Sphynx cats are unusual, graceful, intelligent animals. The article will tell you about the peculiarities of keeping Canadian and Don sphinxes, their character and behavior.
Having once met the Sphynx, many cat lovers decide to have a small representative of this hairless breed in their home. These cats are capable of charming with just one glance, and with their grace and alien appearance they can forever make a person fall in love with them.
Sphinxes are graceful, flexible animals
In order to avoid making a mistake when choosing a pet, it is necessary to take into account the differences in Sphynx breeds, as well as take into account the peculiarities of the maintenance and behavior of these cats.
Canadian and Don Sphynx: description of cat breeds, colors, photos
Sphynx cats have a flexible, muscular, round body and long, elastic legs. The tail of sphinxes is usually straight, but sometimes it is pressed tightly to the side in the form of a ring.
The Sphynx's tail can be pressed to its side
The head is rounded, slightly oblong, with prominent cheekbones, a straight nose and wide, large ears, rounded at the ends. The entire body of the sphinx is covered with thick, suede-like skin that forms folds.
IMPORTANT: The “folding” of sphinxes is an indicator of age. There are a lot of folds on the body of kittens, while the “oldies” have folds only in the area of the neck and abdomen.
Folds on the body of a “rubber” Sphynx kitten
A distinctive feature of Sphynxes is their dense, rounded belly, when you look at it you might think that the animal has recently eaten heavily.
Canadian and Don Sphynxes have many similarities, the most important of which is the almost complete absence of hair on the skin. Despite this, cats and Sphynx cats can come in a wide variety of colors. This is acceptable and must be noted in the animal’s pedigree.
Sphynxes can have different colors
Each color, shade, color of the skin of sphinxes corresponds to a specific letter of the Latin alphabet.
There are 7 solid colors:
- black ( n )
- blue( s )
- chocolate ( b )
- lilac ( s )
- red ( d )
- cream ( e )
- white ( w )
In addition to plain ones, sphinxes can have bi-color and intermediate colors. Sphynxes of bath, color-point, and Harlequin colors look unusual.
Red Sphynx kitten
IMPORTANT: Tortoiseshell coloring is the norm only for Sphynx cats. Sphynx cats of tortoiseshell color are a kind of natural error. The gene mutation that leads to the appearance of tortoiseshell seals deprives them of the ability to reproduce. Otherwise, these animals are no different from their own kind.
Don Sphynxes can be:
- naked - completely bald, there are a large number of folds on the body
- flock - the body is covered with barely visible hair, feels like a peach peel
- velor – hair on the body is noticeable, reaches 3 mm
- brush - a body under coarse fur, these sphinxes cannot take part in exhibitions
The Sphynx's skin may be covered with thick fur.
Character of the sphinxes
Sphinxes are dog-like devoted creatures, sincerely attached to a person, and not to a home. They need care and affection, do not like to be left alone and miss their owner. This breed is not suitable for busy people.
Hairless cats are inquisitive and smart animals. They love to explore the territory of the apartment, and easily learn to use the toilet and scratching post. They are able to understand much of what the owner says and quickly remember their name. They can be taught simple tricks, such as fetching a ball.
They communicate differently than ordinary cats: sphinxes make sounds in which the intonation is easy to read, and the rumbling resembles the sound of bursting bubbles.
The difference between the Canadian Sphynx and the Don Sphynx
A non-professional is unlikely to immediately find the differences between the Don and Canadian Sphynx. And these differences are not so important for those who simply have a hairless cat as a pet. However, if it is planned to produce offspring from a kitten in the future, the breeder needs to know how the Sphynx breeds differ.
IMPORTANT: The main difference between Sphynxes is the hairlessness genes. All Canadians are carriers of the recessive gene, and the Don Sphynxes are carriers of the dominant gene. This means that there is always some hair on the body of the Canadian Sphynx, and the Don Sphynxes are often completely hairless.
Upon closer examination, you can notice other differences between the Don and Canadian Sphynx, which include:
- Head shape . Don Sphynxes have clearly defined cheekbones, a wedge-shaped skull, sloping in the forehead area. Canadians have a narrower skull
- Don Sphynxes have mustaches
- look , his eyes are always wide open. Don Sphynxes have more slanted eyes
- tail , with a tassel at the tip, while Don Sphynxes have a straight tail.
- The body of a representative of the Don breed is more muscular and strong than that of the Canadian Sphynx
Canadian Sphynxes are distinguished by their “open” gaze
IMPORTANT: In addition to external differences, the Don Sphynx differs from the Canadian Sphynx in its friendliness, sociability and more balanced behavior.
