The Sphynx cat is often associated with ancient Egypt due to its name and appearance, which resembles the famous Sphinx monument in Egypt.
However, the Sphynx cat as we know it today is not directly descended from ancient Egyptian cats.
Join DailyPets.net to learn about the Sphynx cat’s origin, characteristics, and care in this article.
The origin of the Sphynx cat
People often call Sphynx cats Egyptian cats because their appearance looks very much like the sphinx in the Egyptian desert, so they spread word of mouth and gradually became the habit of calling Sphynx cats Egyptian cats. So, is it correct to call the Sphynx cat an Egyptian cat?
To prove the fact that the Sphynx cat is not an Egyptian cat, DailyPets.net has found the following records:
1st note:
The historically known hairless breed first appeared hundreds of years ago in Mexico, France, and the Aztecs. In 1903, the last surviving pair of hairless cats was owned by an American couple in Albuquerque, New Mexico. But then, the male cat died due to an attack by a dog, from which the hairless cat disappeared.
Second note:
In 1966, in Ontario, Canada, a nearly hairless kitten was born to a pair of normal black and white cats. The cat was named “Prune,” then Prune was bought by a breeder and used to mix with several other cats to create hairless, commonly known as Egyptian cats or cats. Sphynx as it is now.
Third note:
From 1975 to 1978, in some states in Minnesota, Toronto appeared hairless cats born from natural mutations. These cats were named Punkie, Paloma, and Epidermis; then, they were crossed with Devon Rex cats (a hairless cat breed) to continue to have other hairless cats.
With these records, it can be confirmed that the Sphynx Cat is not an Egyptian cat but a common calling habit of Vietnamese people.
In addition, the current Sphynx cat breed is only recognized by the International Cat Association (TICA), CCF, and a few single cat clubs in Europe. Previously, Fanciers Cats issued a temporary certificate for this breed but later withdrew it.
Appearance characteristics of the Sphynx cat
In terms of appearance, the Sphynx cat is extremely outstanding & easy to distinguish because there is no hair on the body. However, if you look closely, you still find that they have an extremely thin layer of hair covering their entire body.
The skin color (fur) of the Sphynx cat is also extremely diverse; they can have white, black, red, cream, chocolate, lavender, fawn, cinnamon, tabby, etc…
A hairless cat’s head will have a triangular shape (typical of Asian cats) with lemon-shaped eyes & 2 very large ears.
Although the Sphynx cat has a relatively bulging belly, they are still just a medium-sized cat with a weight ranging from 3 to 6kg when grown up.
In addition, due to the absence of hair, the skin on the neck, abdomen, and face will be relatively wrinkled. If you are not a longtime cat player, you will easily comment that they are ugly.
Difference between Sphynx cat and Peterbald cat
If you learn about hairless cat breeds, the Peterbald cat is also hairless and looks similar to the Egyptian cat. So, what is the difference between the Sphynx and Peterbald cats?
According to scientists, Sphynx and Peterbald cats have a few different characteristics:
- PeterBald cat’s head is longer than Sphynx;
- PeterBald cat’s ears are angled to the sides. The Sphinx cat’s ears are slightly upright;
- The Peterbald cat has a mustache, while the Sphynx cat does not.
In addition, there will be differences in dominant, recessive, or number of coats. However, you should pay attention to the most easily observed points with the naked eye.
Sphynx cat personality traits
Sphynx cats are also known as alien cats, but they are also extremely friendly cats with other animals and people. When you have a Sphynx cat, you will often be greeted at your doorstep with a marked excitement rarely seen in other cats.
And just as to compensate for their naked, hairless bodies, Sphynx cats are extremely intelligent, inquisitive, and curious. You can easily train, train them.
Sphynx Cat Health Problems
The hairless Sphynx cat breed looks quite special, but that is also their weakness due to climate change. They will not tolerate cold, nor can they tolerate intense sunlight like other cats. That means owners must coat this cat breed to balance the body’s temperature.
However, having no hair does not mean the Sphynx cat has only one color. According to records, Sphynx cats have many colors: white, black, blue, red, lavender, tabby, tortoiseshell, and calico…. When exposed to the sun, these colors will become darker but will not be good for these hairless cats. Another small note is that Sphynx cats can also have whiskers!
How to take care of the Sphynx cat
Diet for Sphynx cats
The Sphynx cat’s diet is quite different from other cats because its body has no hair, so it needs a lot of food to produce energy to keep the body warm. So when raising a Sphynx cat, you have to prepare their meals more than other cats in the house. In addition, supplement them with foods containing more fat and starch.
Skincare for Sphynx cats
Sphynx cats don’t have hair, but that doesn’t mean you’ll never have to groom or bathe them. It is also because the Sphynx cat has no hair, so the oil on the skin produced to keep the body warm will accumulate in the skin folds, making it easy for the cat to develop dermatitis. This layer of oil is also present on furry cats but will be released through the hairs.
2 weeks or 1 month of bathing once for Sphynx cats is the ideal timetable that you can refer to. When bathing Sphynx cats, only warm water should be used, and some hairless cat shampoos such as Earth Bath All-Natural Pet Shampoo, Pro Pet Works Natural Oatmeal Pet Shampoo, etc. Do not use human shower gels because they can irritate the skin of Sphynx cats.
Sphynx cat eye care
Because Sphynx cats do not have eyelashes, eye care needs to be more assured than other cats. Use a sterile gauze pad and dry soft cloth dipped in a little saline solution, and then carefully rinse the cat’s eyes. Remember to change the gauze and change the towel with each eye.
Sphynx cat ear care
Because the Sphynx cat’s ears are quite large and long, taking care of the Sphynx cat’s ears also needs attention. Cleaning is also quite simple; you just need to use a dry towel and then carefully wipe the ears, between the ears, and around the ears of the cat.
Trim Sphynx cats’ nails regularly
Also, because this cat breed has no hair, you need to pay special attention to cutting their nails; if other cats can use the hair on their hands to scratch or rub their eyes, the Sphynx cat will be very difficult. To do so, they will be easily hurt by claws scratching.
Dress the Sphynx cat often
Sphynx cats, whether hot or cold, are at a disadvantage with their hairless skin, so you should prepare a few small sweaters to keep them warm in the winter and some light clothes to keep them out of the sun. in the summer.
How much does Sphynx cat cost?
Although considered the ugliest cat on the planet (depending on what people say, but most are) due to their naked, wrinkled, and somewhat scary skin, the Sphynx cat is a cat breed that has the highest price in the cat breed today.
They are expensive not for any particular reason but simply because they are rare. If you do not understand, please scroll to the top of the article to learn the history and origin of this cat breed. Because naturally occurring mutations are not many, it is not easy to find a Sphynx cat.
The price to own a standard Sphynx cat, at least you have to spend from $ 1000 – $ 3000, is more expensive than a British Shorthair cat.
