Short History

The hairless Sphynx was found by a woman right here in Toronto, Ontario Canada. We must admit it makes us a little bit happier knowing the Canadian Sphynx originated in our home town. A genetic mutation, paired with the curiosity of a breeder is the reason we have this wonderful breed today. Had it not been for this keen woman in the 1970's we would be missing a great deal of love and affection that this amazing breed brings to everyone they meet. For more history on this visit www.cattime.com

PERSONALITY
Three of the BEST traits this breed brings to your home are:

1. Pet Friendly
2. Kid Friendly
3. Affectionate with Family

If you or your partner are generally dog people but want to opt for a cat then this is definitely the cat for you.

HEALTH
Sphynx are generally healthy, although when your considering taking one into your home there are a few things you need to make yourself aware of.

1. Urticaria Pigmentosa, a skin disease that causes crusty sores on the body. Though we haven't yet been touched by this in our cattery it can happen.

2. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a form of heart disease that is inherited in some cat breeds such as the Maine Coon. Heritability has not been proven in the Sphynx. However that being said it is important that whomever you purchase your cat from does Regular YEARLY scans on BOTH parents. This aids in future research of the disease and hopefully one day finding the genetic marker that causes HCM. HCM is deadly and sometimes a silent killer. We can not claim to be an HCM free cattery but at this time our cats are scanning clear of the disease. At this time we are not touched by the horrible pain that HCM brings. We scan all parents yearly using a Board Certified Cardiologist at the University of Guelph.

CARE
Don't let the nakedness fool you into thinking that these babies will be maintenance free. Quite the opposite. They are a medium sized cat ranging from 6-12 pounds in weight.

Sphynx require

1. Baths. We start our kittens off early with a bath once per month. This is in hopes by the time they reach you they will love the bath. Sadly it doesn't always happen but we keep trying.
2. Skin Oils. Due to the lack of fur they do tend to get a bit oily. If your one who doesn't like to see a spot on a couch, or if you are fond of white furniture, or if you believe you can't stand to touch an oily cat then stay clear of this breed. They can't help the oil build up and washing them weekly would cause them to go into hyper oil production. You have to love your oil butt staining cat if your going to live a long life with these babies.
3. Ear cleaning weekly. Due to the lack of fur these babies get a build up of wax in their ears. You must clean out the wax to prevent them from getting ear infections. Once again we try to prep them for their new homes but hey not everyone likes a good ear cleaning. If they look dirty, wipe them out with a cotton ball or soft damp cloth moistened with a 50-50 mixture of cider vinegar and warm water. Avoid using cotton swabs, which can damage the interior of the ear.
4. Black head popping. Ok I know what your thinking GROSS well kinda but they tend to get some black heads around their mouths and some times tails. They can become infected so a good popping helps prevent that.
5. Nail cleaning. Not only do you have to cut the nails but they get a black buildup on the nails that needs wiping. I'd say do it weekly but you may get away with bi-weekly cleanings.
6. Warm flat (apartment/house) whatever you call your place of dwelling know that your going to have to keep it or at minimum a room warm. Clothes though fun should never be left on a sphynx cat when your out of the house. Clothing can get caught on something and strangle your beloved pet so stay clear of them unless you can remember to take them off when you leave. Keep a heater going to keep a section of the house warm if you don't want to heat the entire flat.
7. Litterbox cleaning is a must with these babies. Clean your box at least once a day but twice is best. Keeping the box clean will prevent any mishaps from happening. Though it isn't a Sphynxism I feel its important to note.
8. Indoor cat only. Though you may want fluffy to roam free in the outdoors Sphynx cats in particular can not do so. Make them a catio or a fenced in area to be with you keeping in mind they will need areas of shade to keep from sunburning.
9. lastly don't expect your cat to be furless all the time. Sphynx sometime grow patches of fur on their body. Especially when they are cold or the season changing. Its perfectly normal and well I think it's cute.
10. No Personal Space. If your thinking of getting a cat so they can curl up on the sofa while you watch television then maybe go with a different breed. Sphynx cats don't want to be on the sofa they want to be as close to you as possible. Personal space is the last thing you will get when you own one of these. Especially since when you own one you more than likely will come back and own 2,3 or 4 of them. Trust me they are addictive for so many reasons but once you meet one you will never look at another breed again.

So now that you've read all that are you ready to commit to one of these babies for the next 8-14 years of your life?

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