The history of the origin of “bald” breeds
The official history of the Sphynx is very short, but hairless cats, as a result of a genetic mutation, have appeared next to humans since ancient times. Attitudes towards this miracle of nature could be very different: in ancient times they were attributed healing and almost magical qualities, in the Middle Ages they were burned for.
Hairless cat - a genetic error or a miracle of nature?
There is information about an ancient breed of hairless Mexican cats, which, unfortunately, completely disappeared at the beginning of the last century. But these legendary hairless cats and modern hairless cats have a common origin, based on a spontaneous genetic mutation, fixed and passed on to offspring.
This is what hairless Mexican cats looked like
There are several known hairless cat breeds, both generally recognized and experimental. Some of them were obtained by fixing a spontaneous mutation, and the rest were the result of interbreeding.
Photo gallery: modern hairless cats
The Canadian Sphynx as a breed has a history of half a century ago.
The Don Sphynx is a young, but very popular and promising breed of hairless cats.
Petersburg Sphynx, or Peterbald - to create the breed, the blood of oriental cats was infused into the ground sphinxes
Ukrainian Levkoy is a derivative of the Donchak and Scottish Fold.
Elf is a product of crossing Canadian Sphynxes with American Curls
Bambino is a miniature cat obtained from the union of Canadians and munchkins.
Dwelf is the fruit of a triple selection of Curls, Munchkins and Canadians
The Cohona, or Hawaiian Hairless, is the result of a mutation, a breed so rare that its very existence is in question.
Don Sphynx
The Don Sphynx is a young breed of Russian selection. It is generally accepted that all Don Chaks descend from the cat Varvara, a blue-cream “tortoise” who was found by a kind woman in Rostov-on-Don in February 1986 as a very small kitten. Having picked up the unfortunate baby just on the street, Elena Kovaleva fed her and treated her, but the cat’s fur did not grow back. The cat's body was velor, and its tail, paws and frill remained fluffy.
Moreover, when the matured Varvara became a mother, a hairless kitten was found in the litter, also a girl, named Chita. It is from this moment—since 1990—that the official history of the Don Sphinxes begins. Elena’s friend, Irina Nemykina, although she was not a felinologist at that time, was the first to recognize the signs of sphinxes in the amazing cats. Having received baby Chita as a gift, she actively began self-education and selection of a new breed.
Irina Nemykina and her cat Chita “invented” a new breed of Sphynx
The first breeding nursery of the Don Sphynx was called “Myth”; the famous cat Hannibal, who is in the pedigree of every Donchak, was obtained here. Close crossing of Hannibal with his mother Chita made it possible to obtain completely hairless kittens and fix the genotype of the new breed. Strange cats - Sphynx cats of Russian breeding - were shown at exhibitions of aboriginal breeds, and they very quickly gained popularity.
In 1992, the number and quality of the livestock made it possible to create the first, experimental standard of the domestic breed, and in 1998, the Don Sphynxes finally received international recognition at the conference of the World Cat Federation (WCF), and at the same time the final name of their breed, which until then was called differently:
- Don balder;
- Russian hairless;
- Russian naked.
Irina Nemykina with her modern pet
However, the name does not change the essence of the fact that the young breed of Sphynx of Russian selection quickly became famous, popular and in demand throughout the world. Today there are four breed standards:
- ICEF;
- WFF;
- MALK RUI;
- WCF.
An adult Donchak looks unusual and solid
Such well-known felinological organizations as FIFE and TICA are also considering the issue of recognizing the Don sphinxes.
Video: all about the Don sphinxes
Canadian Sphynx
The first attempt to create a breed of Canadian Sphynx was, alas, unsuccessful. It dates back to 1966, when a hairless kitten, Prune, appeared in a litter of ordinary domestic cats from the province of Ontario, which immediately attracted the interest of local felinologists. Despite their efforts, it was not possible to create a new breed based on this random mutation.
“Lysik” Prun was actively mated with his mother, sisters, daughters and just cats of different breeds, but the hairless offspring that resulted were small in number, weak, and unstable in phenotype. In addition, the breeders did not have a common strategy and a unified vision for the new breed, which, by the way, immediately received the name “Canadian Sphynx” and experimental status from the CFA. This felinological organization was forced in 1971 to revoke the status it had issued.
Sphynx cats are sometimes called "moon cats"
A second chance appeared only nine years later, with the birth of a naked baby to another parent couple. A kitten named Epidermis eventually became the ancestor of the Canadian Sphynx. Around the same time, three more “balds” were found just on the streets, two of whom took a direct part in the formation of the breed.
