Origin
The Sphinx is a cat with a unique appearance, without the natural fur of other cat breeds, often with a serious and expressive face, as if it were a villainous cat from a movie. A well-known example is Mr. Bigglesworth, the Persian cat from Dr. Evil in the Austin Powers franchise, who after being defrosted was represented as a Sphinx, or as the villain Kitty Galore from the movie Cats and Dogs and in the cartoon Kid vs. Kat as the villain Mr. Cat, reinforcing the image of an expressive villain that they portray, but this is far from the truth.
We have heard that the Sphinx is a breed of cat that came from ancient Egypt, and its name comes from the Sphinx of Giza and the various representations of cats in the pyramids. But the only truth is the origin of the name.
The first specimens appeared in 1966 in the province of Ontario in Canada, where the next litter presented more kittens with the same anomaly. Initially called moon cats and later Canadian hairless, these cats were hybridized with other breeds so that new patterns could emerge, and some crosses resulted in lethal results for their descendants due to genetic problems, causing the breed to be abandoned and disappear, resurfacing in 1975, when two specimens of hairless cats were crossed and produced kittens with the hair anomaly. However, without other genetic variables that could be lethal to their descendants, giving rise to the pattern we know today of hairless cats, and thus being called Sphynx.
Features
The Sphynx does not have a conventional coat, but there is a small amount of down all over its body, which is almost imperceptible to the eye, and it can have several spots on its body. The breed can be found in the pinkish pattern up to very exotic spotted patterns. Because it does not have hair, its skin is very oily and requires frequent cleaning with wet wipes and even baths to remove the oil, in addition to frequent attention so that it does not get sunburned and get sick from the cold. It is recommended that well-protected beds such as a den are always available to protect it from the cold and wind to protect it from the temperatures. Even clothes are highly recommended and they look very charming and stylish in them.
Personality
They should be raised indoors so that the weather does not harm them. Houses and apartments should also be screened so that they do not have access to the outside environment. However, this breed is very energetic, friendly, sociable, playful and somewhat jealous. Therefore, they need smart toys, scratching posts and platforms to burn off energy.
The Sphinx is a medium-sized cat, very muscular and with a very happy, playful, curious, affectionate and somewhat talkative temperament.
Their life expectancy is 14 years and they can reach a weight of 5.5 kg without presenting any special health problems. But be careful with irresponsible breeders so that problems such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are not a problem. Look for catteries from licensed breeders, with the required genetic checks to avoid having a cat with this problem.
In addition, dermatitis and allergies are problems that can occur if the skin is not properly cared for. Visits to the vet for better monitoring are also very welcome.
At Polipet you will find super premium foods for better nutrition for your “little” jealous one and to ensure that problems related to food health do not affect him, as well as skin supplements, wet wipes suitable for pets, common scratching posts, cardboard or tower scratching posts and den-type beds for cats.
How much does a Sphinx cat cost?
It varies, but it is usually above R$3,000.00
Why doesn’t the Sphinx cat have hair?
Natural mutation of a gene. A cat gave birth to a hairless kitten, and years later, other felines appeared with this mutation.
How long does a Sphinx cat live?
Approximately 14 years.
Discover our services and discounts: Delivery , Pick up in store , Subscription , Cash Back , website , App , and much more. We have products for your dog, cat , birds , rodents , fish and reptiles .
