SphynxCharacteristics, history, behaviour and care

Hairless cats have been reported for centuries, but the modern breed was developed from the 1960s onwards. Today's Sphynx, in North America and Europe, descends from two lines of natural mutations: Dermis and Epidermis (1975), barn cats belonging to the Pearson family of Wadena, Minnesota, and Bambi, Punkie and Paloma (1978), strays found in Toronto and raised by Shirley Smith.

In 2010, DNA analyses showed that the hairlessness comes from a mutation of the KRT71 gene, the same gene that carries the Devon Rex mutation. FIFe recognised the breed in 2002. The breed is not related to the Russian hairless breeds, the Donskoy and the Peterbald.

How the breed developed

• The 1960s – a natural hairless mutation is documented in Canada.
• 1975 – Dermis and Epidermis, in Minnesota.
• 1978 – Bambi, Punkie and Paloma, in Toronto.
• 2002 – recognised by FIFe.
• 2010 – DNA confirms the KRT71 gene mutation.

• People who spend a lot of time at home. It demands a lot of attention.
• Indoors only. Wikipedia says it should not be left outside unsupervised: it gets cold and sunburnt.
• Friendly families. It is open even with strangers.
• Not for people with allergies. Having no hair does not make it hypoallergenic.

The FIFe profile describes it as medium-sized, muscular and well proportioned. The TICA standard calls for a barrel chest and a full, round belly, a muscular neck, long legs and thicker paw pads, as if it were walking on cushions.

General appearance

The head is wedge-shaped, with prominent cheekbones. The eyes are large and lemon-shaped, and the ears very large. The tail is thin like a whip, sometimes with a small tuft of down at the tip. The whiskers may be missing or broken.

The skin has the colour the coat would have, and all the usual patterns (solid, point, van, tabby, tortie) appear on the skin. On the nose, tail and toes it may have very short, soft down.

Related breeds and how to tell them apart

The Donskoy and the Peterbald are also hairless, but have a different, dominant mutation. The Devon Rex has its mutation on the same gene, KRT71, but with a curly coat.

Wikipedia says it is outgoing: it has plenty of energy, intelligence, curiosity and affection for its owners. It is one of the most “dog-like” breeds: it greets its owners at the door and is friendly with strangers. It bonds closely and demands a lot of attention; it also snuggles up to people to keep warm.

The FIFe profile says that, although it has no coat, it remains an excellent hunter: agile, alert and full of curiosity. French Wikipedia adds that it likes to sit on its owner's shoulders.

Socialisation

It is friendly even with strangers; a 2012 study showed that owners consider it friendlier than the European Shorthair.

A kitten gets used to new people, noises and other animals most easily in its first months of life.

Habits at home

Like all cats, it sleeps a lot: usually 12–16 hours a day. It is most active early in the morning and in the evening, but partly adapts to the family's routine.

Cats instinctively bury their droppings, so it quickly learns to use a litter tray. It scratches rough surfaces to shed the old outer layer of its claws, so it needs a scratching post or board.

It has plenty of energy and loves to play. It loses heat faster than cats with fur, so it always looks for warm places.

Tips for a balanced life

• Keep it indoors, in the warm; in winter some cats wear little jumpers.
• Keep it out of strong sun.
• Play with it every day.

Coat care

The FIFe profile says the skin produces a natural sebum that protects it. Bathing too often removes this protection and can irritate the skin, so a healthy Sphynx should not be bathed regularly. Gently wiping it with a soft, damp cloth is enough. Wikipedia, however, says the skin produces a lot of sebum, which builds up in a sticky, brownish layer that has to be cleaned regularly.

Common health problems

The FIFe profile says it is a healthy, robust breed when bred responsibly: breeders carry out heart checks and genetic tests. Wikipedia says that, without a coat, it can get skin cancer from long exposure to the sun, and kittens are prone to respiratory infections in their first weeks. The breed also has cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Recommended genetic tests

The FIFe profile says responsible breeders carry out heart checks and genetic tests. Cardiomyopathy is detected with a heart ultrasound, done by a veterinary cardiologist.

Is it hypoallergenic?