At the first stages of selection, Devon Rex blood was actively infused into the small Canadians to expand their gene pool and create the desired type, features of which to this day are sometimes visible in purebred Canadian Sphynxes. Experienced American and European felinologists carried out breeding work in the breed. All authoritative felinological organizations in the world today have already recognized the Canadian sphinxes.
Video: everything about the Canadian sphinxes
Hairless Sphynx cat: character
The unique character of the Sphynx, as well as their appearance, is the result of careful selection. These animals are not prone to displaying aggression or discontent. Kind, soft, sensitive, gentle, devoted Sphynxes are ideal pets.
They get along well with both older people and families with small children. A balanced character combined with a playful disposition helps these animals share the interests of each family member.
Sphynx cats get along well in families with small children.
IMPORTANT: Sphinxes are not vindictive, they quickly forget random insults, but they have a hard time experiencing loneliness.
Sphynxes love to interact with people and pets. They are not afraid of large dogs and lack the hunter's instinct, so a hairless cat's best friend can be a huge bulldog, a hamster or a parrot.
Sphynxes are playful and curious animals
Character traits
Sphinxes, living in the vastness of Russia, are reminiscent of playful children in their disposition. These are perky creatures who are never characterized by aggression. They love human company very much. Sometimes this takes the form of obsession. Then the pebble appears everywhere your foot steps. He starts his song, rubbing himself against your hands or face.
The pronounced curiosity and desire to always be at the epicenter of events are striking. They treat strangers with interest, but do not always allow them to approach them once they reach puberty. They are sensitive with their family members and subtly sense people’s moods.
Their Canadian counterparts behave differently:
- choose their only owner,
- feel equal to a person, not allowing themselves to beg for food,
- sometimes show impulsiveness
- a little secretive, “on their own”
- restrained in their actions,
- Only a select few allow themselves to be caressed.
To read: Detailed instructions on how to cut your Yorkie's hair at home: photos of hairstyles
At the same time, they are all very peaceful. They are endlessly devoted to those who care about them.
Nicknames suitable for Sphynx cats
Even the Sphynx kittens look majestic and proud, their entire appearance reminiscent of Egyptian figurines. Calling the Sphynx a simple cat name, such as Timka or Fluff, doesn’t even occur to us.
In order not to invent anything new, you can simply look at the list of names of Egyptian gods. A name suitable for the little miracle will be found there quickly.
For example, a Sphynx cat can be named after one of the goddesses: Amaunet, Anuket, Isis, Seshat, Sioux . Suitable names for a sphinx boy are: Aker, Amat, Amset, Anhur, Geb, Mafdet, Onuris, Osiris, Hapi, Hesat, Khnum, Shai, Yah.
The names of ancient Egyptian gods suit the majestic sphinxes
Hairless cat - Canadian Sphynx: care
The main feature of keeping sphinxes is the need for regular bathing . Bath procedures are carried out at least twice a month.
Adult cats are bathed in a bathtub, kittens - in a basin or sink. Soapy bathing water should not be cool - sphinxes need warmth.
Adult Sphynx cats are bathed in a bathtub
Using a soft washcloth, carefully remove dirt from the body, face, tail and paws, paying special attention to the folds, then rinse the animal in clean water.
IMPORTANT: Due to the fact that hairless cats constantly sweat, they themselves and the objects they touch with their sweaty bodies acquire a brownish tint after drying.
If the sphinx is not against bath procedures and enjoys playing in the water, you can offer him children's rubber toys. If the animal is frightened and is trying with all its might to avoid the upcoming procedure, you should talk to it in a gentle, calm voice.
Sphynx cats love to play while bathing.
At the same time, you should not make sudden movements or raise your tone. After bathing, the cat is “blotted” with a dry, warm cotton towel. In addition to bathing, hairless cats need to be dried daily with soft wipes.
Sphynx cats need regular manicures , as brown sweat mixed with dirt quickly covers the top and gets stuck inside the overgrown claws.
TIP: Hold your cat firmly and apply gentle pressure to the pad of the paw to expose the overgrown claws. Using gentle movements, cut off the overgrown part. To avoid cutting off excess, you should not cut close to the base.
The ears of sphinxes, as well as their claws, suffer from a large accumulation of fat and dirt in them. You can clean your cat's ears using cotton swabs or turundas moistened with warm water. Contaminants are removed only from visible parts of the ear, avoiding contact with the ear canal.
