Breed overview
The Canadian Sphynx traces its history to a hairless kitten named Prune, born in Toronto in 1966 from a natural mutation. The breed was consolidated by crossing with Devon Rex cats, which is where the Sphynx's characteristic large ears and expressive eyes come from.
A Sphynx's skin is not bare but covered with the finest down — to the touch like suede or a warm peach. The cat's body temperature is a couple of degrees higher than a human's, which is why a Sphynx feels hot. Folds on the face, neck and legs are normal and a hallmark of the breed.
There are other hairless breeds too — the Don Sphynx and the Peterbald, developed in Russia. They look similar but have a different origin and a different type of mutation.
Temperament
The Sphynx is a companion cat in the most literal sense. It follows its owner from room to room, sleeps under the duvet, meets them at the door and copes badly with being alone. If you are often out, a Sphynx needs a companion.
The breed is highly sociable with children and other animals, shows almost no aggression and makes friends with guests easily. Many Sphynxes learn tricks and happily play fetch.
These cats talk a great deal, and because they have no coat they constantly seek warmth: the radiator, a laptop, a person under a blanket are favourite spots.
Skin care
The skin produces a secretion that in ordinary cats is absorbed by the coat. On a Sphynx it stays on the surface, so the cat is wiped with damp cloths once or twice a week and bathed every two to three weeks with a special shampoo. Without this care a brown film and irritation appear on the skin.
Ears and nail beds are cleaned more often than in coated breeds — the same secretion collects there. In summer the skin burns in the sun: direct rays through a window must be avoided.
A Sphynx's metabolism is fast — it eats more than an ordinary cat. The home must be warm (from 22 degrees), and jumpers come in useful for the cooler season. The breed's hereditary risk is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; breeding cats are screened by echocardiography.
Keeping
The Sphynx is strictly an indoor cat. Draughts, cold floors and open windows are out of the question, and walks are only possible in warm weather and on a harness.
The breed is not hypoallergenic: the Fel d1 allergen is in the saliva and skin, not the coat. Before buying, an allergy sufferer should spend a few hours with an adult cat.
Price in Moldova
A Canadian Sphynx kitten in Moldova costs 5,000–19,000 MDL. Pet class without breeding rights — 5,000–9,000 MDL; show class with papers and parental testing — 13,000–19,000 MDL. The Sphynx is the most expensive of the cat breeds popular in Moldova.
Add the cost of care to the price: shampoos, wipes, clothing and higher food consumption — a Sphynx eats noticeably more than a coated cat of the same weight.
