by Nicole Cook

Created on: February 05, 2009

Well known for its lack of fur, the Sphynx is also known as the Canadian Hairless cat and is a mutation that first appeared in Ontario, Canada. The first Sphynx was born in 1966 to a black and white domestic cat after an accidental mating with a father of unknown origin. A recessive gene is thecause for the Sphynx hairless appearance causing it to have no eyebrows or whiskers and a completely different type of body than that of a normal cat giving the impression that the Sphynx is a different species.

"In order for a cat to be hairless she must inherit one copy of the Sphynx gene from each parent"(2). Then two hairless cats mate they will produce litters that are always hairless, however if cats that have inherited one copy of the hairless gene and one copy of the hair gene mate, there is a twenty-five percent chance of each cat being born hairless.

However the Sphynx is not always completely hairless as its skin has the feel of a fuzzy peach and has also been compared to the feel of suede.Some believe that the Sphynx is considered a hypoallergenic cat because of its lack of fur. This is not always true since it is the dander of the cat that people are actually allergic to and not the fur.

Certain precautions should be taken to ensure the skin of the Sphynx is protected. Like humans, Sphynx's are prone to sunburn and their exposure to the sun should therefore be limited to prevent this. Due to their lack of fur, body oils that would normally be absorbed by the fur can build up on the skin of the Sphynx. Regular bathing of the breed is therefore necessary.

The body of the Sphynx is long and muscular with long legs, and tiny paws. The Spynx's tail is also long, and thin. A head that is slightly longer than it is wide is supported by a long neck. Atop the Sphynx's head are two larger than average ears which are wide at their base with rounded tips. The breeds slanted eyes are set deep into the Sphynx's head.

Considered to be the "champion of purrers", the Spynx is a bit of a solitary cat who can ofte preferto live in a one cat household. Because of their lack of fur and lean bodies, the Sphynx does not do well outdoors and should only be an indoor pet. As with most cats, the breed is of a very curious nature and is demanding of its humans attention and time.

References:

1. http://www.petplace.com/cats/choosing-a-sphynx/page1 .aspx

2. The Encyclopedia of The Cat, Pollard, Micheal. 2001., 326

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