Sphynx Cat

A very active, extremely social, and quite playful cat, the Sphynx is a rare and hairless recognized breed of cat. The Sphynx cat is the only recognized cat breed to originate in Canada.

Sphynx Cats were known by many names as their breed line grew, notably the Canadian Hairless or the Mexican Hairless (in days gone by), the Canadian Sphynx, the Sphinx, the Moon Cat, and the Moonstone Cat.

The History Of The Sphynx Cat In The USA

The origin of the Sphynx cat breeding program

Harrison Weir is credited as being the “Father of the Cat Fancy”, and Elizabeth (Frances) Ann Simpson is known as the “Fairy Godmother of the Cat Fancy”. One of six children born to a reverend, Simpson never married and devoted her life and time to caring for cats and documenting breeding standards for a number of cat breeds.

Simpson attended Weir’s inaugural cat show held at London’s Crystal Palace in 1871 when she was just 14 years old, and was hooked from the start. Commissioned to edit and publish the book entitled “The Book Of The Cat (1903)” two decades after the show, Simpson collated material from cat lovers, breeders, and vets to create the book, now regarded as an authoritative source of information for cat-breeders worldwide.

Download or listen to “The Book Of The Cat (1903)” now.

Simpson was a breeder and cat-fancier herself, having placed second with her cat at the 1886 Crystal Palace cat show when she was almost 30. Simpson navigated the Victorian-era show judging with ease and grace. Choosing to make a career for herself, Simpson majored in journalism before working on the book.

The book cites a New Mexico cat-lover who owned a gray-and-white hairless cat that was referred to as a “Mexican Hairless”, and starkly resembled the cat we now know as the Sphynx. Sadly, the cat mentioned in the book passed away without breeding, leaving no offspring.

Although the credits for the book go to Simpson, she is better known in cat fancier circles for her prolific efforts to document, record, standardize, and distribute breeding standards for many breeds. An influential writer with great networking skills, Simpson was also the first to advocate breeding “pure blue” Persian cats.

Text Box: DID YOU KNOW?
Cats were registered by individual cat clubs and not by a central governing body until 1910.

In 1898, a number of cat-breed clubs suddenly sprang up, and chaos ensued. Several of these clubs (The Cat Club, The National Cat Club, and The Incorporated Cat Fanciers’ Association) ceased to be of any value by 1908. Simpson was present when the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) was inaugurated, and this is still the main British cat registry.

The history of the Sphynx cat in the USA

The history of the Sphynx cat in the USA begins around the time that “cat fever” hit the USA, when American cat-lovers began pursuing pedigreed (fancy) cats from Britain, largely ignoring their own long- and short-haired breeds and focusing for the most part on the Persian breed. The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) was established in 1906, at which time the association also licensed its first and second cat shows in New York and Michigan, respectively.

Ahead of her time by centuries, Simpson wrote for just about anyone who loved cats, and paid the bills through endorsements and brand ambassadorships – although she privately admitted that she would never use any of those brands for her own cats, nor recommend them off the clock!

In fact, it was Simpson’s networking skills that brought the Persian cat to Northern America, where cat fancy and breeding standards were at a minimum and in their infancy. Between the 1890s and the turn of the century, Simpson’s efforts began to pay off and she was now respected as both a cat fancier and as an authoritative breeder.

By 1920, the CFA had established itself as an emerging and surely one of the largest pedigreed cat registries, after breaking ties with the American Cat Association (ACA) back in 1906. Thanks to her ties with the-then newly-established Cat Fanciers’ Association in the USA, Simpson began brokering and exporting pure-bred British cat breeds (predominantly Persian cats) to the emerging “cat fancy” market in Northern America early in the 20^th century.

Although Simpson passed away in 1926, her legacy remained. The CFA continued to work towards its goals for cat fanciers worldwide, though very little news is heard from the CFA until the late 1950s.

In 1938, a geneticist reported two hairless kittens born to a pair of coated Siamese cats in Paris, France.

Back in early 1950, a pair of Siamese cats [RJK1] in Italy produced a litter that held three hairless cats. When the same Siamese cats mated again, the same thing happened but when they were paired with other Siamese cats, no other hairless cats were born. This breeding program was not successful.

In 1966, a pair of domestic Shorthairs produced a litter and with that came a hairless kitten named Prune. The breeders kept the parents and began a breeding program. Prune mated with its mother and produced another hairless kitten. The breeder decided to call these cats “Canadian Hairless” cats. This breeding program was not successful either, with all offspring recorded as frail and sickly, and dying shortly after birth.

In the decade that followed, a number of hairless cats were born to haired cats of various origins in Germany, the USA, and other parts of Europe. In 1970, the CFA granted provisional rights but a very limited gene pool and quite a few surprising deaths later, the CFA withdrew the status in 1971.

