Origin story
The ancestors of modern hairless cat breeds were known back in the times of the Aztecs and were called Mexican Hairless. This breed was distinguished by its elongated body and wedge-shaped head, as well as long whiskers and amber-colored eyes. The last representatives of this breed did not leave any offspring in the last century.
Somewhere in the 30s of the last century, information about cats without fur appeared in countries such as the USA, Morocco and France. Despite this information, the year of birth of the hairless cat is considered to be 1966. This year, a hairless kitten named Prune was born in Ontario. When the kitten grew up and became an adult, it began to be crossed with its mother, and then with new offspring.
The results of such work had to be expected for several years, and already in 1970 this breed was registered with the CFA as a new breed of Sphynx. As for the United States, the ancestor of hairless cats is considered to be the cat Jezebel, who gave birth to two hairless kittens in 1976. This offspring subsequently produced the best breeder of Sphynxes in TICA.
After the breed was approved by TICA in 1986, other organizations agreed to allow Sphynx dogs to begin participating in championships.
Interesting fact! The first generation of Canadian Scythians in Russia appeared from the cat Nefertiti and the cat Aztec Baringa, who was nicknamed Pelmen. At one time, the founder of the Ruaztec nursery took a cat and a female cat from the USA.
The Canadian Sphynx today is considered the oldest and most sought-after breed, in whose veins the blood of the Devon Rex flows. The Don Sphynx was bred 20 years later, only in 1986, in Rostov-on-Don. The Peterbalds were born even later, only in 1994, and are of St. Petersburg origin. This breed is the result of crossing an Oriental cat and a Don Sphynx. The Ukrainian Levkoy was created as a result of the mating of the Scottish Fold and the Don Sphynx even later, only in 2000.
How long do individual species live?
The breed is divided into species that differ among themselves, including in life expectancy:
- Canadian Sphynxes. A breed that arose through natural mutation. The peculiarity of this species is that the animal is born with a short layer of fur, and over time it shirks. Sometimes fur remains on the face, ears, limbs and tail. The average lifespan of these cats ranges from 12 to 15 years.
- Don sphinxes. This breed was developed relatively recently in Russia. Unlike the Canadian one, this Sphynx has a dominant baldness gene, hunger birth is present, and they are completely hairless. Life expectancy is up to 15 years.
- Brush or Peterbald. The breed was also developed in Russia by mating the Don Sphynx and an Oriental cat. This Sphynx differs from the previous ones in the presence of fur. There are bald areas on the body; in adults, they are allowed on the back and neck. These cats live longer than their relatives - from 13 to 16 years, in rare cases they reach the age of 20 years.
Character and behavior of Sphynx cats: advantages and disadvantages
Don Sphynx, Brush kitten - what to feed
Sphinxes have a calm disposition. The sociable nature is complemented by curiosity and openness. This cat is always ready to play with a child or toys. Canadians are very observant and affectionate towards people.
Advantages of a cat's character:
- friendliness;
- calm;
- the need to communicate with the owner and other people;
- getting along with other pets.
Flaws:
- desire to climb on cabinets and other furniture;
- If the owner is absent for a long time, the cat will feel sad.
The Canadian Sphynx is a very playful cat
Description of the breed
Many people spoke quite impartially about this breed, pointing out that sphinxes have no future, since they are unaesthetic animals and sensitive to cold. They argued that the breed was of purely technical interest.
At the same time, many generally considered animals to be harmful and abnormal, since they are not able to provide for themselves on their own and are completely dependent on humans.
If we talk about modern sphinxes, then their description will not be unambiguous, since even one breed may differ in some differences in the exterior, as well as in the type of hairlessness.
Appearance
Modern Sphynxes practically no longer have the main feature - folded skin, which created the appearance of cats similar to wrinkled old men. These days, these are animals that resemble smooth porcelain figurines. It should be noted that kittens do have some excess skin, but this disappears over time as they grow older, although these obvious signs can still be seen on the neck or head.
