At first glance, you may notice that this cat is bald and wrinkly, which can sometimes be labeled as ugly but they are beautiful on the inside! I personally that they are cute on the outside as well as the inside.
The Sphynx is the most common hairless cat breed. They aren't 100% hairless but they are considered "hairless". They are considered hypoallergic but they still produce the protein that causes allergic reactions in humans because it is in their saliva and urine, not their fur.
Believe it or not but the Sphynx is a naturally occurring cat breed, meaning they weren't bred between other cats by man to create a mutation. The hairless mutation was created naturally in the wild. There are a few mutations in the domestic cat world such as bobbed tail, curly hair, little to no hair, folded ears, and short legs.
History
We already know a little bit about the Sphynx cat's history.
The breed originated in Toronto, Canada. In 1966 a litter of domestic shorthair kittens and one hairless kitten was born to a tuxedo cat named Elizabeth. The hairless kitten was named Prune.
In the mid to late 70s, Prune was bred with cats with fur. These cats included the Devon Rex. The Devon Rex has more hair than the Sphynx but less than average cat breeds.
In 2002, they were recognized by the CFA, then in 2005, the breed was recognized by TICA.
The Sphynx was originally called the Canadian Hairless. They were then renamed the "Shypnx" after the Sphinx of Giza.
Appearance
We already know the most distinguishable physical characteristics of the Sphynx cat.
Hairlessness.
But what are some of their less noticeable features?
After you get over their hairlessness, you may notice that their ears are larger than the average cat. They also have a sleek, muscular body.
They are medium-sized, weighing 6-12 pounds.
Sphynx cats live for 9-15 years of age.
The breed comes in solid colors such as black, white, red, chocolate, lavender, cream golden, silver, and brown. As for patterns, they can be tabby, tortoiseshell, pointed, calico, mink, ticked, shaded, and smoke.
Personality
Sphynx cats are usually very friendly kitties! They enjoy pets, cuddles, and sitting in their owner's lap as long as they are in the mood for these activities.
These cats love attention and do a good job of getting it! They are athletic, acrobatic, and energetic.
The Sphynx is a loyal breed that will follow their owner around the house like a puppy. The breed is also curious and intelligent.
Generally, they get along with children and other cats as well as dogs.
Since the Sphynx cat little to no fur to groom, if they get accustomed to water at a young age, they will enjoy baths and swimming, which can be useful, seeing how the breed needs to be bathed regularly.
Thank you all for reading! I hope you enjoyed learning about the most common hairless cat breed!
nice article. Very informative!