Purina

Personality:

• Intelligent, loyal, and loving.
• Sociable, but usually select one particular human as their own.

History:

Breed is the result of a spontaneous mutation of the gene related to hair.  The name for the cat was inspired from ancient Greek drawings of a mythical creature that resembles the cat.  First imports to the United States came from France and Canada and are believed to have originated from a Devon or Cornish Rex background.  Accepted for championship status by The International Cat Association (TICA) in 1987.  Not accepted by the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA).

Body Type:

• Medium-sized cat with a broad chest, medium to fine boning and whip-like tail.
• Roll of fat around midriff helps to maintain body heat.
• Head is shaped like a modified wedge with very large ears.
• Eyes are large, wide set and correspond to coat color.

Coat:

• Coat consists of fuzz-like hair with perceptible hair on the feet, tip of the tail, nose, and behind the ears.
• Cat feels like warm velvet or suede.
• Since there is no protective hair in the ears, they must be cleaned every other day with a cotton swab.
• Wide assortment of colors including solids, tabby patterns, or parti-colors.

Health and Wellness:

• In the past, this breed was reported to have had problems with immune system development.  According to Sphynx breeders, this problem no longer exists.

What you should know:

• Cat must be kept out of the sun to avoid sunburn.
• Requires a high-calorie diet in order to maintain body heat.
• Sphyxes must be protected from extremes in temperature.
• Since there is no coat to absorb natural oils and no hair in the ears to repel dirt, a Sphynx will require more grooming than its furry cousins.
• Please be sure that you have the dedication and time available to maintain a Sphynx before purchasing a kitten.