All about the Sphynx cat breed

Sphynxes are the most mysterious breed of cats, their appearance frightens and arouses interest at the same time. Just a few decades ago, they seemed to be inhabitants of other planets. Today this breed has gained wide popularity.

The origin of hairless cats has its own history. Animals were born without wool at different times and among different peoples. When the mutation occurred, a naked baby appeared in the litter of ordinary kittens. He was not considered something special, on the contrary, such kittens were discarded. But some peoples supported the manifestation of mutations and raised hairless cats. History has recorded cases of keeping bald animals by the Aztecs and Egyptians. Unfortunately, these breeds have not survived to this day.

Modern cats and cats, which we are used to seeing at exhibitions, belong to three types of sphinxes: Canadian, Don and St. Petersburg. The first breed of modern Sphynxes was created by Canadians. It was originally an unsuccessful attempt in Ontario in 1966 when a normal cat had a hairless kitten. In the future, the babies appeared weak, not resilient. In 1975, in Minnesota, nature again presented a hairless cat, and a year later, a cat. This unique pair became the progenitors of the entire Canadian breed.

The Donskoy Sphynx descended from the bald cat Varvara from Rostov-on-Don, her hairless kitten was born in 1987.

In 1994, in St. Petersburg, another breed of sphinxes was bred, which they began to call Peterbalds. The species is based on the Don Sphynx and oriental cats.

The mutation of the Canadian Sphynx species was the result of a recessive baldness gene. In the case of the Don breed, the animals had a dominant gene.

Not only the appearance of the sphinxes causes a controversial opinion, there are disputes about their health, character, hygienic difficulties. Before purchasing such a pet, you should consider all the pros and cons associated with keeping these animals. Sphinxes are endowed with many virtues.

• This is still an elite breed. Its representatives have a unique exotic appearance.
• The positive aspects include partial hypoallergenicity. People who are allergic to cat hair may contain sphinxes, but oversensitive individuals still react to salivary secretions and sweat of the animal.
• The absence of hair on the animal does not create problems with additional cleaning in the house.
• Sphynxes have a benevolent character, they are not capricious.
• Animals are intelligent, easy to train, their abilities should be developed in the process of communication.
• Most of this breed are in good health.
• Good-natured sphinxes get along well with children and get along easily with other pets.
• They are gentle, loyal and affectionate to their owners. By nature, they are active, playful and inquisitive animals.

Disadvantages of the breed should also be noted:

• high cost of animals - from 200 to 1000 US dollars;
• they need special hygiene, skin and ear care;
• many people do not like the brown sticky coating on the back;
• sometimes the owners complain about a specific smell from pets;
• due to the lack of wool, animals are often freezing and susceptible to diseases associated with hypothermia;
• the sphinx almost never leaves the owner, not every person is pleased with such excessive attachment.

Sphynxes were originally a mixture of basic breeds and animals with a baldness gene mutation. The new individual was the so-called mestizo, they tried to cross her with a similar animal, which was also a cross between a smooth-haired cat and a mutated naked cat. This is how the Sphynx breed was formed, which today has three types: Canadian, Don and St. Petersburg. The presence of various genetic malfunctions due to recessive and dominant genes contributed to their distinctive characteristics in the appearance of these animals.

Everyone perceives the appearance of animals differently. For some, the sphinx is scary, but for others it seems fantastically cute. Various skin colors (black, white, purple, blue) can belong to any kind of sphinx. Otherwise, all 3 species differ significantly from each other. If you put them side by side for comparison, the difference will be obvious.

To make sure of this, let's consider each species separately.

The animals are medium in size, but weigh more than they appear, due to their dense muscle mass. The head is triangular (wedge-shaped) with clearly defined cheekbones, a flat forehead and a strong chin. Large amber eyes are round or slightly elongated, similar in shape to lemons... They have huge, wide ears. The skin is warm, with a light bristle, pleasant to the touch. A barrel-shaped body with an oval rib cage. The legs are strong, the front legs are shorter than the hind legs. A thin long tail, similar to a whip, with a pointed end.

Of the three species, the Don Sphynxes are the stocky, strongest and healthiest, with a well-developed skeleton and muscular system.They also have a wedge-shaped head with prominent cheekbones, and their muzzle is short and rounded. The eyes are almond-shaped, small to medium-sized, slightly slanted, irises can be of any color. The ears are large and high, rounded, set wide apart. Active folds are collected on the muzzle, the mustache is absent or twisted. Donchaks are endowed with a standard or large body with regular proportions, a noticeable belly, a straight tail of medium thickness.

Peterbalds are very similar to Oriental, since they are the basis of the breed. Petersburg Sphinxes differ from the rest by their grace and elegance. They have a long, elongated body, the same limbs and tail, a wedge-shaped head, a characteristic long nose, a flat forehead, a twisted mustache and a thin, curved neck. Slanting almond-shaped eyes are predominantly blue or green in color.