In 1975, farm owners Milt and Ethelyn Pearson noticed a hairless kitten was born from their normal coated farm cat. A year later, a second hairless kitten was born from the same coated farm cat.

Dr. Hugo Hernandez had established a breeding colony in the Netherlands. In 1978, an Egyptian-cat breeder living in Canada happened to find three hairless cats roaming the streets. Shirley Smith adopted them and took care of them. Believed to be Canadian Hairless in origin, two of the three hairless females were sent to be mated with the last male of the Canadian Hairless line Dr. Hernandez had been breeding with.

Working together, American and European breeders strengthened the breed line. Dr. Hernandez is credited for adding the Devon Rex cat to the breed outcross standards, thereby adding health, vigor, and survival strength to the breed.

It is thought that the descendants of the cats above are the cats we now call Sphynx cats, though very little actual written history of their breed lines exists. Requiring that at least one parent have the recessive hairless gene, coated cats produce hairless cats spontaneously (unless bred in “factory-like” environments.

The International Cat Association (TICA) accepted the breed in 1986 for championship. In 1992, the Canadian Cat Association (CCA) recognized the Sphynx for championship. In 1994, the American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA) finally followed suit.

In 1998, The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) recognized the new and improved Sphynx lines for registration and in 2k002 accepted the breed for championship.

The breed is now recognized by all North American cat associations, as well as Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe) and the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) in Europe.

The Personality Of The Sphynx Cat

An easy-going cat that handles well, the Sphynx is smart, playful, affectionate and energetic. Undeniably obedient and friendly to other animals and people, the Sphynx delights in speaking, and will do so at great length!

With little-to-no coat, the Sphynx needs to be kept warm in winter months and colder climates, and will seek out your warm bed for comfort if you neglect this aspect.

A very active cat that loves to climb and crawl, the Sphynx requires a breed- and activity-level-specific diet to give it all the nutrients it needs.

Physical Characteristics Of The Sphynx Cat

The Sphynx cat can be bred in all possible colors and patterns, as the breed standards are not concerned with coloring. As a result, Sphynx cats can display coats that are either solid or patterned, and range in color from white to black, red to brown, lavender to blue, and in patterns that include the ever-popular bicolor, calico, tabby, tortoiseshell, pointed and mink.

Colors and patterns are found in the Sphynx cat’s skin pigmentation, which makes it more difficult to distinguish than in coated cats. These cats are 13-15 inches in height, 6-12 lb in weight, and live from 8 to 14 years of age.

Coat and skin colors tend to determine the Sphynx cat’s eye colors, which may be blue, copper, yellow, gold, orange, green, and even red. White or fawn-colored Sphynx cats can display a rare eye condition known as heterochromia, where each eye will be a distinctly different color from the other.

The CFA recognizes the Domestic Shorthair (DSH) as an acceptable outcross for the Sphynx breed, while TICA recognizes the American Shorthair and the Devon Rex as an acceptable outcross.

Caring For The Sphynx Cat

Before adopting a Sphynx cat, make sure that all the requirements needed to make your Sphynx as comfortable as possible settling into a new home are done, such as the cat box, cat litter, cat food, cat bowls and a nice warm bed to sleep on. Be sure to invest in a coat or summer vest to keep their bodies warm.

Grooming

With very little hair at all, average grooming requirements for the Sphynx cat are close to zero, with the exception of a wash-and-sunscreen repeat every few hours. Where other breeds are protected from the elements, hairless cats such as the Sphynx require additional care to remove dust and avoid sunburn from harsh UV rays.

Regular bathing will help avoid rashes, skin irritations, and dry skin patches. Of course, bathing removes the sunscreen, which explains the regular rinse-and-repeat cycles of sunscreen.

Buy now: Kotomoda Sphynx Cat Shampoo for Naked and Hairless Cats

Feeding

The recessive gene in the Sphynx breed of hairless cats means these cats are 4 degrees hotter than most cat breeds. The heightened temperatures mean that Sphynx cats need at least twice as much (or more!) food than coated cat breeds.

As with all things living, the smallest versions – in this case a kitten – need smaller portions more often, and portions should be size-specific so they’re easy to chew and swallow.

Keep cool, clean water nearby at all times.

Sphynx cats are not known for living overly longer than other breeds, nor shorter than other breeds in healthy environments and of healthy parents and breeding standards. However Bambi, a male Sphynx cat from Dr. Hernandez’s breeding program in the Netherlands, lived to a ripe old age of 19!

Although the aging aspect of cats’ lives was recently redefined, a cat begins aging and approaching its senior years as defined by breed standards. According to the American Association of Feline Practitioners, there is no specific age at which a cat suddenly becomes ‘senior’. Most cats are considered ‘mature’ at about 7 years of age, with seniority happening by natural aging processes at around 11.

At all life stages, appropriate food and feeding routines should be established to prevent nutrient deficiencies. Your veterinary specialist may not be a Sphynx cat fundi, but is best-placed to give you great advice according to current knowledge or resources at hand.

