Don Sphynx - a good-natured and lazy hairless cat

The Don Sphynx is a fairly young breed of hairless cats, the appearance of which was the result of a spontaneous mutation, and not the deliberate crossing of existing hairless breeds.

Good-natured, slightly lazy and very intelligent, Russian Sphynxes quickly found their niche among many other breeds. The alien appearance and aristocracy have caught the hearts of cat lovers around the world.

History of the origin of the breed

The history of the Don Sphynx breed began when Rostov resident Elena Kovaleva, returning home in the evening, saw a trembling wet lump on the street, which, upon closer examination, turned out to be an emaciated stray cat. It is unknown whether we would know such a breed now if the heart of a kind woman had not taken pity on the poor creature. Elena took her home and named her Varvara.

The cat quickly settled into her new home, ate her fill, but began to rapidly lose her fur. The owner treated her pet with all sorts of drugs, sinning either for lichen, or dermatitis, or a lack of vitamins. Noticing that Varvara was not hampered by the lack of fur and that her health was more than good, Elena decided to consult with specialists. It turned out that this is a mutation at the gene level.

Having matured, Varvara gave birth to kittens by mating with an ordinary yard cat, and the entire litter inherited this genetic anomaly - a small fluff instead of fur, which eventually came out completely. Only one cat from this litter is known for certain, Chita, who ended up with Irina Nemykina. It was Irina who later became the first breeder of the new domestic breed.

The Don (Rostov) Sphynx is a cat that does not have common roots with the Canadian Sphynxes. However, the excitement around Canadians contributed to the popularization of the new breed, both in Russia and abroad.

Just a few years after the miraculous rescue of the unusual cat Varvara from the street, her descendants were already recognized by the international felinological association as an experimental cat breed (1992), the Don breed received official status in 1996.

The breed was named for its resemblance to ancient Egyptian cats and the name of the region in which it began to be bred. Among other options, there were such as “Scythian”, “dandelion”, “Cossack”, “nu”.

how much does a cat weigh at 1 year old?

Book about sphinxes: Basic physiological parameters and organ system of sphinxes

Good afternoon, dear cat lovers. Thinking about the content of the next article from the “Book of Sphinxes” series, I decided to devote it mostly to cats in general. The fact is that in this article I will talk about the physiological parameters of healthy cats and their organ systems. I don’t think it is possible or necessary to fully flesh out this topic exclusively on sphinxes, since in the aggregate cat breeds differ from each other in some way, but have almost the same parameters. Of course, in each breed it is possible to identify characteristics, both in physiological parameters and in the structure of the body and the whole body. As the article progresses, I will note the features of the sphinxes. I hope I can do this. This article will give an idea of ​​the sphinx as a cat, taking into account the physiology and structure of the body. So let's get started.

By the way, I completely forgot, we have an article on our website devoted to the proper nutrition of sphinxes and the prevention of obesity. I recommend to read.

In ordinary, healthy cats, the body temperature averages 38-39.5 degrees. In small kittens it may be a little higher, about 40 degrees.

Did you know that in cats, nasal temperature is an indicator of health? If your nose is cold, then everything is fine. However, you should not rely only on him. If you suspect the presence of an illness, it is best to use a thermometer to determine the temperature. Temperatures in cats are measured rectally.

Description and breed standard

The description of the Don Sphynx breed must begin with its distinctive feature, that is, the absence of hair. Unlike Canadians, naked cats are completely deprived of it. The skin is very pleasant to the touch - it is hot and velvety. It gathers in folds on the paws, belly and groin, this is especially pronounced in kittens.

The breed standard provides for 4 types of skin:

• naked (completely devoid of hair, skin resembles human skin, only hotter);
• flock (there is a barely noticeable fluff, it feels like the skin of a peach or apricot);
• velor (the length of the soft plush pole is no more than 2-3 mm, it may disappear with age);
• brush (has hard, short, curly hair, similar in appearance to lamb).

Brush sphinxes are not exhibited and do not have titles, but they are very important for breeding work, since with their participation the likelihood of the occurrence of genetic diseases is significantly reduced.

The Don Sphynx cat breed is elegant, graceful and noble. It’s hard to imagine that she came from an ordinary yard Varka.

• The body is muscular, slender, and has a fairly wide bone structure.
• The head is triangular, medium in size.
• The ears are large, also triangular in shape, with rounded tips.
• The eyes are expressive, slightly slanted, shaped like two tonsils. Eye color can be hazel, green, blue, yellow.
• Don Sphynxes have a small, neat nose.
• The whisker pads are pronounced; eyebrows and mustaches may be present in small quantities or may be absent altogether.
• The paws and tail are elongated, flexible, giving grace and lightness to the gait. The hind legs are slightly longer than the front legs. The paw pads are oblong, the toes appear long and thin due to the lack of hair.
• The tail is similar in appearance to a mouse.