Sphynx ears need to be cleaned regularly
author of the article: www.mysphinx.ru
Choosing a kitten is not at all easy, especially of a breed like the Sphynx. These cats are very specific and they are very different from their furry counterparts. The choice of a Sphynx kitten must be taken very seriously. In this article I will write what you should first of all pay attention to when choosing, how and where to look.
Kittens of this breed are susceptible to many diseases; they are very fragile, especially at a young age. Therefore, first of all, check whether he has a passport with all vaccinations. If the breeder does not vaccinate in a timely manner, citing the fact that all his kittens are healthy and that vaccinations are an additional expense, then you should refrain from purchasing. It is precisely due to such seemingly trifles that a cheaper cost is formed, but at the same time the risk of catching any kind of disease in the future increases. Because Kittens with mother's milk receive maternal immunity, which protects the kittens' body from diseases. The vaccination should be done 2 weeks before weaning so that the kittens begin to develop the immunity already introduced by the vaccine. A responsible and good breeder will always provide a kitten passport with timely vaccinations and metrics.
Kittens come in 3 classes: Show class, Breed class and Pet class. They differ in price category. The most expensive are the Show and Breeding classes. Show class are kittens for exhibitions with a good exterior, which is assessed by an expert in your club, when exchanging metrics for pedigree. Show class kittens can be neutered or not. Breeding class is kittens for breeding. These usually have ideal proportions and exterior. Pet class, these kittens are just like pets, in price they are much inferior to the two previous classes. This does not mean that such babies are wrong, they just do not meet the breed standards. Many nurseries immediately spay and neuter such kittens in order to avoid further breeding. Remember, having a pedigree DOES NOT guarantee a future show or breeding career for your kitten! The pedigree only confirms the origin of your kitten! It is possible to give a final assessment of the Sphynx's exterior only at the age of 1-2 years.
Once you have decided on the class of the kitten (Show class, Breed class and Pet class), it becomes clear what approximate price you should expect. And accordingly, the higher the class, the more stringent the requirements.
Of course, a good kitten of any class can be found both in the nursery and from breeders. But as practice shows, kittens are better in specialized nurseries. For mating, producers with good pedigree and high ratings at exhibitions are used. Kittens are usually all vaccinated on time, well-groomed and have a full set of documents. After the purchase, the nursery staff, who have extensive experience in felinology (breeding), will be able to competently answer all your questions. Accordingly, the cost of Sphynx kittens is higher.
If you are planning to buy a kitten from a nursery, be sure to visit it. Look at the conditions of detention. It’s the little things that add up to a general idea of the quality of the content. How many animals are there, how clean is the room, are the toilets cleaned, etc. Reviews on forums are not always reliable, but the total number of unflattering comments is worth paying attention to - good nurseries monitor their reputation.
Breeders may offer a lower price. But there are many pitfalls and there is a high chance that the kitten will simply die. As already mentioned, you should not take an unvaccinated animal without documents. Find out the pedigree and try to find at least some information on the Internet. Try to communicate more with the breeder and find out his level of knowledge about the Sphynx breed. Feel free to ask any questions.
After all the issues that worry you have been resolved, you need to examine the Sphynx kitten. The most common problems in this breed are eye diseases, digestive system disorders and skin problems. The eyes should be shiny, moisturized, without visible damage to the cornea. Small TRANSPARENT discharge is allowed. The nose, like all cats, is wet and cold. The oral mucosa should be a healthy pink color without spots or bleeding. The kitten itself must be mobile and not smaller than its fellows. The skin is smooth without blemishes or acne. There may be a rash on the tail, which should go away with age.
Remember, any doubts are a reason to refuse the purchase. Treating existing conditions can be worth much more than the money saved.
INTERESTING? HAVE QUESTIONS? You can discuss the topic on the forum!
What to feed a Sphynx cat?
Sphinxes are real gluttons. They love to eat and gobble up even the simplest food with appetite, be it porridge or soup. However, it is too early to rejoice. Due to its accelerated metabolism and sensitive digestive system, the Sphynx requires a varied, balanced diet.
Sphynx cats are happy to try new dishes
Twice a week you should offer your animal canned meat. The Sphinx's menu must include raw fish, meat, boiled liver, dairy products and dry food. Fresh drinking water should always be freely available.
IMPORTANT: Overheated or supercooled food is unacceptable. Sphynxes are allowed to be fed food at room temperature.
Diseases of Sphynx cats
The most vulnerable place of every hairless cat is its skin. Due to excessive secretion of sebum and untimely removal of it, acne .
