The Sphynx Hairless Cat Breed

The Sphynx is one of the most unusual of all cat breeds, having very little fur, possibly just a soft fuzz on the body, and no whiskers.

It is quite rare and only developed as a recognised breed in the past fifty years. There had been earlier attempts at breeding hariless cats in Mexico and France but it is in 1960s Canada that the present Sphynx breed finds its origins.

Sphynx are suitable for living in busy households as they enjoy human company and attention. They are highly intelligent and can be taught voice commands.

Sphynx are sometimes said to be especially suitable for people who are allergic to cats hair, but the term hypoallergenic does not mean that there is no risk at all. Although Sphynx cats are almost completely hairless they do secrete the FEL D 1 protein which is believed to be the cause of human cat allergy.

The likelihood of an allergy problem is, however, reduced because Sphynx cats do not shed hair which flies in the air and coats furniture, and is possibly the most common route by which FEL D 1 is transmitted to humans. Regular bathing of a Sphynx is necessary anyway as part of its normal care, but this will also have the advantage of washing away the protein which has been sweat from the sebaceous glands onto the cat's skin as so avoid it being passed to a human owner or family member.

There are other aspects of good cat care that are important for the Sphynx. The cat's large ears must be cleaned regularly to rid them of dust and dirt and prevent wax buildup. Also, during colder weather, because of its lack of hair your cat may need extra heating and to avoid exposure to the cold.

The breed is sensitive to extremes of temperature in either direction and should be kept in cooler rooms during the summer. In particular, as the Sphynx's skin is quite like human skin in being sensitive to ultraviolet rays, it is necessary to avoid sunburn which can have both short-term and long-term health effects.

Certainly the Sphynx, due to its unconventional appearance, will not be everyone's choice of pet cat but they can be extremely good companions as well as cheerful adventurers and acrobats. At least, among other cat breeds, give the Sphynx some consideration.


David Murray is a retired international management consultant now living in the East Midlands of England and building a portfolio of online businesses in areas where he has a personal interest and enthusiasm. Among these he is owner of "Care for Your Cat".