Welcome to Dazzlingsphynx.com
Itty
cats found worldwide. Mother Nature is the foundation
for this unusual breed. Cat breeders in Europe and North America have bred the Sphynx to normal coated cats and then back to hairless for more than thirty years. The purpose of
this selective breeding was to create a genetically sound cat with a large gene pool and hybrid Vigor
Hairless kittens, and their longhaired mother cat were
rescued in Toronto. The kittens were neutered; the
mother, however, had other kittens. Two were
exported to Europe, where one of the kittens was bred
to a Devon Rex. The cat had hairless offsprings which
implied that this recessive gene was at the same locus
as the Devon gene[dubious ]. One, named E.T.,
was presented by Vicki and Peter Markstein at the
Madison Square Garden cat show in the 1980s. [1]
Although there are written accounts from the 1830's
of a Paraguayan "scant-haired cat", the first properly
recorded hairless "breed" was the now-extinct Mexican Hairless
(also called the New Mexican Hairless).
In 1902, a couple from New Mexico received two hairless
cats from local Pueblo Indians. It was claimed that these
were the last survivors of an ancient Aztec breed of cat.
This claim is, however, highly suspect since the
domesticated cat did not exist in pre-columbian
America. The Mexican Hairless cats were litter-mates
and noted to be 25% smaller than local shorthair cats.
The Sphynx is not always totally hairless; there can be a
fine down on the body, which makes thecat feel like a
warm peach. Some light hair is often present on the nose,
tail and toes. The texture of the Sphynx skin has been compared to
a suede covered hot water bottle or a
heated chamois. All colors and patterns are possible and
may be presented at any stage of maturity. The color is
seen in the pigment of the skin and the few hairs that they
do have. One of the questions most asked is "Don't they
get cold?" Well, of course, if it is too cold for you it will be
too cold for a hairless cat too. However, these cats are
smart enough to find a warm human, dog or cat to curl
up with or they will get under your bed covers.
The Sphynx was accepted for competition in the
Championship Class by The Cat Fanciers' Association
(CFA) in February of 2002. Sphynx lovers feel this is
one of the most rare and unusual breeds in the cat fancy today...Sphynx are pure enchantment.
Itty and daughter Lilly
Please Email any questions you may have.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Snuffleupagus kitten from Ittys second Litter,
D.O.B 4-20-09
Sissy
" Lord Thank You for the new red sweater "
The Sphynx is distinguished by its relative hairlessness, though actually it is covered by a soft down. This is not the fabled Mexican Hairless Cat; the breed's origins are actually Canadian, from a black and white mixed-breed cat named Elizabeth who produced hairless kittens. True show Sphynx have very little hair (on the bridge of their noses and the backs of the ears), but pet Sphynx may have more. Expect to pay more money for one with almost no hair.
They are available in a wide variety of colors and patterns. "Hair-free" doesn't mean "maintenance-free". Even fully hairless Sphynx still produce natural oils to maintain a "coat" and thus must be bathed regularly (oily cats may leave grease stains on the furniture or develop blocked pores). Because of the size and lack of hair in the ears, owners must clean the ears regularly to avoid wax buildup. The Sphynx is also not necessarily an appropriate choice for an allergic household. They are not hypoallergenic, despite the lack of hair. They still produce the allergy-causing dander and saliva.
Sissy when she was a baby
The Sphynx is an affectionate, happy companion cat. They are sociable, alert, and very curious and enjoy the company of humans and other pets. Their skin feels like warm, soft suede to the touch.
Pricing on Sphynx usually depends on type, applicable markings and bloodlines distinguished by Grand Champion (GC), National, National Breed and/or Regional winning parentage (NW, BW, RW) or of Distinguished Merit parentage (DM). The DM title is achieved by the dam (mother) having produced five CFA grand champion/premier (alter) or DM offspring, or sire (father) having produced fifteen CFA grand champion/premier or DM offspring. Usually breeders make kittens available between twelve and sixteen weeks of age. After twelve weeks, kittens have had their basic inoculations and developed the physical and social stability needed for a new environment, showing, or being transported by air. Keeping such a rare treasure indoors, neutering or spaying and providing acceptable surfaces (e.g. scratching posts) for the natural behavior of scratching (CFA disapproves of declawing or tendonectomy surgery) are essential elements for maintaining a healthy, long and joyful life.
There are CFA clubs devoted to the promotion, protection and preservation of the Sphynx breed. For more information, please send inquiries to CFA, PO Box 1005, Manasquan NJ 08736-0805.
Sissy's
Litter was born on 4-15-09
