Maybe you don’t recognize the name, but we here at IndulgeYourPet are sure that you’ve probably seen a picture of one of these cool little guys!
The problem is…
That after someone sees a picture of a Sphynx cat, they’re either going to say…
“OMG, what’s wrong with that poor little animal?”
Or they’re going to say…
“OMG, what is that thing? And how can I make on my own!”
Now we here at…
IndulgeYourPet clearly belong to the latter group of folks who are absolutely in love with this cat breed. This is why we wanted to take a moment and discuss what it’s actually like to own one of these amazing little creatures.
Because…
Just because you may be as fascinated by them as we are, doesn’t mean that they’re going to be a good “fit” for you, or viscera, you may not be a good “fit” for them!
So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.
Sphynx Cat Breed Fast Facts
Country of Origin: Canada
Size: Medium
Weight: 8 to 10 pounds
Eyes: Large and round
Shape of Head: Wedge shaped
Lifespan: 13 to 15 years
Origin of the Sphynx cat
While it is certainly understandable why one would think that the origin of the Sphynx cat must date back to some “ancient” pre-historic time in Egypt, the truth is, we only need to look back to the mid 1970’s to “unearth’ the origin of the Sphynx cat breed.
You see…
It was back in 1975 in Wadena, Minnesota (of all places) when a stray farm cat, delivered two hairless kittens which would ultimately lead to the development of the Sphynx breed.
And while…
It is true that the origins of the Sphynx cat breed can be traced back to these two little kittens, the breed didn’t become established until a few years later when some of these original Sphynx cats created a colony of strays living on the streets of Toronto, Canada.
This is when…
A few of these strays were brought to breeders in the Netherlands who were trying to develop a “hairless” cat breed themselves and where then cross-bred with the Devon Rex cat breed creating what we now know and love.
Today…
The Sphynx cat breed is recognized by the American Cat Fanciers Association, the Cat Fanciers Association and The International Cat Association, with “credit” for the breed going to Canada!
Physical Attributes of the Sphynx Cat
The Sphynx cat is bald—though their toes, ears, and tail may have a bit of fur on them. They’re also wrinkled and have a potbelly. Still not sure what they look like? That’s easy, close your eyes and think of a bald sixty year old guy who has a passion for buffalo wings!
But don’t be fooled…
By their “appearance”, because despite what their bodies might look like, the truth is these guys are actually quite muscular little cats and are accomplished little acrobats when they need to be.
Like their bodies…
Spynx cats have pretty muscular legs with long toes, oval paws, and very thin tails.
Now are there tails any thinner than “normal” cats? That we don’t know, but since these guys are hairless we can tell you that their tails do look pretty thing.
But…
For what they lack in “tail girth” they more than make up for it when you look at their large eyes, ears and long muzzle.
And while…
It may seem weird talking about a hairless cats coloring, we should point out that these guys actually do come in several different colors including:
- Red,
- Black,
- Lavender,
- Or chocolate.
They also come in numerous patterns such as tabby, tortoiseshell, bicolor, calico, mink, or pointed.
Temperament
The Sphynx is one of the most affectionate cats out there, much to contrary belief. They’re very friendly, and they love to cuddle. They’ll sit on your lab as you watch a movie or lay right beside you while you take a nap. (Mostly to steal your warmth.)
That said…
It’s important to point out that the Sphynx cat is not a fan of being left alone. So, if you’re going to get a Sphynx, it’s best to have another pet or a pet sitter to take care of them, so that they’re entertained while you’re at work.
But…
If you have kids at home, you’re probably not going to have to worry about that, because the Sphyx cat is great with kids and kids love playing with these guys!
Sometimes though…
It won’t matter who’s in the house, because these guys just love people. They love to be around people, whether it be you or a family member or a friend. They’ll follow you around the house and constantly call for your attention.
The Sphynx will also…
Welcome anyone strange into your home, and make sure they feel comfortable. They’re not shy, and they’ll be sure to keep your guests entertained.
When they’re not…
Doing that, they’re probably exploring your home to see what else they can find. They’re curious cats filled with lots of energy, so expect to find them climbing bookcases and chasing flies. You can also find them playing with toys that make them think because they love to be challenged.
But there are…
A few things we should mention about the Sphynx breed that could prevent you from wanting to adopt one. First of all, even though they don’t have fur, they’re still going to require weekly grooming/sponge baths to help rinse off some of the natural skin “grease” that can develop on them.
Now we don’t…
Want to imply that these are “greasy” cats, its just imagine how you would feel if you couldn’t take a shower for a week!
Also…
These guys are basically just walking around through life “naked”. Which means that they can often times get cold depending on the weather. They can also get sun burned! So, if you do decide to adopt a Sphynx cat, we would recommend that you keep them indoors or at the very least limit their time outside.
Sphynx cat health concerns
Sphynx cats are generally healthy, but they do have a couple diseases that may arise.
The first disease… that they have a possibility of developing is a heart disease. This heart disease is called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
Sadly…
There is no cure for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, but certain treatments can help a cat because it decreases the chances of it experiencing certain symptoms. These symptoms could be rapid breathing, open-mouth breathing, and lethargy
The second thing…
They’re prone to is urticaria pigmentosa. This is a skin disease that causes crusty sores to show up on the body. It’s a pretty common genetic disease among all cats, just like HCM.
HCM is not hereditary, but urticaria pigmentosa is.
Also…
Because of their lack of fur, if they’re exposed to sunlight for hours on end on a daily basis, they may be prone to skin cancer.
Which is why…
If you are seriously considering adopting a Sphynx cat, we would definitely recommend that you take a moment and consider possibly purchasing a pet insurance policy for your little guy as well.
Because…
While your Norwegian kitten will probably grow up to live a long and healthy life, you just never know. Accidents and sicknesses happen all the time and having a pet insurance policy in place that would help you be able to manage the cost of care is often times a great thing to have in place.
Now will a pet insurance policy be a “good” fit for everyone?
No, probably not. But until you know what they will and won’t cover and what it would cost for you to be able to purchase such a policy, how will you know if getting one isn’t “right” for you?
This is why…
We here at IndulgeYourPet have written our Best Pet Insurance Companies article so that you can get a “basic” understanding of how these policies work and see if it might not make sense to purchase one for your little guy!
