Sphynx cat

Sphynx
Origin Canada
Breed standards
CFAstandard
FIFestandard
TICAstandard
ACFA/CAAstandard
CCA-AFCstandard
Domestic cat (Felis catus)

The Sphynx cat (pronounced SFINKS, /ˈsfɪŋks/) also known as the Canadian Sphynx, is a breed of cat known for its lack of fur. Hairlessness in cats is a naturally occurring genetic mutation, and the Sphynx was developed through selective breeding of these animals, starting in the 1960s.[1]

The skin has a texture of chamois leather,[2] as it has fine hairs, or the cat may be completely hairless. Whiskers may be present, either whole or broken, or may be totally absent. Per the breed standards, they have a somewhat wedge-shaped head with large eyes and ears, quite long legs and tail, and neat rounded paws. Their skin is the color that their fur would be, and all the usual cat markings (solid, point, van, tabby, tortie, etc.) may be found on the Sphynx cat's skin. Because they have no fur, Sphynx cats lose body heat more readily than coated cats, making them both warm to the touch and prone to seeking out warm places.

  1. ^ "The Sphynx". The Cat Fanciers' Association. Retrieved 27 October 2020. In 1966 a domestic cat gave birth to a hairless kitten in Toronto Canada. It was discovered to be a natural genetic mutation and the Sphynx cat, as we know it today, came into existence.
    - Kirstin Fawcett (15 May 2015). "11 Not-So-Fluffy Facts About Sphynx Cats". Mental Floss. Retrieved 27 October 2020. But the modern-day Canadian Sphynx—the hairless breed we know in North America—has been defying expectations since the mid-1960s, when an Ontario cat gave birth to a hairless kitten, the result of a natural genetic mutation. Then, in the mid-1970s, two separate sets of hairless kittens were born to owners in Toronto and Minnesota. Thanks to various breeding efforts, their lineages resulted in the affectionate animal we love today.
  2. ^ "TICA Sphynx Breed Introduction" (PDF). The International Cat Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.