El Sphynx It is one of the most striking cat breeds, since when looking at it it gives us the impression that it does not have any fur. In addition, its slim and elegant body can remind us of the sphinxes, from which it gets its name.
Although it needs a little more attention and care than cats that do have hair, it is no less true that it is one of the animals that can more easily conquer hearts, especially people with a calm nature. Learn more.
Origin and history
Although it may seem otherwise to us, the fact that it apparently has no hair is not the result of selective breeding, but of a natural recessive genetic mutation that occurred in the 60s in Canada. From then on, Canadian breeders dedicated their work to preserving the characteristics of those early Sphynx kittens.
But what was the race that experienced that change? The truth is that it is not well known. The most accepted theory is that the mutation appeared in the Devon rex (which also arose naturally, the result of crossing two common cats). What can be affirmed is that both the American and European bloodlines descend from two families of natural mutations:
- Dermis and Epidermis (1975): from Pearsons de Wadena, in Minnesota (USA)
- Bambi, Punkie and Paloma (1978): found in Toronto, Ontario (Canada) and raised by Shirley Smith.
Physical characteristics of the Sphynx
It is an animal with a slim body but athletic build, protected by a fine layer of very, very short, whitish hair. The head is triangular, with large rounded lemon-shaped eyes, and very large ears that are wide at the base.
The legs are medium in proportion to the body, robust and muscular, the hind legs being slightly higher than the front legs. The tail is thin, flexible and well proportioned.
His life expectancy is 10 to 15 years.
black sphynx cat
It is a variety that has dark gray skin, with the rest of the characteristics of the breed.
Behavior and personality
The Sphynx, also called the sphinx or Egyptian cat (not to be confused with the egyptian mau), It is a sweet, friendly and curious animal. In addition, he is very intelligent, to the point that he will need stimuli (both visual and physical -games-) to lead a happy and healthy life.
But yes, it is generally calmer and calmer than other cats, especially if we compare it with the common European, or let alone the Bengal 😉 . Of course, do not expect him to behave like a Persian (whose fame as a sofa cat has made him very popular): unlike him, he prefers to lead an active life rather than spend all day resting.
How to take care of it?
Food
Although it is a somewhat peculiar cat, it is a cat. This means that you need to eat a diet rich in animal protein (meat and/or fish, depending on your tastes), and without cereals. Ideally, it will be to give it natural food, but to avoid problems it is advisable to consult with a nutritionist veterinarian.
An alternative to the traditional Barf diet would be to give him the Yum Diet, which is basically similar to the Barf, but with the meat that is sold ready to serve.
Other options are to give it feed, like taste of the wild, Acana, Applaws, Orijen, Criadores Grain-Free, etc., or others that are even more recommended -but more expensive- such as Summum.
Obviously, you must make sure that they always have clean and fresh water at their disposal. And for this there is nothing like buy an automatic waterer (fountain). Because? Because cats don't usually like to drink water that remains stagnant. The fountains encourage them to drink more, thus reducing the risk of urinary tract system problems such as cystitis.
Games
Keeping moving is very important for almost all living things, including people and of course cats during those waking hours. If you want them to enjoy good physical -and mental- health you must play with him an hour a day, divided into small sessions of about 20 minutes each.
But be careful: do not play with him in a rough way, and don't let it bite you nor scratch. The movements have to be subtle. You must turn the toy -a cane for example- into a live prey, moving it as if it really were. Here Do you have ideas to give him (gift them 😉 ).
Veterinary
During his first year of life you have to take him to the vet to get the compulsory vaccinations, the microchip, and also to castrate it if you do not intend to breed it. In addition, It will be necessary to take it back each time it has suffered an accident or you suspect that it is ill, something that will happen if you see that you lose your appetite, vomit, he has fever, and/or is sad.
Affection and company
Without a doubt, it is one of the most important things, if not the most. If you have a cat, or any pet animal, and you don't spend time with it and don't care for it, there's no point in sharing your life with it. That's why, a cat should only be brought home when we really want it.
And that "want" does not have to be the typical "I want this and after a few days I forget", no. Animals are not things. They are not (or should not be) whims. Animals need care, they need to be respected... throughout their lives, which in the case of the Sphynx exceeds a decade.
It is clear that we cannot know where or how we will be in 10 years, but if that does not matter to us when we talk about our family, it will not if we can and we are very, very excited to bring a cat into our home. After all, the feline will also be part of the family.
Protection against cold and heat
It is very, very sensitive to cold; hence it is one of the few cat breeds to which it is especially recommended to put clothes that keep it warm. For this reason, it does not have to be allowed to go outside, especially in autumn-winter. It will be much better indoors, near a heat source, or covered with blankets.
On the other hand, by not having hair that protects it too much, it is important to avoid exposing it or being exposed to sunlight during the summeras you could get burned.
What is the price of an Egyptian cat?
The price of the Sphynx is about 500-600 € if you buy it from a professional breeder, and around €400-500 if you do it in a pet store.
What do you think of this breed of cats?