its most distinguishing characteristic is that it appears to be entirely hairless.

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Introduction

The Sphynx is one of the most unusual and rare of all domestic feline breeds. Its most distinguishing characteristic is that it appears to be entirely hairless. However, most Sphynx do have some degree of short, sparse downy fur that is most noticeable on the ears, muzzle, tail, feet and scrotum. When present, even this fur is barely perceptible to the human eye or to the human touch. The fine fur tends to be more visible on young kittens and then thins or disappears with age. The markings and coloration are highly unique to each Sphynx cat, with color depending entirely upon the pigmentation of its skin. All of the usual domestic cat colors and coat patterns can be found in the Sphynx. The texture of the cat’s skin – which has been said to resemble the fuzz of a peach - feels like soft chamois leather or suede and usually is noticeably warm to the touch. Whiskers and eyebrows may or may not be present, and when present they may be either whole or broken. Kittens are more uniformly wrinkled than are adults, but mature Sphynx should retain some wrinkling, especially around their shoulders and neck.

The Sphynx has a sturdy, slender body, a barrel-shaped chest, long slim legs and well-muscled thighs. Its paws are rounded, with long finger-like toes. Many cats of this breed develop a pot belly, and it is preferred that the belly always looks like the cat has just eaten a big meal. The Sphynx’s head is wedge-shaped and moderately angular, with well-defined prominent cheekbones. The skin on the forehead is typically quite wrinkled, giving it an inquisitive expression. Another distinguishing characteristic of this breed are its extraordinarily large ears. Triangular in shape, rounded at the tips and set widely apart, the ears of the Sphynx can be 3 inches or more in length. Its eyes are large, lemon-shaped and backward-slanting. They should correspond in color to that of the cat’s skin. The Sphynx’s slender head sits upon a long, elegant neck. Its whip-like tail is extremely long and tapered and may have a small tuft of hair near its tip, referred to as a “lion tail.”

Sphynx cats are not maintenance-free. They tend to become oily and need regular and careful cleaning to prevent a greasy build-up of perspiration and body oils. Regular baths are especially important in this breed. Care should be taken to limit the Sphynx's exposure to sunlight, as they can quickly develop sunburn.

History

Hairless cats have been recorded throughout history, particularly in Mexico and France. The ancient Aztec civilization in Central America supposedly bred hairless cats hundreds of years ago. Reportedly, the last Mexican hairless pair was given to an American couple in Albuquerque, New Mexico, by Pueblo Indians in 1903. Apparently the male of that pair subsequently was killed by a pack of dogs, and so that line of hairless cats disappeared. Historically, in most places, the occasional hairless kitten in an otherwise “normal” litter was viewed as being undesirable and was placed as a pet.

The Sphynx as we know it today is originally a Canadian breed that derives from a spontaneous genetic mutation. In 1966, one of a litter of kittens born to an ordinary short-haired black and white domestic cat in Ontario was virtually hairless. The owner called the kitten “Prune,” due to his wrinkled, bald appearance. A cat fancier and Siamese breeder purchased the hairless kitten and used him as the foundation of a new breed of cats with little to no hair coat. Prune was bred to a number of other cats, resulting in some coated and some hairless offspring. Because the Sphynx’s relative hairlessness comes from a recessive genetic mutation, both parents need to carry the “hairlessness” gene in order to ensure that all of their kittens will have a similar hairless appearance. Hairless kittens from Prune’s litters were called Canadian Hairless Cats. Some people referred to them as Sphynx Cats, because of their resemblance to an ancient Egyptian cat sculpture.

Between 1975 and 1978, several hairless kittens were born to litters in Minnesota and Toronto, arising from natural spontaneous mutations. Those kittens, named Punkie, Paloma and Epidermis, were eventually crossed with Devon Rex, a breed with a fairly sparse, curled coat. Descendants of Prune were added to the mix. Today’s Sphynx trace their ancestry back to these matings.

Some purebred cat registries have refused to recognize the Sphynx breed, on the grounds that its hairlessness is a genetic abnormality which may be potentially harmful to the cats’ health, longevity and well-being. The Sphynx has long been accepted for registration by The International Cat Association (TICA), as well as by several independent cat clubs in Europe. The Cat Fanciers’ Association granted it provisional status, but subsequently revoked that status. The CCFF accepted the Sphynx for championship status in 1971. The Sphynx is not currently recognized in Great Britain but has a firm following in North America. Interest in this breed is increasing, especially in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Health Predispositions

Because of their relative hairlessness, Sphynx cats are especially vulnerable to climatic changes – particularly to the extremes of heat and cold. They should not be allowed outdoors unattended in cold weather, as they have limited means to conserve body heat. They also are predisposed to becoming sunburned, especially on their lighter areas. Sphynx are prone to developing skin allergies and related lumps and bumps. If their skin is not cared for properly, they can develop a greasy detritus, which must be sponged and scraped away.

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