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The Sphynx is a rare breed of cat best known for its lack of a coat.  According to the French breed standard, the Sphynx is "part monkey, part dog, part child, and part cat."  (www.petfinders.com.)  The breed does seem to possess some personality traits of each, despite what skeptical geneticists may say about the feasibility of such a combination.  While the hairless cat may not appeal to everyone's tastes, the Sphynx, because of its unique appearance and charming temperament, has won an active and enthusiastic following.

The Sphynx originated in Mexico, but was close to extinction by the 1800s.  The contemporary breed of Sphynx dates back to one kitten named "Prune," born hairless in 1966 in Toronto to "normal" feline parents.  This kitten was "backcrossed" with its mother—mated to the mother—which produced one more hairless kitten.  Together with a few more hairless kittens that appeared around the world, Prune spearheaded the campaign to found a hairless breed.

The first Sphynx breeders encountered a number of problems; the gene pool was very limited, and many kittens died.  Many of the females also suffered convulsions.  The last two direct descendents of Prune, a brother and sister pair, were sent to Holland in the 1970s, but the male was not interested in mating, and the female conceived only once, but lost the litter.

More breeding matches were tried, but the males were just not interested in mating, and the females continued to lose their litters.  Therefore, no modern Sphynx cats today can be traced directly back to Prune.  With no breeding male Sphynx available, breeders instead fell back upon using sparseley-furred Devon Rex studs.  Two hairless female kittens, Epidermis and Dermis, were born in 1975 and 1976 to barn cats in Minnesota, and they became an important part of the contemporary Sphynx breeding programs.  Further hairless cats were found in Texas, Arkansas, and Minnesota, and they have all contributed to the available gene pool for breeding.

Crosses with the Devon Rex were found to produce health problems, and are now frowned upon.  But by now, the Canadian Sphynx is a breed with a sound genetic pool.  Outcrossing (breeding to the mother) is still permitted according to the guidelines set down in the "standards" of each Feline Association around the world.

The Sphynx, while it appears to be totally hairless, is not truly hairless.  The skin feels like chamois leather, and may be covered with "vellus hair"—a vestigial covering of down.  Because they have no substantial hair to keep them warm, they tend to huddle up against other animals and humans, and may insist on sleeping under the covers with their owners!  The cat is surprisingly warm to the touch, as all cats would be if they were hairless.  The skin is the same color that their fur would be, if they had any, so all the usual cat colorations may be found: solid, pointed, van, tabby, tortie, etc.  Whiskers and eyebrows may be present or totally absent, and may be whole or broken.

Sphynx generally have wedge-shaped heads, sturdy, heavy bodies, and very large ears.  Competition standards call for a full round abdomen—a pot belly.  The skin is very wrinkled, but no more so than the skin of our "normal" furry feline friends would be if their hair were shaved off.

To say Sphynxes are lively is an understatement; they perform monkey-like aerialist feats from the top of doorways and bookshelves.  They display a very high level of energy, curiosity, and affection for their owners.  Very devoted and loyal, they follow their humans around, wagging their tails like dogs and purring with affection. They demand your unconditional attention and are as mischievous--and lovable—as children are. Despite it all--including their alien appearance—"they are completely cats, with all the mystery and charm that has fascinated humankind for thousands of years."

One would expect a hairless cat to produce no symptoms in cat-allergic people, but this is not always the case. The Sphynx thoughtfully refrains from shedding fur all over your couch, but can still make you sneeze. It is not the hair itself that causes the allergic reaction in many people, but rather an allergenic protein called Fel d1, secreted via saliva and sebaceous glands. Sphynxes produce this secretion just as all cats do; they just don't deposit allergen-laced hair all over the house.

While Sphynx cats lack a coat to shed or groom, they are not maintenance-free. Body oils which would normally be absorbed by the hair tend to build up on the skin. As a result, regular cleaning (usually in the form of bathing) is necessary; one bath a week is usually sufficient.  Care should be taken to limit the Sphynx cat's exposure to outdoor sunlight, as they can develop sun damage similar to that in humans. In general, a Sphynx should never be allowed outdoors unattended, as they have limited means to conserve body heat when it is cold. Their curious nature can also take them into dangerous places or situations, so they must be watched closely when outdoors.