An interesting feature of the Don Sphynx breed is the periodic appearance of soft fluff on their delicate skin, which can disappear from time to time. These metamorphoses are associated with the weather and time of year, with hormonal levels and even with a change in diet.

Parameters, size and weight of the Don Sphynx

The Don Sphynx has pronounced sexual demorphism. Males are much larger, the weight of a male can reach 7 kg, females are usually smaller from 3.5 to 5 kg. Still, the Don Sphynx breed can be considered average, like most ordinary cats.

Development table

Next are the standard indicators of kitten development, a table of weights by month.

Character

The character of the Don Sphynx is distinguished by good nature, affection, and tender affection for its owner. This breed has nobility, self-esteem and will not tolerate familiarity in relation to its person. Cats position themselves as full members of the family, and not pets dependent on the owner.

In childhood, kittens show amazing curiosity, hyper activity and good learning ability. As they grow older, their ardor becomes more moderate every month, and in adulthood they are calm, balanced animals with a stable psyche and a complete lack of aggression.

The Don Sphynx can behave inappropriately and become truly angry only if it is greatly frightened by something. Cases of such behavior are rare and do not characterize the breed as a whole.

Cats love a measured, unhurried lifestyle. They are perfect for living in a family of elderly people, but they can also get along with small children and will quickly get used to the constant noise. The same applies to other pets: they feel great in the company of other cats, as well as dogs, rodents, and birds.

Surprisingly, the character of the Don Sphynx is more reminiscent of a dog, and in some matters even human. They are not vindictive, smart and endowed with high intelligence.

Don Sphynx cats are excellent psychologists and quickly understand family relationships and its hierarchy. They choose their owner themselves, usually the head of the family, but they treat the rest of the household kindly, but with some condescension.

The favorite pastime of an adult cat of the Don Sphynx breed is to bask somewhere in a warm, secluded place or in the arms of the owner, or to watch all the household chores, sitting on a hill.

Hairless cats often like to lie on laptops, system units and, of course, batteries. At night they sleep mostly in the master's bed under a blanket.

Don Sphynxes, like other hairless cats, absolutely cannot stand loneliness. You should not get this breed if all family members are at work from morning to night - the cat will be very sad.

Raising a pet

To prevent your pet from sharpening its claws on furniture, buy him a scratching post.

Canadians require a lot of attention from their owners. You need to play and communicate with them a lot. When raising a dog, the owner must be patient. You should not shout at the animal and punish it, because the sphinx may be offended and stop trusting. During training, it is better to use the reward method. At the moment when the cat does what is required of her, you need to give her a treat.

Sphinxes have high intelligence. They can learn to fetch a ball, open a door, and follow other commands. Tailed animals will easily remember what a tray and scratching post are needed for if the owner carefully, without showing aggression, trains the pet.

Maintenance and care

Caring for the Don Sphynx is no different from caring for other hairless breeds. First of all, you need to create comfortable conditions for your pet, that is, a warm room, without drafts, equipped with beds, a scratching post and other related items. If the air in the apartment is cool, you need to dress your ward in soft blouses or overalls.

Ear hygiene is a separate topic in matters of care and maintenance of Don Sphynxes. A large amount of wax accumulates in the ears, which must be removed regularly. For these purposes, you can use cotton swabs soaked in a special ear cleaner. If such procedures are not carried out regularly, complications are possible (otitis media, infections, wax plugs).

The pet's skin should be wiped with wet wipes every day, more often in hot weather. And the Don Sphynx also needs to be washed sometimes. Like most hairless cats, they love water and enjoy bathing. People unfamiliar with the breed may not realize that cats sweat, and the color of the sweat is dark brown.

If you don't take care of your pet's skin, you can say goodbye to white bedding, light sofas and armchairs. Wherever an unwashed, neglected cat sits, dark spots will remain.

What to feed the Don Sphynx

The diet of the Don Sphynx should be varied. You can purchase premium cat food for hairless cats, in which all the necessary substances are as balanced as possible. The main thing is to buy food from the same brand so that the animal does not develop allergies or stomach upsets.

Food for the Don Sphynx can be natural, in which case you need to create your pet’s menu yourself. Meat, fish, low-fat cottage cheese and other protein-rich foods are the basis of the diet. In addition, you need to give vegetables, fruits, and cereals. You can also feed the Don Sphynx with offal, eggs, shrimp and other seafood.