Common Diseases Of The Sphynx Cat

The alignment of the age grouping above coincides with the diseases you can expect as your Sphynx grows older, such as the propensity for obesity in mature age groups, or cachexia in elder cats nearing the end of their lifetime. Cachexia in cats is a condition where weakened and atrophied muscles result from an injury or age-related illness (like kidney or heart failure).

All too often, vets and other animal welfare organizations operate according to the information they have been given, with no clear and set standards to refer to. If in doubt about the feedback or diagnosis you have been given (and can afford it), a second opinion is always a valid and necessary approach to solving medical dilemmas.

As cats age, you may notice some changes in their physical appearance and or their appetites. Animals with abnormal hair growth (such as the Sphynx cat) tend to develop infections and inflammation of the hair follicles, most often caused by foreign objects, dust, pests, and cloth tufts that catch in the coat. Hair growth abnormalities (such as follicular dysplasia) is of particular concern in the Devon Rex cat breed.

Some of the more noticeable changes associated with aging in cats include:

altered sleeping and or waking cycles
decreased hearing, sense of smell, and eyesight
decreased digestion and or fat absorption abilities
a shortness of breath due to decreased lung capacity
a reduced tolerance for stressful situations and noises

The Sphynx is regarded as a healthy cat breed despite its visible challenges, but may develop certain conditions that plague other breeds.

Read more on congenital and inherited skin disorders of cats here.

The Sphynx Cat Compared To Other Breeds

	Exotic Shorthair Cat	Ragdoll Cat	Sphynx Cat
Longevity	15+ years	15+ years	14+ years
Height	10 – 12 in	7 – 12 in	8 – 10 in
Weight	7 – 15 lb	8 – 15 lb	6 – 12 lb
Coat	short	semi-long to short	extra short!
Eyes	copper, green, blue	blue	blue, copper, yellow, gold, orange, green, red
Distinguishing Features	short tail and small ears	facial features and blue eyes	hairlessness; affectionate and sociable
Personality	gentle and calm	gentle, calm, sociable	Intelligent, playful, talkative
Temperament	curious and playful	affectionate and easy going	out-going, mischievous, people-oriented
Continent of origin	USA	USA	Canada
Year of origin	1967	1966	1966
Recognized By	CFA, ACFA, FIFe, TICA	CFA, ACF, FIFe, TICA, IRCA, RFCI	CFA, FIFe, CCA, GCCF, TICA, ACFA
World Ranking	#2	#1	#9

Five Quick Facts About The Sphynx Cat

The Sphynx is an acceptable outcross for one of the world’s smallest cat breeds

Developed in Boston in 1998, the Minskin is a short, rugged cat with a fur-pointed coat that’s not very long at all. The Minskin bears a striking facial resemblance to the Sphynx.

Do I make you horny, baby?

The Iconic Mr. Bigglesworth wowed movie-goers and cat-lovers alike in the legendary 1997 movie, Austin Powers, that produced two sequels, also starring Mr. Bigglesworth.

In the first movie, Mr. Bigglesworth is a white Persian, who develops “feline complications” from being cryogenically frozen, and returns as a Sphynx cat (although this part is played by two cats). In the third movie in the franchise, three kittens assume the role of Mr. Bigglesworth.

Purr-fect cuddle bud

The Sphynx cat’s skin is warm and velvety. Without a coat of fur, purring is a fantastic bonding exercise, where the purrs really echo and resonate from their cuddly bodies.

Not alone

The Sphynx cat is not the only hairless cat bred either for profit or for pleasure, or of calculated breeding standards. The Devon Rex (from Britain), the Peterbald and the Donskoy (both from Russia) are some other hairless cats you may not yet know of.

Is the Sphynx cat hypoallergenic?

Sphynx cats are in fact the breed most-likely to be hypoallergenic as the Fel D1 protein responsible for cat allergies just stays on their skin until you wash it off.

Starting Point Resources:

Please consult these articles for more information. This can be used as a starting point for writing the article, but should not be included in the article

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphynx_cat

https://www.hillspet.com/cat-care/cat-breeds/sphynx

https://www.petmd.com/cat/care/what-you-need-know-bringing-home-sphynx-cat

http://www.vetstreet.com/cats/sphynx#1_ugw20zmq

Sources

Please include all sources that were used to write the article. This will be added at the bottom of the article as sources.

http://messybeast.com/bookshelf/simpson-lifetimes.htm

http://cat-o-pedia.org/frances-simpson.html

http://www.cat-o-pedia.org/frances-simpson10.html

https://www.pawculture.com/breed-basics/cat-breeds/sphynx-cat-breed/

http://www.bemisu.com/Sphynxinfo/Sphynx-History.html

http://www.citizenkat.com/Sphynx%20Outcross.htm