Nowadays, among the Canadian sphinxes one can still note a significant number of the most folded specimens.
Important point! As a rule, modern catteries highly value natural similar breeds of cats that appear from time to time in the United States. Many breeders try to work with such animals, breeding new breeds of animals that are most consistent with their ancestors.
According to many experts, a large proportion of modern Sphynxes are beginning to degenerate and are becoming more and more similar to the hairless Devon Rex of the usual type, with thin skin, relatively round eyes, low-set mustaches, a short head and a bone structure that is uncharacteristic of Sphynxes.
Breed standards
Each breed of hairless cats has its own beauty criteria. In addition, it should be noted that within each breed several variants of the requirements for the exterior of cats can coexist. Sphynx cats, for example, are valued according to both CFA and TICA standards.
The most interesting thing is that experts are of little interest in the fact that an animal has no hair, since they pay more attention to the shape of the head, the constitution of the body, the grace of movements and the general impression created by the breed.
As for the details, experts are interested in muscular limbs, with the hind legs being longer than the front ones, the paws being proportional, the tummy pear-shaped and, at the same time, an elegant tail, although it looks like a “rat’s”.
It is important to know! The ears of this breed are large, open and straight, and the eyes are somewhat slanted, shaped like lemons of any color. The skeleton is heavy, and the body itself is quite muscular.
Skin folds are more characteristic of the head, muzzle, neck, and shoulders. If you touch the skin covered with delicate down, you feel warm suede. Any body color is taken into account, including those with white spots.
A high-breed sphinx, as a rule, has a magical effect on those around it, which is due to the presence of rather smooth lines of the animal’s naked body, as well as the penetrating gaze of its unique eyes.
Character and behavior
As a rule, many are frightened by the unusual appearance of sphinxes, but those who dare to pick up this animal immediately turn into one of the lovers of these unique animals. Sphinxes are not known for their obsessive behavior, although they always prefer to be close to their owner. These animals have a peaceful and friendly character. They accept strangers as their long-time friends and easily get along with other animals in a person’s home.
In addition, sphinxes are considered intelligent, affectionate and affectionate creatures who can patiently wait for their owner if he is delayed for some reason.
These animals completely trust a person and love them if a person treats them the same way. These cats are easy to train due to their intelligence and memory. Moreover, these are strong animals that can reach a height of at least 1 meter without much effort.
Their behavior sometimes resembles that of a dog, since sphinxes are able to bring various objects to their owner. They easily open doors, as well as various cabinets, and can repeat basic tricks. Thanks to their unique appearance, as well as their natural acting talent, sphinxes are loved by filmmakers and photographers.
How long do sphinxes live?
At one time, a sphinx named Bambi set a longevity record, living for 19 years. Since then, no representatives of hairless cats have managed to break this record.
According to experts, the average life expectancy of sphinxes is just over 12 years, which is due to the consequences of breeding. In order for your pet to live as long as possible, special attention should be paid to a healthy diet, attentive care, and frequent visits to an experienced veterinarian.
What does life expectancy depend on?
Unfortunately, the life of pets is not as long as many owners would like, and Sphynxes are no exception. There are many factors that can prolong or, conversely, shorten the lifespan of these animals. Let's look at the most basic ones.
First of all, experts advise keeping your pet’s weight under control. Cats can overeat if left unchecked, which can ultimately lead to obesity and related problems.
You should choose healthy foods and carefully consider your diet so that it contains the necessary nutrients and vitamins in the required quantities.
Another important factor is cleanliness. This is due to the fact that the cat has practically no hair; accordingly, a specific fatty layer forms on its body, on which bacteria can multiply. Therefore, water procedures are necessary and should be carried out every day.
It would also be useful to use special cleaning compounds.
Cats of this breed also lack protective hairs in the ears, which leads to the active formation of wax. To eliminate wax plugs, which are very harmful to your pet, the ears will need to be cleaned every week.
Bald animals react very strongly to changes in temperature. If the house is cold, the Sphynx can easily catch a cold.
