Ears like a bat, skin like a shar pei, paws like a guinea pig – such reviews and comments usually accompany sphynx cats, wherever they appear. Their unusual appearance and graceful movements fascinate many, but not everyone calls these cats cute or sympathetic, and yet in their own way they are very beautiful – and this beauty can only be seen and appreciated by a true aesthete.
Discovery
Where did these furless cats come from? It all seemed very simple: Sphynxes are a breed bred for ornamental purposes in Canada in the mid-70s and then in Russia in the mid-90s. The ancient name was given to them because these peculiar creatures resembled the Egyptian cat sculptures on display in the Louvre or the British Museum.
Incidentally, felinologists are convinced: they have not only bred but also restored an ancient breed of cat. After all, there is reliable evidence that hairless cats existed in antiquity and among the Aztecs. Moreover, at the beginning of the 20th century, the invention of the mekSikh hairless cat breed. It is a pity that there are no descendants.
Species of Weasels
Nowadays, there are three different breeds of Sphynx: the Canadian Sphynx, the Don Sphynx and the Peterborough Sphynx (Peterbold). Each line has its own set of traits, which are strictly monitored by their hosts.
The Canadian Sphynx is easily recognisable by its pear-shaped belly and its tail, which is like a cone held tightly to its side. The eyes of the Canadian Sphinx are shaped like a lemon. The thick skin, composed of many lobes, resembles suede when touched. The colours of the Canadian Sphynx are more vivid than those of the other species of this breed. White and pink sphynxes (different shades mixed with white) are most common. On the Canadian Sphynx, fur grows on the nose, on the other side of the ears and even on the end of the paws and the tail.
A Donkey Sphynx can be born completely hairless (the Canadian Sphynx does not). The tail in this type of catIt is smooth and thin, with almond-shaped eyes and a slight slant, and a curly or absent moustache. Skin wrinkles are mainly on the head, neck, abdomen, armpits and groin.
The Petersburg Sphynx, a cross between the Don Sphynx and the Oriental cat, is the fluffiest of the breed: breeders allow light fluffing on the ears, muzzle, below the paws and on the tip of the tail. The skin of the Petersburg Sphynx is thin, with many folds, and the whiskers are always curly.
Care
There is a perception that Sphynxes require a lot of care, but in fact they need no more or less care than other cat breeds.
Sphynx do not need greenhouse conditions: they do tend to sleep warmly, for example under their owner’s blanket, but when they wake up the warmth of room temperature is quite sufficient.
Despite their external fragility, adult cats are rarely ill and female births are easy. Kittens are slightly sicker than adult cats, breathingIt is therefore recommended to vaccinate small kittens with an inactive vaccine. Sphynx skin, which is similar to human skin, is not protected by anything, so it sweats and becomes matted. The brown spots are easily wiped off with wet wipes. It is not compulsory to bathe your Sphynx regularly, but if you do decide to give it a bath, use a mild baby shampoo or a bath milk. After bathing, wipe the cat dry to prevent bloating and sickness.
Sphynx cats have sensitive skin and are not suitable for sunbathing together. However, the light tan that appears in late summer makes the cat’s colour very attractive.
Cats’ skin also needs to be protected from their own sharp claws. Felinologists recommend that cats’ nails should be trimmed regularly with special scissors. However, only the very tips need to be trimmed and it is better to trim less but more often.
Sphynx ears should be cleaned from time to time to remove accumulated black-brown secretion. This is not disturbing to cats, but for aesthetic reasons.