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Don, Canadian, St. Petersburg Sphynxes are the most amazing cat breeds. The owner must monitor the development of his unusual pet from the very first days - hairless cats are prone to obesity. At every stage of childhood and adolescence, the baby needs to be provided with appropriate care so that he grows into a healthy and obedient adult cat.

Mating and breeding

Cats reach puberty at six months of age, males a little later - at 8 months. However, the first mating of Don Sphynxes occurs no earlier than 18-24 months, usually during the 3rd heat period. It is not recommended to mate naked-born representatives of this breed, since the offspring will be weak.

On the third day after the start of estrus, the cat is placed in the cat’s territory, where she spends about 3 days. Pregnancy lasts 58-72 days, after which 3-6 babies are born. Newborn Don Sphynx kittens are the most vulnerable, although they are born with a small amount of fluff.

A cat giving birth for the first time needs to be with you throughout the entire birth process. She must eat the afterbirth and lick each kitten. How long the first birth will last depends on how many kittens she gives birth to. In general, Don Sphynx cats give birth quickly and without complications.

Cats of this breed are very caring mothers and take almost all care of the kittens themselves. All a person can do is monitor their health. Periodically wipe the eyes with a weak solution of potassium permanganate to prevent souring.

When Don Sphynx kittens begin to go bald, you need to exclude possible drafts and monitor the temperature in the room, otherwise the kids may catch a cold.

You need to care for a Don Sphynx kitten in the same way as kittens of other breeds, but take into account the characteristics of their skin and ears.

How long do Don Sphynxes live?

With proper care, regular vaccinations and a balanced diet, the life expectancy of the Don Sphynx is no different from most domestic cats. On average it is 12-14 years. Some Don Sphynxes can live up to 18 years.

Prices for Canadian Sphynxes

Sphynxes are sold in specialized nurseries. This is due to the fact that they are extremely difficult to breed. Kittens are taken from the cat at 3 months, which makes it possible to avoid significant stress in young pets. At the same time, at 3 months of age, animals begin to be vaccinated.

The cost of cats depends on the pedigree and purity of the blood, appearance and character of the pet. The minimum cost for Canadians in Moscow is about 7500-8000 rubles. The price of purebred animals reaches 100-150 thousand rubles.

How much does it cost and how to choose a kitten

Buying these animals is not difficult, since in Russia, their homeland, they are most widespread.

Pet-class Don Sphynx kittens cost about 10-15 thousand. They cannot qualify for prizes at exhibitions and do not participate in breeding, but they are excellent as pets.

The Breed class will cost more, not to mention the show class, a copy of which will cost at least $1,500. Such kittens are rarely purchased and only by people who have a certain commercial interest in the breed.

You should not buy a kitten from someone else or from an advertisement. In our country there are enough worthy and proven nurseries that have been successfully breeding Don Sphynxes for decades. Upon external examination, the animal should not be lethargic, thin or apathetic. The presence of a veterinary passport with vaccination marks is a mandatory condition for purchase.

Basic moments

• In the world, the breed is known simply as Sphynx - Sphinx; in Russia, the adjective “Canadian” is added to avoid confusion with the Don and St. Petersburg (Peterbald).
• Contrary to popular belief, Sphynx cats are not hypoallergenic, since unpleasant symptoms in people prone to allergies are caused not by fur, but by components of saliva and sebaceous gland secretions.
• Cats are famous not only for their unusual appearance, but also for their incredible affection for their owners; they love attention and affection, and have difficulty enduring loneliness.
• They need regular and careful care and protection from adverse environmental factors.
• They get along well with other cats and even dogs, but an ideal companion would be a second representative of the same breed.
• It is preferable to keep Sphynxes at home.
• Excellent appetite is compensated by fast metabolism.
• The average life expectancy is 10-14 years, although long-livers are also known, whose age was 16-19 years.

The Canadian Sphynx is a loving and sociable pet that easily wins the hearts of people who care about cats. The owners of these animals unanimously say that they would never exchange them for representatives of other breeds. For their large ears, expressive eyes and folds of skin on their faces, sphinxes received the affectionate nickname “aliens.”

Health

Canadian Sphynx cats have good immunity and, with proper care, live an average of 13-14 years. Like any other animals, these cats have a predisposition to certain pathologies.

Most often, the following diseases are diagnosed in Canadian Sphynx cats:

• myopathy;
• hypertrophic cardiomyopathy;
• airway obstruction;
• turning of the eyelids;
• breast cyst;
• dermatitis;
• acne;
• inflammation of blood vessels;
• gum hyperplasia;
• skin cancer;
• urticaria pigmentosa.