Therefore, you should equip a warm place with a bedding for sleeping, and it would also be useful to purchase a warm blouse for your pet.
Cats are very sensitive to the sun and can even get sunburned. Therefore, it is necessary to protect the animal from direct sunlight.
Sphynx curiosity is an excellent quality, but sometimes it can lead to injury. It is necessary to ensure the safety of the animal and limit its access to dangerous objects.
If you really want to have a Sphynx, but you can’t often be at home and pay enough attention to it, one of the options would be to purchase another kitten of the same breed . Smart cats will enjoy communicating with each other. They also love children very much, most often they calmly go into the arms of guests, and find contact with other pets. Cats prefer to sleep in bed with their owners.
Loneliness is destructive for them and can shorten their lifespan to 7–8 years.
As with people, heredity plays a big role in influencing the life expectancy of sphinxes. The presence of long-livers may indicate that descendants will repeat the fate of their ancestors. If the animal does not have birth injuries, it is spared congenital defects and diseases, it has every chance of a long and happy cat life.
Good immunity is also very important in this regard. Strengthening it is entirely the responsibility of the pet’s owners. It is necessary to provide the cat with adequate nutrition and vitamins, take care of the living conditions and devote the maximum amount of time to the pet.
Main differences
As mentioned above, the main feature of this cat breed is the absence of hair. Bald babies look very funny, they are pleasant to the touch and can have a variety of colors. Their body is rough and somewhat reminiscent of suede. There are small membranes on the paws.
Most Sphynx cats love water, although this is not typical for felines. They are very affectionate and strongly attached to their owners. Animals especially enjoy sitting on the arms or shoulders of household members.
These cats do not tolerate loneliness well, so they are not suitable as pets for busy or overly active people.
It is impossible not to note the artistry of the sphinxes; taking photographs with them is a pleasure.
Cats are very curious and enjoy communicating with other pets in the house. Owners note the wonderful character of their pets, their friendliness and complete lack of aggressiveness, which makes the kids a favorite even in families with small children. Sphinxes are sociable and very smart; anyone in the household can play with them and teach them commands. For this reason, even those who have sick relatives in the house get such pets - they act as a kind of therapy.
Sphynxes are not afraid of people and are tolerant of dogs.
They are very clean, so you will have to pay attention to hygiene and clean the tray on time, otherwise your pet will simply refuse it.
Keeping sphinxes at home
Despite the fact that animals are devoid of fur, they cannot be constantly wrapped up, but on the contrary, they should be accustomed to the ambient temperature from an early age. To do this, it is necessary to organize regular walks in the fresh air in the summer, providing the animals with physical activity. In this case, sudden hypothermia should not be allowed, and drafts should also be avoided.
As a rule, exposure to the sun or direct sunlight should not be long, since the animal's skin can quickly burn.
When sphinxes move, they do not require special temperature control, but during sleep the animal must be warm. Basically, such cats sleep under a blanket, pressing their body against the owner.
Important to remember! As a rule, there are no hypoallergenic breeds, but individual human reactions to specific cats are observed. In any case, if you want to have a Sphynx at home, it is better to carry out all the necessary tests with the kitten that you plan to purchase to keep at home.
Care and hygiene
This breed of cat does not have fur, so they do not have hair in their ears, which serves as a natural barrier for dust and dirt to enter the animal’s ears. In this regard, a substance with a brown coating often accumulates in the ears of sphinxes. Therefore, as contamination occurs, this substance is removed using a cotton swab.
Sphynxes, due to the fact that they do not have hair, quickly get dirty due to the work of the sebaceous glands. In animals with fur, this happens unnoticed by others. Sphynxes do not have this opportunity and excess fat does not disappear anywhere, but remains on the upholstery of furniture and other things, in the form of unattractive greasy spots. Therefore, the animal must be regularly wiped with napkins or a damp sponge.
Some cats have an increased secretion of fat, so first of all it is better to review your pet’s diet and also pay attention to its well-being. Alternatively, you can buy the Sphynx using a gentle detergent. After this procedure, the animal is wiped dry and placed in a warm place.
