What You Don’t Know About…Sphynx

The Ballerina Sphynx

Candilee Jackson

Introduction

Watching retired judge Walter Hutzler at work was poetry in motion, especially when he was handling a Sphynx. With gentle hands, Walter stood the Sphynx on its hind legs to show its musculature, stating, “The Sphynx is nothing more than a ballerina ‘en pointe,’ fluid grace at its finest.” Conversely, when the Sphynx began competing in Championship in 2002, judges humorously introduced this feline to spectators as “everything a woman would hate to be: bald, wrinkled and pot-bellied, and the more wrinkles, the better!”

A Little History, If You Please

A derivation of “Safinal Al-Nahk,” an Arabic term meaning “breed of cat,” the Sphynx “holds a significant plant in history and modern-day usage.”3 The Sphynx name traces back to ancient Egypt and tells of a mysterious creature “that graced the entrance to the Great Pyramids of Giza.”3 Additionally, Bastet (the Egyptian Goddess of the cat), was initially depicted as a lioness, assumed the image of a cat or a feline-headed woman in the second millennium BCE. Although she combined both nurturing and violent qualities, Bastet’s shielding and motherly aspects are emphasized.3

Although the breed name is supposed to have come from their resemblance to the Egyptian Great Sphinx of Giza,2 Toronto, Canada claims to be the home of this hairless cat. In 1966, a black and white domestic cat (“Elizabeth”) gave birth to a hairless kitten named “Prune.”6 “It was discovered to be a natural genetic mutation, and the Sphynx cat came into existence.”4 This naturally hairless cat, a by-product of Mother Nature, is now found world-wide. “Cat breeders in North America and Europe have bred the Sphynx to normal coated cats and back to hairless cats for more than thirty years.”4 Of course, there are varying degrees of “hairless”: a Sphynx might have very fine hairs on its ears, toes, and face, but most usually, the warm suede feel to their skin is similar to picking a sun-ripened peach. Additionally, a Sphynx can be any color or coat pattern. “Sphynx are medium-sized, substantial cats and are not fragile in any way. As with most cats, adult males are larger than females. Sphynx have sturdy boning, good muscle development, and a large, rounded belly as if they just finished a nice dinner.”4

“The Sphynx of today is descended from four American cats, Epidermis, Dermis, Paloma, and Punkie. A farm cat from Minnesota by the name of Jezabelle and owned by Ethelyn Pearson, gave birth in 1975 to a bald female kitten who was named Epidermis. The following year, Jezabelle had a second bald kitten, named Dermis. They were then bred to American Shorthairs and Devon Rexes, which (along with domestics) have been used in breeding programs to increase the gene pool.4,6

Care Considerations

Caring for a Sphynx has some interesting side notes that are not part of the normal hygiene regimen for felines.  First, because the cat is hairless, the naturally occurring body oils are not absorbed into the coat. They have no place to go other than clothing, bedding, and furniture. To alleviate oil stains, regular bathing with special attention to skin, ears, and toes is mandatory. Human shampoos are NOT recommended for Sphynx as they may be too harsh for their delicate skin.

Additionally, Sphynx love to cuddle because they can become cold easily and snuggling under blankets is part of their game plan. Sphynx are most comfortable in a 70° F. home,2 and these kitties also LOVE to wear clothes. But even then, there can be a problem – especially if the Sphynx is a show kitty. Wearing clothing regularly can give the Sphynx the appearance of a “reverse farmer’s tan,” as any skin covered by clothing will become darker!  And yes, a Sphynx can be easily sunburned.2

Personality Plus

Sphynx owners agree: This feline is definitely a clown! Their intelligent expressions and wide, open eyes let everyone know wheels are turning and amusing mischief is being planned. These chamois-skinned babies are lovable, known to “ in their attempts to be the center of attention. Sphynx are inquisitive, outgoing, and loving – and they are eager to find something warm to snuggle with. “They delight in making direct eye contact with people, and they flirt outrageously. They literally bend over backward to get human attention. A Sphynx will always be ready to get into some mischief.”5

“Tails” Out of Context1

The owner of “Simply Sphynx” (an Etsy shop), Airie McCready, calls San Diego, California, home and is the owner/staff to three Sphynx and two Devon Rex.

“Being a Sphynx owner is like having a tiny tyrant take over your heart,” she says. “Instead of a neatly made bed, there are unlimited numbers of soft fuzzy blankets all over it. The couch is also a mass of fuzzy throw blankets as they burrow like moles. My house looks like a series of nests. I can never sit down without first putting my hands down—they are under pillows, blankets, and clothing and somehow become invisible. I’ve learned to sit down slowly so I can spring back up if I hear a noise.”

Airie discussed her individual cats, commenting, “Daisy, my nine-year-old female, is noisy! I’ve learned that growling, grumbling, and even hissing means nothing – at least when she is on me and I’m trying to stand up!” She also says, “I have never laughed so much or been so amazed by a cat which seems human to me. My late Starr would bring me toys to fetch for hours on end. He expected me to know what he wanted, and when I could not play with him, he made up games himself and played with his imaginary friends.”

