Sphynx

THE SPHYNX IS THE HAIRLESS CAT

This breed is different because it is hairless! I never saw any while practicing up in Ohio but have treated a handful of Sphynx here in Florida! It is way too cold up north for these hairless felines.  The breed is much better adapted to the warm, hot muggy climate such as Florida! They are not that common a cat…yet! The breed usually makes a great family pet. The cat has huge ears and feels clammy when picked up. Actually, the Sphynx feels hot, hot and hot!  Its body temperature is higher than most cats so without any hair it feels something that would keep your feet warm on a cold winter night! The Sphynx is like any other cat but the gene that produces that hairless coat is carried on in breeding. They do appear in different colors but the color is the skin pigmentation color of the individual.  I have mentioned on this website that the color of an animal often is carried over to the personality of the animal.  I am not that familiar with the Sphynx to make that distinction.  They are ALL cool cats!

DOES NOT LIKE COLD WEATHER

When I first saw a Sphynx in 2009, I thought they were a gremlin out of a Stephen Spielberg movie! That is how they looked the first time I saw them!  From a medical perspective, they are like any other cat but like humans in another. Since the breed does not have hair to distribute skin oils, Sphynx cats need to be bathed frequently with an oatmeal based shampoo to prevent oils from building up. Oil buildup can lead to blocked pores plus bacterial skin diseases. The Sphynx cat is a relatively large cat and makes a fantastic family pet. Without any hair it will get cold quickly!  Learn more about the Sphynx at Animal Planet’s® Cat Breed Selector.