Being close to other animals, there is a possibility that the sphinx may get hurt, which is unacceptable. If this happens, the wound must be immediately treated with an antiseptic.
What to feed the Sphynx
Sphynxes have a fairly high metabolism, so they have an excellent appetite, along with omnivorousness and undemanding food habits.
The diet of these animals can include both natural and purchased, ready-made food. Therefore, it is permissible to feed sphinxes:
- Raw meat (beef), liver, both raw and boiled (beef), boiled chicken, which can be up to 60 percent in the diet.
- Up to 20 percent of the diet (daily) is factory feed such as Hills, Jams, Eagle Pak.
- Up to 15 percent of the diet is fermented milk products, in the form of T-milk, milk semolina, fermented baked milk, and cottage cheese.
- Once a week you can give a boiled egg or raw egg yolk.
- All sorts of delicacies, at the rate of up to 1 percent.
Sphynx cats, like some other cats, can eat raw cucumbers or tomatoes. This is only beneficial for the animal.
Diseases and breed defects
It is believed that sphinxes are a fairly resistant breed against various diseases, but, like many other artificially bred breeds, they suffer from congenital pathologies. In case of infection, they quickly cope with the disease, securing immunity for life. Small kittens, as well as older kittens that have not reached puberty, suffer from respiratory diseases, so it is better to vaccinate them with an inactivated vaccine.
As a rule, childbirth proceeds normally, without complications, and females always have enough milk. Due to an excess of milk, cats suffer from mastitis. When kittens are weaned from their mother, it is necessary to monitor their diet, since due to the high metabolic rate, the most common diarrhea can cause serious damage to the cat's health.
Typical breed related defects:
- With shortening of the lower jaw.
- With eye microphthalmia.
- With congenital entropion of the eyelids.
- With curvature of the caudal spine.
- With hyperplasia of the mammary glands or nipples.
- With a mammary gland cyst.
- With acne.
- With seasonal dermatitis and skin vasculitis.
- With congenital underdevelopment of the thymus.
- With gum hyperplasia.
Important point! Often, waxy formations in the ears of Sphynx cats are confused with the secretions of ear mites. Moreover, this is typical even for some veterinarians, usually inexperienced ones.
About health
A Canadian Sphynx with a good pedigree is in good health, but still the immunity of these cats is much weaker than that of breeds bred in a more “natural” way. In addition, there are a number of diseases that are especially characteristic of this breed.
Possible diseases
The most common diseases of the Canadian Sphynx can be divided into two large groups - congenital (unfortunately, they are associated with the hairlessness gene: we force the cat to pay for its original appearance) and acquired.
Common diseases in cats include distemper, epiphora, ear mites, lichen, and calcivirosis.
The owner cannot influence the former, unless he buys a cat from serious nurseries; the latter can be partially protected by proper nutrition and timely vaccination.
The main problems facing the Canadian Sphynx (except obesity):
- Malocclusion (overbite): the lower jaw is shorter than the upper jaw, resulting in the incisors not aligning with each other. Often this pathology is also accompanied by a “broken” tail; such animals are definitely subject to culling and are not allowed to breed. A cat with a similar pathology may feel quite tolerable, but sometimes developmental delays, permanent jaw injuries and other serious problems are still observed. Such a deviation cannot be cured.
- Microphthalmos (improper development of the eyes). This pathology can have a variety of manifestations, from complete blindness to cataracts or oncology. The reasons for this deviation have not been fully established, but there is a possibility that it is due to the same gene mutation. Cats with diseased eyes are not allowed to be bred; the pathology in general cannot be cured.
- Inversion of the eyelids (in sphinxes this occurs especially often due to the folds that cover the animal’s head). Everything said above regarding microphthalmos fully applies to this pathology.
- “Broken tail” is a congenital pathology, due to which there are still discussions about the advisability of maintaining the breed. Animals with such congenital pathology of the spine, as a rule, give rise to non-viable offspring, so the “minimum evil” is to not allow them to participate in breeding.
