Sphynx ~ Gray
Sphynx ~ White
|
|
|
|
Sphynx ~ Gray
|
Sphynx ~ White
|
| A hairless cat highly sensitive to sunlight Hairless cats appeared in the world at different times. Mexican hairless cats date back to the pre-Colombian era. In 1938, French professor E. Letard described the mutant allele h in hairless kittens produced by a pair of Siamese. In 1966 in Ontario, Canada, Ms. Micalwaith's female cat Elisabeth gave birth to a hairless male named Prune. Prune and Elisabeth produced hairless kittens. The spontaneous mutation responsible for this trait is caused by the recessive allele hr. Also in Ontario and at the same time, Ms. Smith discovered Bambi, a black and white hairless male. Pinkie and Squeakie, two hairless females, were adopted by Hugo Hernandez in the Netherlands. In the 1980s, similar cases were reported in Great Britain. As interest in these cats declined in the United States, their popularity grew in Europe, especially in France by 1983, as well as in the Netherlands. It is true that it is impossible to remain indifferent to these cats, adored by some and detested by others. Seeing the success of these cats in shows and the curiosity they generated, American breeders began importing Sphynxes from Europe. The breed is recognized by T.I.C.A., but the C.F.A. and the F.I.Fe. have rejected it. The Sphynx is quite rare. |
| Extremely affectionate, loving, sweet-natured. Purrs constantly. Very sensitive to mood, ambience, and environment. |
|
Head
:
|
Medium-sized, angular, slightly triangular. Longer than it is wide. Flat forehead. Prominent cheek bones. Short nose, pronounced or slight stop. Muzzle very rounded, broad, short. Pronounced whisker pinch. Firm chin. Whiskers sparse, short, or absent. |
|
Eyes
:
|
Large, lemon shaped eyes slanted slightly upward at outer edges. They are set wide apart. Color should be clear and appropriate to coat color. |
|
Ears
:
|
The ears are large to very large, full at the base tapering to a rounded tip. They are set at a slight angle on the head, but are not flaring. The interior of the ears is naturally without furnishing. |
|
Neck
:
|
Long, arched, muscular, powerful in males. |
|
Body
:
|
The body is medium length, hard and muscular with broad rounded chest and full round abdomen. The rump is well rounded and muscular. Back line is slightly arched. Boning is medium. |
|
Paw
:
|
Length proportional to that of the body. Forelegs slightly arched, slightly shorter than hind legs. Medium-boned. Firm, well-developed muscles. Medium-sized, oval paws with long toes. Very thick paw pads. |
|
Tail
:
|
Slender flexible tail, in proportion to the body length, heavier at the base and tapering to the tip. |
|
Coat
:
|
The appearance of this cat is one of hairlessness. However, there is a very fine down on the skin, giving the overall feel of soft warm chamois. Short, soft, fine hair is allowed on the feet, across the bridge of the nose and cheekbones, back of the ears, the scrotum, and tail. This lack of coat on the body creates a feeling of resistance when stroking the cat. Wrinkled skin is desirable, particularly around the muzzle, between the ears, and around the shoulders. There are usually no whiskers but if whiskers are present they are short and sparse.. |
|
Fault
:
|
Too frail, delicate in appearance. Too small in size. Head too narrow. Straight profile. Compact or long body. Disqualify: eyes too small. Absence of whisker pinch. Toes too small. Kinky hair of Devon Rex or Cornish Rex during shedding. Obvious tweezing or shaving. |
|
Disqualify
:
|
Kinked or abnormal tail. Structural abnormalities other than hairlessness. Any indication of hair anywhere other than the extremities as described above. |
|
Character
:
|
The Sphynx is lively, mischievous, playful, and independent. Friendly toward other cats and toward dogs, Sphynxes are never aggressive. Very affectionate and even possessive, they adore being doted on. Apartment life is perfect for them, since they are sensitive to cold, heat, and humidity. In winter, they should be fed a high-calorie diet in order to keep their body temperature slightly above normal. Although they tan, they must be kept out of direct sunlight, which can lead to sunburn. Unlike other feline breeds, Sphynxes sweat through the skin and should thus be cleaned regularly with a washcloth. Bathing is not advised. The ears must also be cleaned periodically, as they produce a great deal of wax. Female Sphynxes have no more than two heats per year. The breed has a high rate of neonatal mortality. Sphynx kittens are born with very wrinkled skin and hair along the spine that disappears with age. |
| Normal body temperature is 4 degrees higher than most other breeds. Unable to store fat, so requires frequent meals. Reproduction erratic. Queens may have difficulty rearing kittens, which may not be hardy. A lethal gene is suspected, but too few representatives of breed are available for in-depth genetic studies. |