The Sphynx cat is a breed known for its lack of coat (fur). Cats with no hairs are a naturally occurring genetic variation.
The breeding program began in 1966 in Ontario, Canada when a domestic cat gave birth to a hairless male kitten.
Sphynx cats born today are descended of their hairless kittens found in Toronto in 1978.
Description
Sphynx cat’s main feature is its lack of a fur coat. These cats are not entirely hairless but covered with fine downy hair that is like a peach skin. This cat has no whiskers or eyelashes.
The eyes of these cats are deep-set and the shape of a lemon. The body of this cat is muscular with a barrel chest.
Sphynx cats have long and slender legs and have a bow-legged appearance caused by the barrel chest. The tail is long and tapering and hard to the touch. They are warm and soft to touch.
The skin of this cat is wrinkled on head, body and legs but are taut on other parts of body. Pigmentation is visible on the skin of the Sphynx cat.
Coat Length: Extra-short
Age Expectancy: 8-14 yrs.
Weight range: Male: Medium: < 12 lbs, Female: Medium: < 12 lbs
Personality
The Sphynx cat is friendly, playful and loves attention. These cats often greet their owners when they come home. They are highly intelligent and cuddly.
They like to sleep with their owners – under the covers. Their body temperature is a degree or two above the average for normal cats and they have voracious appetites to compensate for the heat loss.
These cats don’t like cold, they like warm places.
Feeding & Grooming
Feeding: Every cat is unique and each has their particular likes, dislikes, and needs when it comes to food.
Cats are carnivores and every cat must obtain 41 different nutrients from their food. Proper nutrients will vary depending on age and overall health, so energetic kitten needs a different balance of nutrients in her diet than a less active senior cat.
Grooming :The skin needs to be bathed or sponged every week to remove its oily secretions .
These cats’ skin oily secretions must also be cleaned from the outer ear regularly to prevent ear infections.