Sphynx cats also have little to no hair in their ears to catch and protect them from a build up of impurities in their ears, like dirt, skin oils (sebum), and ear wax, which accumulates more frequently than in other breeds.  Sphynx ears will need to be cleaned on a weekly basis, usually before bath time. The breed also tends to accumulate oils and debris under their nails as well as the skin fold above the nail due to the lack of fur, so, like the ears, the nails and surrounding skin folds need to be cleaned properly as well. This is generally done at bath time along with a weekly nail clipping. The Sphynx breed obviously does require more grooming than a typical domestic cat with fur, and a prospective owner must be prepared to invest the extra time and energy required.

The Canadian Sphynx is now recognized by cat fancier associations to be a healthy, robust breed. Lack of hair can cause health issues with kittens in the first weeks of life due to susceptibility to respiratory infections. Reputable breeders will not let their kittens go to new homes without being at least twelve weeks of age to ensure that the kitten's immune system is mature enough to cope with a new environment. Due to their lack of protective fur, skin cancer may be a problem if exposed to sunlight for long periods of time.  The breed does also have instances of the genetic disorder hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and Sphynx cats can also catch common feline diseases and should be immunized in the same way as other breeds.

For additional personalized input, I had a lively and heartfelt conversation with Robin Goodwell, owner of the "Elegant Antiquitas Sphynx" cattery.  Robin began by singing the praises of the marvelous personality of the Sphynx.  She said that they are VERY social beings who will immediately introduce themselves to strangers and even leap into the laps of guests who are new to the house.  She also reported that they have tons of self-confidence, with people and with other cats and dogs.  Although Robin doesn't have a dog herself, she has received reports from buyers of her kittens that they have bonded with the family dog so quickly that they are found sleeping with the dog just a day or two after moving into the household!

They are very energetic cats, said Robin—very active and curious animals who always want to be part of the scene, whatever the scene may be.  They are not the kind of cat who goes off to a spare room to take a nap—they will be WITH you, no matter what you or they are doing.  They are extremely intelligent and can be taught to do tricks easily, like dogs, and they are fun-loving, with a great sense of humor.  The Sphynx is NOT a laid-back breed—they want to participate with you and the rest of the family in all your activities!

I asked Robin what the initial appeal was to her of a hairless breed of cat, and she was off and running.  "It is wonderful to have them not shedding all over the house," she said, "Thus, not to have to clean up after them."  She finds their unique appearance to be very compelling and appealing.  Their skin is very warm to the touch; they are like "living hot water bottles," she added.  She finds it very interesting to be able to watch the cat body in motion without the "disguise" of fur, and commented that, without fur, their paws look like tiny hands and feet.  They seem regal and elegant, with an appearance most like that of the ancient Egyptian Sphynx.

She too recommends weekly bathing sessions, and said that both owner and cat grow accustomed to this ritual quickly.  Some individual cats really enjoy the bathing and some do not, but even if the cats do not like especially the bathing experience, there is no struggle and no bloodshed!  A quick dunking, a good lathering, and a final dunking, and—voila!—the bath is over.

Robin also confirmed what I had read myself—that Sphynxes may be hypo-allergenic for people who are actually allergic to cat fur itself, not to the secretions that all cats emit.  Some households in which "normal" cats have caused a terrible allergy problem have found that substituting a Sphynx has solved the problem.

Mature Sphynx weigh between eight and fifteen pounds; thus, they are relatively small dynamos of high energy, inquisitiveness, and good spirits!

If you decide to take the leap and investigate this truly unique breed of cat for yourself, Robin Goodwell would love to hear from you, please visit her ad "Elegant Antiquitas Sphynx".

Tell the Breeders you found them on the Pets4You® Website!