History of the Sphynx Cat

In the cat breeding world there are many breeds that are iconic and well known for either their physical or personality characteristics. The Sphynx is another cat that has its claim to fame due to its unique furless coat that is sometimes described as a naked cat. It came into existence through selective breeding programmes that started in the early 60s. What some people may not know however, is that the Sphynx can indeed have fine hair on its body but in most cases they will be entirely hairless. Despite there being accounts of hairless cats in history, this was not something that had accurately been observed or repeated in the cat keeping industry. Breeders made a conscious effort during the 60s to explore this within the Sphynx and would eventually discover two varying sets of hairless breeds a decade after the initiative.

Sphynx cats can be divided into two main breeds that are segregated due to their differing natural mutations. The Canadian Sphynx is a cat that takes its lineage from the Russian hairless and other breeds, while the American/European Sphynx is a cross between various cats including barn and other stray cats.