Cat allergy is caused mainly by the Fel d 1 protein, found in saliva and skin glands; it is behind the allergy in 90% of people who are allergic to cats. Kittens, females and neutered males produce less of it, but still enough to trigger symptoms. No breed is completely hypoallergenic.

The Sphynx is among the breeds said to cause milder allergic reactions. However, research on whole breeds is not complete, so someone with allergies should spend time with the cat before taking it home.

Other care

• A check-up at the vet once a year.
• Vaccinations and parasite treatment on the schedule set by the vet.
• Trim the claws if they do not wear down on their own.
• Clean its teeth or give it food that helps keep them clean.

The cat is a carnivore: it needs animal protein. Unlike a dog, it must get vitamin A, arachidonic acid and taurine from its food. Water is very important, because cats usually drink little; several water bowls around the house encourage it to drink.

Tips for a healthy diet

The table gives a starting estimate, calculated with the formula from the Merck Veterinary Manual for a healthy adult cat. The last column shows what this means in dry food with 3,500–4,000 kcal per kilogram. If you also feed wet food, reduce the dry portion.

• Adjust the portion to its weight: neutered cats put on weight easily.
• Weigh it monthly; the ribs should be easy to feel under your fingers.
• Kittens need more calories: Merck recommends 2.5 times the resting energy requirement.

Dangerous foods and substances

Some common household items are dangerous for cats:

• Lilies (and daylilies): they can destroy a cat's kidneys. Even the pollen or the water in the vase is dangerous.
• Paracetamol: extremely toxic to cats, which lack the enzyme that breaks it down. Never give it human medicines.
• Flea spot-ons and collars for dogs containing permethrin: the concentration meant for dogs is dangerous for cats.
• Foods: chocolate, coffee, alcohol, onions, garlic, grapes and raisins.

Maturity

Females usually reach sexual maturity at 5–10 months, and males at 5–7 months. The age varies from breed to breed.

Mating and pregnancy

Pregnancy in cats lasts 64–67 days, 65 on average. A first litter usually has fewer kittens than later ones. Only healthy cats that match the breed standard are used for breeding.

Blood type

Cats have blood type A, B or AB. Type A is the most common: in a study from England, 87.1% of non-pedigree cats and 54.6% of pedigree cats had type A. This matters for breeding: if the mother is type B and the kittens are type A, the antibodies in her first milk (colostrum) can destroy their red blood cells. The condition is called neonatal isoerythrolysis. That is why breeders test the blood type of both parents.

We found no published data on how common type B is in this breed; the test is done before mating anyway.

Caring for the kittens

Kittens are weaned at 6–7 weeks. For the Sphynx, Wikipedia recommends that kittens are not separated from their mother before 14 weeks, so they are mature enough for their new home.

Neutering

Neutering used to be done at 6–9 months, but it is increasingly done before puberty, at around 3–6 months. It prevents unwanted kittens, urine marking in males and the noisy “calling” of females. A 2024 study showed that neutered cats live a year longer on average. After the operation the metabolism slows down and the appetite increases, so the portion has to be reduced.

How to choose a kitten

• Ask for the pedigree from a recognised cat association (for example, a FIFe member).
• The kitten leaves its mother at about 12 weeks.
• A Sphynx kitten should leave its mother only at 14 weeks.
• Ask for the result of the parents' heart ultrasound.
• Look at the mother and at the place where the kittens are raised: it should be clean, with kittens used to people.
• Ask about vaccinations, parasite treatment and the blood type of the parents.

• Suede skin. The warm, soft skin recalls fine suede.
• A pattern on the skin. The coat patterns (tabby, point, tortie) show directly on the skin.
• Broken or missing whiskers. Some Sphynx cats have no whiskers.
• Related to the Devon Rex. The mutation is on the same gene as in the Devon Rex.

Is it hypoallergenic?

Not necessarily. The allergy comes from the Fel d 1 protein, in saliva and skin, not from the hair; some allergic people tolerate it, but more of them react.

Does it need bathing?

FIFe says a healthy Sphynx is not bathed regularly; the skin is wiped gently with a damp cloth.

Does it feel the cold?

Yes, it loses heat easily; it needs a warm home and soft beds.

Can it go out in the sun?

Only a little: it can get sunburnt and, over time, skin cancer.