Sphynxes of all three species have many similarities in character. They are good-natured, sociable, adore guests. If there are other pets in the house, the sphinxes will always find a common language and common games with them. Despite the fact that animals are very attached to people and require attention, they can perfectly entertain themselves by playing with anything.

Sphinxes are curious, energetic and mobile, able to climb to the very ceiling, walk on cornices, and do acrobatic jumps. They are intelligent and easy to train. They can be taught to play the ball, bring things, play hide and seek.

Each breed has slight differences in the character and behavior of cats. For example, resentment is almost not characteristic of Sphinxes. This quality can only be possessed by Canadians. They cannot be scolded or repulsed. They will not take revenge, but they can take offense, suffer and stop eating.

The Don and St. Petersburg Sphinxes are absolutely devoid of selfishness, they are not touchy and even less vindictive. These cats are more energetic than their Canadian counterparts, for whom banal laziness is sometimes observed.

Peterbols are the most affectionate breed, at any convenient moment such a cat will climb into her arms and ask to be petted. The most stable and balanced psyche in animals of the Don breed.

Communicating with sphinxes, you forget that these are cats, there is so much logical and reasonable in their character. People like to observe unique animals, learn interesting facts about them.

• Sphynx metabolism differs significantly from all felines. They love to eat well, but their figure does not suffer. They need increased power due to increased heat transfer.
• The body temperature of the animal is 39 degrees, so it seems that they are hot.
• Some individuals have a record lifespan of 19 years, but most cats live for 12-15 years.
• The ears of newborn kittens hang down and straighten only by the age of one month.
• Sphinxes love to swim.
• These cats can sunbathe and sweat like humans.
• Before the breeding of the Sphynx breed, the owners of rarely mutated hairless kittens were trying to treat the lichen.

We have already found out that the Sphynx breed has three main lines. The division of hairless cats does not end there. At first glance, it seems that animals have no wool, in fact, they are covered with fluff. According to the type of pile, the sphinxes are divided into subspecies: flock, velor, brush. There is another type of breed - naked-born, which have absolutely no hair, not even a cannon. They are called rubber, or plasticine. This subspecies belongs to the Don line. Atypical for sphinxes is a variety that has a full-fledged hairline, the so-called straight-haired.

Consider the types of wool that are inherent in the Don Sphynx and Peterbald.

From the name it becomes clear that kittens are born completely hairless, even without whiskers, eyebrows and contact hairs on their paws. The skin of such animals has many folds, it is warm and sticky to the touch. Due to the presence of brown viscous sweat, animals require daily hygiene procedures. Naked babies can be born with open eyes, just like humans. Their parchment skin does not yet have a final color, what color the animal will become in adulthood, you can tell by the pads of the feet. Sometimes, by winter, animals become overgrown with rare wool, but in a warm period of time it disappears. Large individuals remain without hair throughout the year.

Kittens, with their delicate fluff, look like velvet peaches. It is very pleasant to touch them, like teddy bears. During the first two years after birth, the hairline gradually becomes thinner and disappears, the bulbs completely lose their vitality.

Visually, the kittens seem to be naked, but if you touch them, the villi are even denser at hand than in the flock. Especially long hairs on the face, tail and limbs, but the top of the head remains completely bald. By running your hand against the fur, you can observe how quickly the thick velvety pile takes its original position.

Velor sphinxes, in turn, are subdivided into several more types that determine the density of the pile.

Light velor has light vegetation with a hair length of 2 millimeters. Most of them are on the paws and not at all on the head. Each kitten has its own hardness of the coat.

Point - this type of sphinx is endowed with a fairly long pile (up to 4 millimeters), which grows in certain places - on the paws, muzzle and tail. By winter, the points become especially noticeable.

The downy look of velor kittens looks very cute because of the rather long pile, but for this very reason they are of little interest to breeders. Cats of this type have beautiful fluffy tails.

The hair of this type of animal is really hard and messy, like the bristles of an old brush. Sometimes vegetation on the head, neck and legs is completely absent. Breeders are only interested in brushes to continue the population of naked sphinxes. Unfortunately, from two absolutely bald individuals, not viable offspring are born. The brushes are used as one of the parents for the appearance of the sphinxes of the hairless variety.

By the age of one and a half years, in weakly expressed brushes, the coat may disappear. Animals endowed with dense hair, through which the skin is not even visible, will wear it for the rest of their days.

Sphynxes have a full-fledged coat, they do not have a hair loss gene. The species came from the selection of Sphynxes with oriental and Siamese cats. Representatives of this breed repeat the color of the cats participating in the selection, their hair is short and tight to the skin in the oriental style.