- Nipple hyperplasia is another hereditary problem passed down through the female line. It has been noticed that most often it manifests itself in blue sphinxes. The problem is almost untreatable; the offspring of such cats most often do not survive due to lactation disorders. There is another problem associated with the mammary gland of sphinxes - a cyst, glandular-cystic degeneration. It is more common in tortoiseshell cats, but, unlike nipple hyperplasia, most likely, it is not a congenital pathology, but appears later, often as a result of long-term use of various “anti-sex products.” In the same group, we note gingival hyperplasia; it is hereditary and for some reason is also characteristic of blue and tortoiseshell Canadians.
- Various types of acne, as well as seasonal dermatitis, vasculitis and other skin diseases. The causes and manifestations of such pathologies can be different, in principle, their effective treatment is possible if you consult a good specialist in time.
- “Sleep syndrome” is a congenital underdevelopment of the thymus gland. The genetic pathology is most likely directly related to the lack of hair (mutating gene). It looks truly terrible: a newly healthy kitten falls asleep, never to wake up again. An autopsy reveals serious pathologies of internal organs.
How to extend your pet's life
If you have a Sphynx, you need to realize that cats of this breed differ from their woolly counterparts not only in the lack of hair on their bodies. This means that they need a special approach.
It is better not to let hairless cats outside, especially in clear weather. This is fraught with sunburn, which the animal can get even while sitting on a windowsill or on a balcony.
Sphynxes are also afraid of drafts. When ventilating the room, it is better to take the animal to another room. And if the house is cold, you need to take care of clothes for your pet.
It is recommended to bathe hairless cats once every 1 or 2 weeks, and also to clean their ears often. They produce more sulfur than their furry counterparts. In addition, it is necessary to regularly clean the claws and the skin around them.
Another important point is nutrition. The tendency to gluttony occurs in cats of many breeds, but in Sphynx cats this is a characteristic feature. They are able to absorb food in huge quantities, sometimes eating something completely unsuitable. Because of this, problems with the gastrointestinal tract arise. To prevent them, you need to limit the animal’s food intake, giving high-quality complete food and exactly as much as it needs. And when people are eating, it is better to remove the animal to another room, otherwise the pet will look into the plates.
Important! Treatment and advice on caring for Sphynx cats should only be obtained from veterinarians who specialize in the breed, since hairless cats are fundamentally different from ordinary cats, including in metabolism.
Should I worry?
Of course, every pet owner who is sincerely attached to his four-legged friend sooner or later asks this question, because the death of a pet for the whole family is a very sad event and everyone wants to know exactly when to be prepared for it.
If there are children in the family, this issue becomes even more acute. For a small child, the death of an animal can be not just a sad incident, it can really seriously hit a fragile psyche and lead to irreparable consequences, so the question of whether to give a child a kitten is quite logical.
In fact, you just need to understand that most health problems in cats arise from poor diet. Most of the diseases that shorten a pet’s life are the result of an unbalanced or simply incorrectly selected diet.
Buying a Sphynx: tips, recommendations
The best option is to purchase a kitten from a reputable breeder, and not from the first amateur on the market. Of course, it is not so easy to determine who is a serious breeder and who just wants to make money. Therefore, you will have to involve your acquaintances and friends who have a Sphynx cat at home. Alternatively, you can find a lot of information on the Internet.
The most suitable option is to contact a nursery that breeds this breed. Of course, this costs a lot of money, but this is a guarantee that you are purchasing a truly purebred kitten, which is accompanied by all the necessary documents.
What is important when choosing a kitten
If you purchase a kitten from a cattery located in another city, you can ask the breeders to shoot a video and take pictures. It is better to pay attention to small-breed nurseries. It will not be superfluous to know when the mother of the kittens had a previous birth, since the difference between the next births should not be less than six months.
The breeder is obliged to provide the following documents:
- Registration documents of the nursery.
- A breeder's certificate indicating that the breeder has attended felinological courses.