Airie stressed the importance of keeping these cats clean. “Having a Sphynx means bathing – and many of them don’t like it! Most (if not all) Sphynx would be characterized as high-maintenance when it comes to their grooming regimen. If you are OCD or cannot stand having to get brown wax out of ears and off claws, don’t get one! They get blackheads, their body oil turns brown on contact with air, and they often seem to attract dirt.”

Commenting on other aspects of being owned by a Sphynx, Airie said, “Fashion is a part of (Sphynx) ownership, whether you want to admit it or not. A dressed cat is a happier, warmer, cleaner cat. Most seem to like being dressed; however, some won’t tolerate it.” She also warns, “You will be home – a lot! They can’t be alone; they get depressed. The best companion is another Sphynx or another cat or dog they can interact with. They can be amazing with other pets, and they love dogs and kids, but they are cats. Don’t forget that: they have claws and teeth, and just as you would supervise any babies together, you need to supervise them.”

“Sadly, life with Sphynx has its tragic parts. Both Starr and Lucky were taken suddenly by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM); it’s more heartbreaking with the Sphynx than any other cat I have ever had, and I’ve had a lot of cats.” She concluded, “Living with Sphynx is never boring, often exhausting, but so special!”

Brian Tripp of Avondale, Arizona, is a Burmese and Bombay breeder by trade, but he weighed in on the Sphynx conversation to attest to the breed’s intelligence. Brian’s acquisition of his Sphynx was actually a happy accident:  Sigur’s breeder “wanted a Bombay and traded kittens with my “Rokstarr” breeding partner, Troy Weier. But I was the one who picked up this Sphynx kitten at the Saintly City show, and Sigur just never left my house!”

“My Sphynx, GP Katteycasa Sigur Ros of Rokstarr, is the smartest cat I have ever had the pleasure of living with. He scratches on the door like a dog if he wants in a certain room. One day, he woke me up early in the morning by scratching on my bedroom door. I opened it to see what he wanted, and he just stood there, so I shut the door. He started scratching at the door again, so I opened it only to see him walking away and looking back at me like he wanted me to follow him. He took me downstairs to the living room and started scratching on the coat closet. I said to him, “I’m not letting you in the closet to play.” He would not stop scratching at the door, so I opened it, and my sweet Bombay boy, George, came running out. Sigur was trying to save his buddy who had been accidentally trapped in the closet by my roommate.”

Lesley Lane hails from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, and has three Sphynx: Barenardo (eighteen years old) keeps a four-year-old brother and sister pair, Loki and Luna, company. “Loki is a real character … he loves to be picked up and be ‘mooshed’ over. The more you hug and kiss him, the more he likes it. He also loves the vacuum cleaner and comes running whenever he hears it. He wants me to suck him up immediately. He has a habit of jumping up on my back or shoulders when I least expect it. Luna also likes to jump up on me. She and her brother can often be found sleeping together. My older boy, Bare, has to sleep under the blankets with me, and if I don’t let him under the blankets close to my face, he will start to knock pictures off the wall. Everywhere Bare goes, it is always at a run.”

“My Sphynx are all ‘Velcro’ kitties,” says Lesley. “I love how they feel and smell; their antics constantly amuse me and make me laugh. Lately, Luna has been stealing my combs from the bathroom and taking them to other parts of the house while giving out a very strange meow.”

Damian Riniker of Denver, Colorado, is owned by a two-year-old Sphynx named Gordon Lightfoot (after the singer, of course!), who “is an absolute joy! He is the most affectionate and loving cat I’ve ever had. He loves to rub his face all over my beard for scratches. He loves to sleep under the covers and burrow himself in.”

“Very independent for the most part, Gordon dictates how much I pet him and where on his body I pet him. If I’m not doing it right, he will find a hand or foot that’s hanging around and rub against it the way he wants to. We love to go out on adventures in our stroller to visit friends. He also loves to get soft pats on the padding of his back legs by his tail, just one of the strange things about this breed. Sphynx love to chat, answering your meows like a conversation. Gordon also loves squirrels and is constantly on the windowsill, chirping and chattering at the squirrels outside,” stated Damian.

And the Last Word

This sweet breed is intelligent, friendly, inquisitive, and intensely people-oriented. If you can manage their special care considerations, Sphynx is the purrfect kitty for those who want a permanent lap cat!

 

 

References

  1. Emails from breeders and pet owners
  2. LaCoste, Kristine. 2018. “Five Things To Know About Sphynx Cats.” Petful. March 10. Accessed June 13, 2018. https://www.petful.com/cat-breeds-/sphynx-cat-breed-profile
  3. n.d. “Meaning of the name Sphynx.” Ancestry.com. Accessed December 03, 2024. https://www.ancestry.com/first-name-meaning/sphynx
  4. n.d. “Sphynx Breed Profile.” CFA.org. Accessed February 08, 2018. https://www.cfa.org/breed/sphynx
  5. Thomas, Lynne. n.d. “Getting to Know the Sphynx.” The Cat Fanciers’ Associations Complete Cat Book. Accessed February 08, 2018. https://www.catscenterstage.com/breeds/sphynx2.shtml
  6. Wilson, Julia. 2017. “History, Appearance and Temperament.” Sphynx Cat Breed. July 05. Accessed February 08, 2018. https://www.cat-world.com/sphynx-cat-breed-profile.html

 

Previously published in Cat Talk magazine