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At
a glance...
Body Size... Medium
Coat Length... Short
Life span... 15 yrs |
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Sphynx |
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Description... |
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The Sphynx is the only
recognized hairless breed of cat. The breed does have a very short,
almost suede-like, downy coat. The coat on the face has been
described as "looking like velvet and feeling like moss". This is a
slender cat with a prominent triangular ears, wrinkled skin on the
forehead and a barrel-shaped chest. The tail is long and tapers to a
point. Whiskers may be absent.
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History...
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Hairless cats have been
recognized in Mexico, France and Canada. The modern day Sphynx was
developed from hairless cats arising from a spontaneous mutation in
Ontario, Canada in 1966.
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Traits...
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Sphynx are affectionate and
do best in households with other pets.
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Health...
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Some reports suggest that
this hairless breed is vulnerable to cold and sunburn if allowed
outdoors.
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Summary...
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 The Sphynx is one of the
only cats with sweat glands on its body. Skin secretions may turn
brown, necessitating bathing of the cat to maintain healthy skin.
Sphynx do produce dander and so are not automatically the breed of
choice for those with cat allergies that wish to own a cat. The most distinctive feature of this cat is its
appearance of hairlessness. The Sphynx is of medium size and body
conformation with surprising weight for its size. The head shape is
a modified wedge, with prominent cheekbones and whisker pads giving
a squared appearance to the muzzle. The body is warm and soft to the
touch, with a chamois-like texture to the skin. Females (6-4kg)
are generally smaller than males (4-5kg). The Sphynx is
sweet-tempered, lively, intelligent, and amenable to handling.
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