- Documents confirming pedigree.
- If the kitten is already 2 months old, then it must have a veterinary passport.
It is better to pick up the kitten yourself, since it is possible to carry out a visual inspection of the animal, in particular the skin, teeth, ears and eyes. You should also pay attention to the behavior of the kitten, which should be active and playful.
How much do Sphynx kittens cost?
The cost of kittens of this breed depends on a number of factors, such as the breed, breeding line, class of the animal and its color, status of the nursery and region of location.
Don Sphynx kittens are sold at prices ranging from 5 to 12 thousand rubles, while Canadian ones are much more expensive. It’s safe to say that the cheapest ones cost 5 thousand rubles, but the most expensive ones reach 150 thousand rubles.
Does castration prolong the life of cats?
It is impossible to say unequivocally how long castrated Sphynx cats live. But we can say for sure that the operation will extend the life of the pet by two or even three years. Neutered cats are calmer, more balanced, they do not run off for walks, do not disappear for a long time, and the possibility of contracting sexually transmitted diseases is completely excluded.
Of course, there are also disadvantages to castration: the cat’s hormonal levels may become disrupted and obesity may appear. In order to avoid such problems, you need to feed your pet balanced food and monitor the amount of food consumed. It is difficult to monitor the standards for the food eaten by sphinxes, because they eat a lot even if they are not castrated. Large amounts of food are necessary to regulate body temperature. Since cats are hairless, they freeze, losing a lot of energy, hence the need to absorb large amounts of food.
Neutered and non-castrated
If it was decided to have a male sphinx at home, sooner or later the owners think about castrating him. According to veterinarians, this procedure is even useful, since castrated cats, according to research, live longer.
In addition, they become even more calm and good-natured, and their hormones return to normal. The risk of testicular cancer and prostatitis is also eliminated.
If we are talking about cats, there will be no harm either. After sterilization, she will not try to escape from home, the issue with hormones will be resolved, and diseases of the reproductive system will also not threaten the animal. Life expectancy increases, which is important if the owners do not plan to have offspring. A young sterilized cat will not suffer from diseases of the mammary glands.
Owner reviews
No one has any doubt that these are unique creatures, especially those who have become the proud owners of this breed. Evidence of their uniqueness is that they have no fur at all, and their ears stick out like a pair of locators. Despite their original appearance, these animals, like other cat breeds, love to play, so they rush around the house or apartment like crazy, pressing their long ears to their backs.
Sphynxes, like all other cats, have well-developed healing properties and, as a rule, they always lay on their owner’s sore spot in order to expel illness.
According to Sphynx owners, these creatures hardly consider themselves cats, since they are too elegant, aristocratic and smart.
Basics of proper nutrition
There are no special rules that must be followed when composing the diet of the Canadian Sphynx. These cats eat the same things as their “woolly” relatives. But for a novice cat owner, we will repeat the basic rules for feeding a pet.
Choose the food that is most suitable for your cat: Kitiket, Purina, Hills, FortiFlora, Royal Canin.
Kitten
According to generally accepted international standards, a kitten can be separated from its mother no earlier than 12 weeks after birth.
At this age, the young animal has already fully mastered the skills of independent feeding and most likely copes well with regular “adult” cat food (if you have ever seen how three-month-old kittens living with their mother behave, you will understand that feeding them something one thing, and an adult cat something else - a useless idea: they will still steal from each other’s plates).
Thus, when purchasing a Sphynx kitten, you do not need to select a special “children’s” diet for it. Almost the only difference in the diet of such a baby and an adult cat is the number of meals per day.
A kitten aged three to five months is recommended to be fed four to five times a day, then one or two feedings are gradually skipped, and starting from nine months, just as gradually, the young animal is transferred to two meals a day, which continues throughout its life.
Never leave uneaten food on a plate. Clean up mercilessly until next time! The only exception in this regard is dry food; it can be present in the feeder around the clock, provided that the cat has access to a large amount of fresh, clean water.
