History

Humans have been breeding Sphynx cats since 1966. In Canada, a breeder discovered that a black cat and white cat had given birth to a hairless kitten. This kitten was brought in to breed with other cats and this hairless recessive gene was bred into a new breed. The cat was called the "Sphynx Cat" because of its resemblance to the ancient Egyptian statue of the Sphinx.

Physiological characteristics

The Sphynx is one of several hairless cats. They are very distinctive in appearance. Their skin has a goatskin-like texture. A small amount of hair can be seen on the back of the nose and ears. They have huge ears, which tend to be 5-8 cm high. Their large eyes are lemon shaped. They have large tummies and look as if they have just eaten a full meal. Great for people who are allergic to cat hair. The Sphynx cat's whiskers are fragile and often broken.

While normal cats show their coat colour on their own coats, Sphinx cats show it on their skin.

Sphynx cats are susceptible to sunburn and are not capable of resisting the cold. There may also be difficulties in judging direction in the dark due to the whiskers.

Personality traits

Sphynx cats are intelligent and very docile and friendly. They often sleep with their owners under the covers. They love to be on people's laps. Due to their lack of fur, Sphinx cats tend to get cold, so they will stay in warm places such as a computer monitor, by a sunlit window or next to the TV. They are loyal and very friendly to their owners.