Sphynx
Also known as: Canadian Hairless
Without a doubt the first thing you notice about the Sphynx is what it lacks — fur. But this wrinkled, warm-to-the-touch cat more than makes up for it with an enormous personality. Sphynx cats are the extroverts of the cat world — attention-seeking, acrobatic and deeply affectionate.
About
Without a doubt the first thing you notice about the Sphynx is what it lacks — fur. But this wrinkled, warm-to-the-touch cat more than makes up for it with an enormous personality. Sphynx cats are the extroverts of the cat world — attention-seeking, acrobatic and deeply affectionate.
History
The modern Sphynx breed originated with a hairless kitten named Prune born in Toronto, Canada in 1966, the result of a natural mutation. Prune was bred back to his mother and the hairless trait was established. The breed was later developed using hairless cats from Minnesota and Devon Rex crosses.
Care & Health
HCM is a major concern — annual cardiac screening is recommended. Despite lacking a fur coat, Sphynx are not hypoallergenic (the allergen is a protein in saliva, not fur). They require weekly bathing to remove oil build-up and are sensitive to cold — provide warm bedding and limit outdoor time in cool weather.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- Canada
- Life Span
- 8–14 years
- Size
- medium
- Hair Shed
- little
- Grooming
- Weekly bath
- Good with Kids
- high
- Feeding Cost
- $15–$20 p/w
- Colours
- Any colour — the colour and pattern shows directly on the skin.
Health Considerations
Grooming
No brushing but needs weekly bathing to remove skin oils. Ear cleaning is essential.
Related Resources
More breeds like the Sphynx
Considering the Sphynx? These cat breeds share similar traits — temperament, size, grooming or activity level — and are worth comparing before you commit.
Australian Mist
View cat breed profile →
Bombay
View cat breed profile →
Burmese
View cat breed profile →
Burmilla
View cat breed profile →
LaPerm
View cat breed profile →
Oriental Shorthair
View cat breed profile →
Browse all cat breed profiles on Zookie, or compare side by side with our breed comparison tool.