If you are going to use cat food in your animal’s diet, give preference to those specially designed for kittens (they are present in the line of almost all well-known brands). Only super premium and premium food is suitable for Sphynx cats.
If you are more satisfied with natural food, you will need to add vitamins to the usual diet for all cats, this will allow you to achieve the necessary balance of all the nutrients the animal needs.
Adult cat
So, we feed kittens almost the same way as an adult cat, only more often. Here the rules are as follows.
Food can be of two types - special ready-made food or natural food. The choice is up to the owner, but it must be made before purchasing a kitten, so as not to injure the animal by throwing from side to side.
Combining different types of food is allowed, but it is better to do this not within one meal. And under no circumstances is “food from your table” suitable for a cat.
Cats are carnivores, so the basis of their diet is meat (or fish). Pets can be fed with poultry, rabbit, beef and veal; pork, sausages and other preserved and semi-finished products are prohibited.
Meat and fish (sea, lean, boneless) can be boiled or raw, offal - only boiled.
Your cat will sell its soul for a piece of raw meat, so you shouldn’t deny the animal such a pleasure, but first the product must be either frozen or doused with boiling water, otherwise the cat runs the risk of “catching” helminths.
In addition to meat, cats can (and need): low-fat milk and dairy products, boiled chicken or quail eggs (the latter do not need to be boiled, just scattered in a plate), vegetables, herbs, boiled cereals. Potatoes are prohibited. You shouldn't get carried away with legumes either.
Don't let your pet overeat, especially since Sphynx cats often suffer from obesity.
Important! The lack of hair leads to the fact that the Canadian Sphynxes are always cold. As a result, metabolic processes in their bodies are somewhat faster than those of other cats, and accordingly, they are constantly hungry.
The owner needs to be especially attentive to how much his pet eats, and not give in to the cat’s pleading gaze. The point is not only that the fat Canadian Sphynx is simply a disgusting sight.
Excess weight is truly harmful to the health of the animal; such cats live much shorter than their lean counterparts.
What is an animal
The Canadian Sphynx is good-natured, peaceful, intelligent, has an excellent memory, is very well trained, playful: if he is not occupied with anything, he will start playing pranks to get rid of boredom.
These cats are extremely loving and affectionate: they do not tolerate loneliness well (they fall into depression, become withdrawn and even aggressive), they love their owner very much: when he is at home, they follow him on his heels, ask to be held and, if allowed, sleep with pleasure next to him on the bed.
They sense the mood of their owner very well, and if they see that he is out of sorts or ill, they do not leave his side and try to cheer him up with affection and purring.
Intelligence
By nature, hairless cats are generously endowed with a sharp mind and good memory. They are easy to train and can perform various tricks. For example, opening doors, bringing small objects in their teeth to the owner, etc. They get used to the tray instantly, you just have to show where it is. Sphinxes are smart, but they need training to bring out their best natural qualities.
Hairless cats are extremely curious, so constant monitoring of such a pet is necessary. The Sphinx should be raised without screaming or physical influence. The animal simply will not understand the reason for such treatment. Use a stern, emotional tone in your speech if your pet has done something wrong.
Features of care
Special attention is required to care for the skin of sphinxes, since the lack of hair is not only their unique advantage, but also their greatest disadvantage. The skin of these cats is susceptible to the appearance of pimples, blackheads, sunburn, dermatitis, rashes, and other pathological conditions.
Sphynxes need to be bathed often, even if they are brushed (with little fur). Breeders recommend subjecting pets of this breed to water treatments twice or thrice a week.
Due to the impossibility of bathing procedures, the skin of sphinxes is wiped with a weakly concentrated solution with a specialized, anti-allergenic antibacterial agent for cats.
Separately, feeding, its frequency and frequency, as well as the composition of the diet should be monitored. Excessive feeding of fish will lead to the development of urolithiasis; meat - to protein poisoning; too frequent and dense feedings risk turning into obesity, which is like death for sphinxes; Rare feeding in small portions often contributes to the development of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, stomach and intestinal ulcers).
