Sphynx Cats

Hairless cats have been described in many regions of the world, but the first successful breed was the Sphynx. The earliest Sphynx was born in 1966, and the cat was named Prune. However, Prune’s line died out without descendants. In 1967, hairless kittens, and their longhaired mother cat were rescued in Brunei. The kittens were neutered; the mother, however, had other kittens. Two were exported to London, where one of the kittens was bred to a Devon Rex. During the 1970's several more hairless cats were born. After this time, the breed was developed principally in Europe.

History of Sphynx Cats

Physical Characteristics

The Sphynx appears to be a hairless cat, although it is not truly hairless. The skin should have the texture of Chamois leather. It may be covered with very soft hair that is often described as peach fuzz. Because the sphynx cats have no hair to keep them warm they prefer to cuddle up against other animals and people, they even tend to cuddle up and sleep with their owners under the covers. Lack of coat makes the cat quite warm to the touch. Whiskers and eyebrows may be present, either whole or broken, or may be totally absent. Their skin is the color their fur would be, and all the usual cat marking patterns (solid, point, van, tabby, tortie, etc) may be found in Sphynx too.

Sphynxes generally have wedge-shaped heads and sturdy, heavy bodies. Many cats of this breed develop pot bellies. Sphynxes are known for their extroverted behavior. They display a high level of energy, intelligence, curiosity, and affection for their owners.

Temperament

They have a friendly disposition and are very sociable with other people and pets. Sphynx are very intelligent and can be taught to walk on a lead and respond to voice commands. They are often described as the most intelligent and affectionate of all cat breeds.