Sphynx Cats Images and resources about the Sphynx Cat.
"Hairless pets. Wierd!" --Doctor Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Ghostbusters II.
History of the Sphynx Cat Sphynx Cats, whether you think they are really cool or really ugly, you have to admit--they are pretty interesting looking! I thought so, too, so I put up this page to tell you about Sphynx cats and where they came from. Although Sphynx Cats are now bred to be what they are (hairless), it comes as a surprise to many to learn that hairlessness is actually a natural occurance that has appeared spontaneously as a mutation a number of times over the last one hundred years. According to one internet site on the topic, "there are reports of this [Sphynx Cat] mutation occurring in France, Austria, the Czech Republic, England, Australia, Canada, USA, Mexico, Morocco, Russia and Hawaii." Breeding Sphynx Cats The breeding of the Sphynx Cat is thought to have begun in Canada around 1966 when a short-haired house cat had a hairless kitten. Although they were called a number of things at the time ("The Canadian Hairless", "Moonstone Cats", "Canadian Sphynx", etc) their "official" title is "Sphynx". The Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) did not accept the hairless breed of cat until 1998! Once they were accepted they were able to be entered into official competitions. The Earliest Sphynx Cat? Sphynx Cats have been known to exist for quite some time. The picture you see below was published in Francis Simpson's "The Book of the Cat", which was first published in 1903. This pair of cats were instantly famous, becoming known as the "Hairless Mexicans". Sadly, this particular breed of hairless cat no longer exists. Should I get a Sphynx Cat if I have allergies? It is a common misunderstanding that the Sphynx Cat does not bother people who are allergic to cats. Allergies to cats are caused by a protein that a Sphynx Cat has the same as any other type of cat. So it would not be wise to get a Sphynx Cat only because you think that your allergies (or those of your children) wont be affected by them. They probably will be. Here's a quote regarding allergies and Sphyx cats that I found at another web site: "Contrary to what some people believe, Sphynxes are not hypoallergenic. These cats still produce the protein to which allergic people react and shed it in their saliva and dander. The lack of hair may help to reduce the reaction in some people, but others are just as allergic to Sphynxes as to other cats." Does less hair equate to less maintenance? No! Sphynx Cats excrete an oil on their skin and need to be bathed just like any other cat. As you can image, the lack of hair makes them more prone to the cold, so you need to keep them in a warm environment. No "putting the cat out" on cold winter nights. :) Beyond that there's not too much special knowledge that you need in order to care for your Sphynx Cat. More Sphynx Cat Pictures and Images Here are a few more pictures of Sphynx Cats I found on the world wide web. If you have any pictures you'd like to add here, send me an email. My Other Sphynx Cat Pages Hairless Cats · Hairless Cat Photos · Sphynx Cats · Hairless Cat Links