When bringing a unique animal into the house, you should be ready to take care of it. Sphynxes are not at all capricious, but the lack of hair implies special care for their skin. And the rest of the content of the sphinx is not too different from caring for any other pet.

Sphinxes are not picky about food, they love everything, the main thing is that there is a lot of food. The owner must regulate the nutrition of his pet himself, so that he has enough calories to maintain heat exchange, but there is no excess stored in fat.

For feeding sphinxes, special dry food such as Orijen Cat & Kitten or Royal Canin Sphynx Adult have been developed.

In addition to feed from a pet store, natural products can be introduced into the diet: beef, turkey (ground), chicken breast (boiled). Raw or boiled vegetables, herbs are given several times a week. The sphinxes menu includes sea fish, eggs, cereals.

If the sphinx was just brought into the house, it needs time to adapt. These animals are very affectionate, and when the pet gets used to the hands, he himself will beg for affection.

Standard rules for hand training have been developed.

• When the kitten eats, it will feel sleepy. This is a good moment to gently pick it up.
• Talking to the kitten in a monotonous gentle voice, they seek to relax it. At this point, the baby should be stroked slightly behind the ear or on the neck.
• It's easy to lure your pet into your lap with a treat, and when it begins to treat itself, you can lightly stroke it, but not hold it by force.
• A kid who loves to play can be lured onto his knees with a toy.

Tray training for the sphinx begins virtually from the first day. When the kitten is very small, the tray is placed in the place where it lives (sleeps, eats). The filler needs to be natural and small, as the baby may taste it. Small paws may not like large pellets and will not want to go to the tray.

The sphinx should be watched. If he gets worried and starts spinning, then he is looking for a place for a toilet, at this moment he is carefully transferred to the tray. Sometimes the baby makes a puddle on the floor. In this case, you need to moisten a little filler in it and put it in the tray. Next time the kitten will find its toilet by smell.

The hairless sphinx sweats with a brown sticky liquid, which should be removed daily with special napkins, especially wiping the folds of the skin. Once a week, the animals are bathed using a cat shampoo.

The dark brown secret also collects in the ears of the sphinx. It is removed with a cotton swab as it gets dirty.

The eyes of animals do not have eyelashes to protect them from dust, but they do have a gelatinous discharge that collects dust. Excess secretions are removed with a dry or slightly damp gauze disc.

Sphinxes are easy to train, they are intellectuals, and besides, they strive to please the owner. By the age of 8 months, the cat can begin to teach various tricks. Execution of commands is reinforced by a treat. You need to observe what the animal likes. If he loves to run and jump, he can be taught to overcome obstacles on command. It is easy to teach a cat carrying all sorts of things in its teeth to the command "bring".

Sphinxes are afraid of cold and drafts. In cool apartments and during walks in the fresh air, clothes for cats help them out. She should be of high quality, soft, from natural materials. The seams should not press and interfere with the animal's movement. Sphynx skin is sensitive, so if they feel discomfort, they will try to rip off their clothes.

Pregnancy in a cat lasts 58-72 days. During this period, she needs care and nutrition according to the advice of a veterinarian. As the time approaches for childbirth, the cat needs to prepare a place, such as a box of soft bedding. VDuring childbirth, especially the first, the cat needs the support of the owners, she often calls them with a loud voice. When the last kitten is born and the mother licks them, she should change the litter.

Sphynxes have good immunity and are considered a fairly healthy breed, especially the Don line.But due to the lack of wool, being in a draft can lead to colds.

Cats love to sunbathe, but this is often accompanied by burning of the skin, which causes the animals to acquire diseases associated with overheating.... With poor care, sphinxes also suffer from skin diseases. And if you don't take care of their eyes seriously, they develop conjunctivitis. You need to know the vaccination card and vaccinate your pet on time.

A cat that has given birth may subsequently develop problems that cause mastitis and cystic lumps.

Sphynxes are suitable for the patient cat lover who does not travel on business trips and is often at home. When choosing a sphinx, one should take into account its nature and the requirements of constant attention from the owner. It should also be remembered that sphinxes are very active, and for those who want a quiet life, such a cat will not be suitable.... But if you need a devoted friend and purring "companion" - Sphynxes are the most suitable breed for these purposes.

According to the owners, this breed is healthy, intelligent and friendly. Occasional complaints of serious health problems are associated with the unsuccessful choice of a kitten. After analyzing the owners' advice on choosing a cat, the following conclusions can be drawn.

• When choosing a kitten, you should pet him. If he is cheerful and fawning, most likely the baby is healthy.
• Should alert the seller who does not ask who the buyer is and for what purpose he takes the pet. A caring breeder is always concerned about the fate of his kittens and how they will be looked after.
• Better to get a kitten that is at least 3 months old.

All about the Sphynx breed, see the next video.