About the Mysterious Sphynx

If you've always had a secret longing to own that charming little alien in the ET movie, you will probably fall in love with the Sphynx cat breed. 

This cat's wrinkly small face, huge ears, and enormous eyes definitely give it a very similar appearance. 

When you add in its whisker free appearance and a coat so fine that the Sphynx appears to be bald, it is no wonder that this unusual little cat breed gets plenty of attention at cat shows.

Surprisingly enough, the popular Sphynx cat breed is only recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association. 

Other breed associations are concerned that this unique cat breed will have genetic health problems in the future and do not want to encourage breeders to continue developing the breed.

The Sphynx breed was actually developed twice, once in the nineteen sixties and again in the nineteen seventies. 

Although the first line of Sphynx cats vanished completely, the second discovery of the breed was more successful. 

Surprisingly enough, this second line of cats came from a stray longhair cat. This cat's kittens were outcrossed to Devon Rex cats. 

The kittens from this cross had the traditional Sphynx coat and physical characteristics.

The Sphynx cat comes in a wide range of colors

Although the Sphynx does not have a coat of hair, this breed's light coat of fuzz still comes in a wide range of colors. 

In fact, these cats come in every color and pattern available. This cat breed's powerful body is extremely muscular. 

The breed weighs in at eight to fifteen pounds.

While the Sphynx is certainly prized for its extraordinary appearance, cat lovers also have another reason for loving this fascinating breed. 

These cats are incredibly mischievous and fun loving pets. They have a monkey like agility and playfulness and will romp for hours. 

Be sure to provide your cat with plenty of toys and be prepared to spend a lot of quality time with him.

Since the Sphynx enjoys spending time with his family, this breed really does not do well when left alone for long periods of time. 

If you pick up a lot of overtime at work, you may not want to own one of these cats. 

People who do spend a lot of time away from home should consider adding a second Sphynx to the household so that the cats can keep each other company.

Although you would think a virtually hairless cat would need no grooming, the Sphynx actually needs to be groomed once a day. 

These cats produce a lot of oil from their hair follicles, just as cats with hair do. However, there is no hair to absorb the oil and their skin grows quite greasy. 

Instead, you will need to wipe down your cat's body every day with a soft cloth to remove the oil.

One other concern for Sphynx owners is that the lack of a thick coat of hair leaves these cats vulnerable to drafts and cold temperatures. 

Keep your cat warm and out of drafts to be sure he doesn't become ill.

If you want a cat that looks like an alien and acts like a monkey, then you may want to consider the Sphynx.

To read more about owning cats and kittens, click here to return to the Cat Ownership Tips home page.