Sphynxes are instantly recognisable: they are completely hairless cats. In terms of character, you will have an incredibly nice housemate here. In fact, these cats love company and are very social. However, this breed is a victim of ‘torture breeding’. That is, they are bred for external features that make them vulnerable and prone to many health problems. We tell you about that and much more in this blog.
In this blog:
- The origin of the Sphynx
- The nature of a Sphynx
- The appearance and coat of a Sphynx
- Hereditary diseases and disorders of a Sphynx
- How old will a Sphynx become?
- The care of a Sphynx
- Buying a Sphynx (kitten)
The origin of the Sphynx
The Sphynx’s bald appearance is actually a mistake of nature. In fact, the first of this particular cat breed was a kitten accidentally born bald in 1966 – the only hairless cat in a litter full of Canadian shorthair kittens. Since then, the Sphynx has been bred for baldness and the breed has been officially recognised by several cat clubs. The Sphynx gets its name because it resembles the famous Sphynx statues from ancient Egypt.
That all sounds nice and many cat lovers are charmed by the unusual appearance of this breed cat. But the lack of fur also makes this cat very vulnerable to diseases and nasty conditions. And as a result, the Sphynx also needs more care than other breeds. But more on that later.
The character of the Sphynx
Sphynxes are naturally intelligent, incredibly friendly and curious. And the breed is known to love their owners. They like to keep their owners company with chores around the house, follow them everywhere and love to lie on their laps, curled up under their duvet or on their shoulder. They also enjoy visitors as do dogs and other furry housemates.
Sphynxes have a good sense of humour and always do their best to entertain their owners. Furthermore, the Sphynx is playful, has more than enough energy and likes to be the centre of attention. So a super cute and sociable cat!
Useful to know: a Sphynx may not have hair, but that does not make it hypoallergenic. If you are allergic to cats, you are allergic to the dander and protein found in their saliva.
The appearance and coat of the Sphynx
The first and most important characteristic of these cats is, of course, their appearance. They either have no fur or have a soft layer of down over their bodies. Sphynxes are small to medium-sized and grow to an average of 3.5 to 5 kilos. Their bodies are muscular and slender. The head of these cats is triangular with cheekbones present and large eyes set slightly to the side of the head. Their ears are triangular and also large.
Despite Sphynxes having no hair, these cats can still have all kinds of different colours and patterns. Generally, Sphynxes have one or two colours:
- Black
- White
- Red
- Brown
- Lavender
Sphynxes can have the following patterns: unicoloured, bicoloured, tabby, calico, mink, pointed and tortoiseshell. And because the Sphynx often has no or very little hair, it uses its toes to explore and investigate objects and its surroundings.
Diseases and disorders in the Sphynx
As we told above, a Sphynx is a ‘torture breed’. Or in other words, a cat breed that has been bred specifically for characteristics that are not good for the animal. In a Sphynx, this is the absence of fur and sometimes whiskers and touch hairs. But a Sphynx has a high risk of more health problems, such as:
- Skin problems
- Urticaria pigmentosa (crusty ulcers on body)
- Increased risk of skin cancer
- Heart failure
- Fungal infections
- Difficulty maintaining body temperature
- Respiratory infections in kittens
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) – heart disease
How old does a Sphynx get?
A healthy Sphynx that is well cared for and comes from a recognised breeder can live to be about 15 years old.
The care of the Sphynx
A Sphynx – due to its nakedness and predisposition to diseases – needs extra care. Anyway, it is wise to take this cat to the vet regularly for a general check-up. And because this breed cat has no fur, you need to protect their skin from too much sunlight, wash them regularly with antifungal shampoo and they often need a jacket or jumper to maintain their temperature.
Another concern is nutrition. This breed burns more calories because its body needs a lot to stay warm. Therefore, a Sphynx needs more nutrition than other cats, and especially high-quality nutrition. Preferably give a Sphynx several small meals a day as well. And furthermore, of course, care for a Sphyx properly and like other cats with:
- a home where it is safe
- love and lots of attention
- fresh water (several bowls) every day
- high-quality cat food
- clean litter box(es) with good cat litter
- a soft sleeping place and enough toys
- a cat tree with nice sleeping places
- treatment against ticks, fleas and worms
- regular visits to the vet
- vaccinations against feline diseases
Buying a Sphynx (kitten)
We can well imagine you being charmed by this cat breed. The character of Sphynxes is naturally unique. Just like their special appearance. But do realise that this is a cat breed with many possible health problems. Of course, this is not only annoying for the cat itself, but it can also be annoying for you. Special food, care and visits to the vet obviously cost a lot of money. And it is also not nice to worry about your pet all the time.
Would you still like to take a gamble? Then ask a breed association about the breed and ask for addresses of recognised breeders. And never buy a cat from a bread breeder or from Marktplaats or Ebay. We know – a kitten is lovely. But they also grow up and need your care and attention throughout their lives. So maybe you could also check out the shelter or a mediation website, as you can often find super cute older cats there who are also looking for a sweet new owner.
Disclaimer: Petrebels is not a vet or a behaviourist: all content, information and tips on this blog are meant to inspire you and are of an informative nature. Does your cat have complaints or problems? Or do you have doubts about your cat’s health? Always go to the vet or a behaviourist.