ORIGIN

Sphynx is not the result of genetic engineering but of a natural and
spontaneous genetic change. The absence of hairs is hereditery and
the gene which determines it is recessive. The first knowledge of the
existence of naked cats goes back to the time of Aztec.

The breeding of Sphynx of today started in 1966 in Canada (Ontario)
when the love of two domestic cats gave birth to a naked kitten named Prune. This last coupled with his mother, his sisters and his daughters used to fix the race and to write the first standard. The new race was baptized "Moonstone Cats", then "Canadian Hairless" and finally "Sphynx".

DESCRIPTION

The skin, even if it appears naked, is covered with a very fine down.
Similar to the "suede", warm and soft it gives a pleasant feeling to the touch. It is wrinkled on the head, the neck and the shoulders. Hairs can appear on the ears, the muzzle, the feet, the tail and the scrotum. The wiskers are present or completely missing. All the colors of skins and eyes are recognized.

The head is slightly longer than wide with a flat plane on the forehead
and prominent cheekbones. The muzzle is broad,short and strong rounded with the stopped profile.
The eyes are large and very expressive, in the shape of lemon, slanting and wide set apart.
The ears are large, set apart and broad at the base.
The neck is medium lenght, arched and muscular.

The body is of medium size, muscular and proportioned, with broad chest and full round abdomen.
The legs are fine, long and muscular. Those of front are widely set and litle shorter than those of behind.
The paws with long slender toes are like to human hands and their particularly thick pads give an impression of displacement on an air cushion.
The tail, long, fine, in the shape of whip, tapers from the base to the tip ("tail of rat").

CHARACTER

His look without hairs and his perfect character are the principals
characteristics of Sphynx.
His endearing small personage and his surprising intelligence make him a reputation for the most intelligent, nicest, the most affectionate, the most..., the most... cat. He is at the same time cat, dog, monkey and baby. Sphynx is a unique and ideal companion.
He is very cunning and mischievous. Extremely curious, he always wants to see everything and to know everything. He carries on the corvesation with you, he listens you and he speaks to you. It is impossible to say no to him.
He is funny and merry, a bit amuses him. If you ignore him, he brings his toys to you or by all possible means he seeks your attention.
Very affectionate, he needs all your love. Tireless purrer and cuddle seekers, he is constantly "clung" to you. He is a faithful friend and never aggressive, who hates loneliness.

MAINTENANCE

Sphynx is a exclusively interior cat, robust, resistant and healthy,
without particular diseases. To keep him in top form, he needs a good
hygiene, an adequate food and regular visits in the veterinary surgeon.

The skin of Sphynx is similar to the human's. Even if he bronzes you should avoid exposing him to the direct sun. With a sun lotion for child he will be protected from the sunstrokes. As he perspires, he must be cleaned as much as necessary with towelette for baby and from time to time washed.
The ears secrete much cerumen. Just delicately clean them, but not often, with an impregnated milk cotton bud of toilet or a soft solution.
The eyes are periodically washed using a make-up removal disc soaked with a solution for the eyes.
The claws get quickly dirty and it is necessary to clean them and regularly blunt.

Very greedy, he eats a lot to maintain his temperature body because he does not have hairs to help him to do it. He needs a food rich in calories and balanced.
Top-of-the-range croquettes are advised.

The visits in the veterinary surgeon are necessary once per year to establish his medical check-up and to carry out required vaccinations.