Sphynx

The sphynx (also known as the Canadian Sphynx) is a breed of cat known for its lack of fur. Its skin has the texture of chamois leather and may be completely hairless or carry fine hairs. Whiskers can be whole, broken or missing altogether.

The breed standard describes a somewhat wedge-shaped head with prominent cheekbones, large lemon-shaped eyes and very large ears. The body is muscular and medium in length, with a barrel chest and a full, round belly sometimes called a pot belly. Legs and tail are long, the tail whiplike and tapering, and the paws are neat and rounded with pads thicker than other cats have, so they seem to walk on cushions.

The skin is the colour the fur would have been, so all the usual markings, such as solid, point, van, tabby and tortie, can be seen on it. Because they have no coat, sphynx cats lose body heat more readily than coated cats. That makes them warm to the touch and prone to seeking out warm places.

Reports of hairless cats go back centuries, but the modern sphynx has been developed through selective breeding since the early 1960s. Hairlessness in cats is a naturally occurring genetic mutation. The breed is distinct from Russian hairless breeds such as the Peterbald and Donskoy.

The Canadian line began in Toronto in 1966, when a hairless male kitten named Prune was born to a black and white domestic shorthair queen. Early breeders worked out that the hairlessness gene is autosomal recessive. The breed briefly had provisional showing status with the Cat Fanciers' Association, which was withdrawn in 1971 over fertility concerns.

Two sets of North American cats in the 1970s became the foundation of today's North American and European sphynx. One was a pair of hairless barn cats, Dermis and Epidermis, from Wadena, Minnesota. The other was three hairless strays found in Toronto in 1978 by breeder Shirley Smith. Some of these were later bred in the Netherlands to a Devon Rex, and Cornish Rex cats were also used as outcrosses.

Sphynx cats are known for being extroverted. They are energetic, intelligent, curious and affectionate with their owners.

They are described as one of the more dog-like cat breeds, often greeting their owners at the door and being friendly towards strangers. They tend to be strongly attached to their people and often demand a lot of attention.

They also tend to cuddle for body warmth because they lack fur. In a 2012 study, owners rated purebred sphynx cats as friendlier than purebred European cats, though more research is needed.

Having no protective fur brings challenges. Sphynx cats can get sunburn and skin damage much as humans do, and skin cancer may be a problem after long sun exposure. Kittens' lack of hair can make them susceptible to respiratory infections in the first weeks of life.

The breed has a high rate of heart disease, either hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) or mitral valve dysplasia. In a 2012 study of 114 sphynx cats, 34% had an abnormal heart. Males developed more severe disease than females and often earlier.

Congenital myasthenic syndrome, an inherited neuromuscular disorder, is found in sphynx and Devon Rex cats and can appear between 3 and 23 weeks of age. Affected cats show muscle weakness and fatigue and head bobbing. Urate urolithiasis was also over-represented in the breed in one review.

Their skin produces a lot of greasy secretion, and they make more earwax than most coated cats. Oils and debris can also build up under the nails and in skin folds.

This is general awareness only, not veterinary advice. Always consult a vet about your pet's health.

Is a sphynx really hairless?

Not always completely. The skin may be fully bare or have fine hairs, and very soft short hair can remain on areas such as the nose, tail and toes.

Are sphynx cats hypoallergenic?

Not necessarily. Cat allergies are triggered by a protein called Fel d1, found mainly in saliva and sebaceous glands, not by hair itself. There are reports of some people with allergies tolerating sphynx cats, but these are fewer than reports of people who have allergic reactions.

What is a sphynx like to live with?

They are friendly, energetic, curious and attention-seeking, and often greet people at the door. They like cuddling for warmth.

Why are sphynx cats warm to the touch?

Without fur they lose body heat more readily than coated cats. This makes them feel warm and keen to seek out warm spots.

What health problems do sphynx cats get?

They are known for heart disease, especially HCM, plus sunburn, skin problems and a rare inherited muscle disorder called congenital myasthenic syndrome.

The name is pronounced SFINKS.

The sphynx's hairlessness is primarily due to a mutation in the KRT71 gene, which makes the hair fragile and loosely rooted so it falls out easily.

In 2010, DNA analysis showed that sphynx hairlessness comes from a different version of the same gene that gives the Devon Rex its short curly coat.

Their paw pads are thicker than other cats', giving the look of walking on cushions.

Some tails have a puff of fur at the tip, like a lion.