To get rid of purulent lesions on the skin of an animal, you need to contact a veterinarian, who, after assessing the situation, will prescribe treatment.
Sphynx acne
IMPORTANT: A Sphynx will have healthy skin if its owners pay enough attention to the pet’s hygiene. By bathing your animal 1 – 2 times a week, you can prevent the appearance of acne and pustules.
In addition to skin rashes, Sphynx cats often suffer from a number of other congenital and acquired diseases, including:
- Microphthalmos is a reduction in the eyes of a kitten that occurs as a result of infections suffered by the pregnant mother. The progression of the disease often ends with a tumor. Surgery will help correct the situation
- Curvature of the spine - the disease develops in the caudal part of the spine and is accompanied by dwarfism and pathologies of the bone and digestive systems. Occurs as a result of inbreeding or is inherited
- A shortened jaw is a congenital defect. It may be mild and not affect the general condition of the animal in any way, however, such sphinxes must be sterilized, since they cannot take part in breeding
- Vasculitis is inflammation of blood vessels, which appears on the skin as red and blue dots and spots of different sizes. The disease can either disappear on its own without a trace or be complicated by inflammation. The causes of vasculitis are: internal diseases, stress, reaction to drug treatment
- Entropion is a congenital pathology in which the edges of the eyelids are unnaturally turned inward. The situation is fraught with the development of chronic conjunctivitis in the sphinx. The problem can be solved through surgery
- “Falling asleep” kittens is the appearance of non-viable offspring as a result of crossing two “rubber” sphinxes. Kittens are born very weak, their skin has a bluish tint, and vital organs may be missing or not functioning. There is nothing we can do to help these animals.
Sphinx's eyelids turn upside down
Sphynx care
First of all, care concerns the skin of sphinxes. Since cats sweat profusely, they need to be washed and wiped with wet wipes. A crust may even appear on unkempt skin, which can cause dermatitis.
When bathing sphinxes, you should follow the following rules:
- The water temperature should not exceed 38 degrees;
- If you are bathing a kitten, you should lower it into the water slowly. It is worth placing a rubber mat on the bottom to prevent it from slipping;
- You should only use special shampoo for sphinxes;
- The towel you wrap your Sphynx in should be soft and terry, as other material may irritate the skin;
- You need to hold a wet Sphynx in your arms until it is completely dry, otherwise the animal will catch a cold;
- Under no circumstances should you dry it with a hairdryer;
- You can use a special moisturizer to soften your skin after swimming.
Sphynxes are bathed once a week, but every day it is worth wiping them with special napkins and dry towels so that sweat does not accumulate on them.
It is worth understanding that sphinxes do not have any protection, which fluffy cats have. Therefore, their ears should be cleaned regularly with chopsticks to prevent wax from accumulating in them. Sphynx teeth should also be cleaned of dirt with special pastes.
The lack of eyelashes also makes Sphynx cats vulnerable to dust and dirt. It is worth regularly cleaning the corners of the eyes with cotton swabs, and also having your cat examined by a veterinarian for eye diseases.
Since Sphynx cats are not protected from the sun's rays, they can get sunburned. It is worth monitoring how long cats lie in the sun so that they do not get burned. Burns should be treated with special ointments.
Clothing for Sphynx cats
Gentle, trembling sphinxes with their entire appearance make it clear that they love warmth very much. If a hairless cat lives in a warm apartment and does not walk outside, he will not need special clothing.
It is enough to simply arrange a bed for the animal near the battery so that it can spend time with maximum comfort.
IMPORTANT: If the bald Sphynx is taken for a walk outside or on the balcony, you should take care to protect the pet’s delicate body from the winter cold and scorching summer heat.
A winter costume for a sphinx must be windproof and must cover the chest, back and stomach. Having exposed her delicate bald body in the cold, the sphinx can become hypothermic and get sick.
In summer, the Sphynx will need airy, lightweight clothing that will protect the animal from sunburn and heatstroke. You can make clothes for the sphinx yourself or buy them in a specialized store.
Clothes for the sphinx
Where is the best place to buy a Sphynx kitten?
Those who decide to get a Sphynx should definitely contact professional breeders. By purchasing a kitten at a club or at an exhibition, you can avoid problems with the health of the animal and receive guaranteed lifelong information support and support from experts in the breed.
Club Sphynx
If you still doubt whether you should have a Sphynx at home, answer yourself one question: “Do you want to get a reliable, faithful friend who does not remember insults, will be devoted to you, and will never turn away?” If the answer is yes, feel free to cast aside all doubts and take a step towards a small bald miracle.
