WHO’STHATCAT? BY KIM CAMPBELL THORNTON
The Sphynx feels like suede beneath your hand. Wearing nothing more than a fine layer of down, he may well have been the inspira- tion for the saying “Bald is beautiful.”
This interesting cat stands out
for more than his hairless and
wrinkly body. He bears a distinct
resemblance to an alien — a
friendly one! — with his large,
satellite-dish ears and multiple
skin tones and patterns. Another
characteristic of the breed is a
potbelly, so don’t assume that one
you’re seeing is overweight.
The breed originated in North
America, although hairless cats
have also made appearances in
other countries.
Sphynx fan Minda Zetlin of
Washington said living with a
Sphynx is “substantially differ-
ent” from having a “regular” cat.
“Being bald, they’re always seeking
warmth, so they’re incredibly snug-
gly and mushy,” she said. “They
need a lot of company, even if you
have more than one.”
Even better, she said, “there’s no
rubbing them the wrong way.”
Living with Sphynx
French owners have these cats
down cold: The breed standard
in that country describes them
as part monkey, part dog, part
child, and, of course, part cat.
Indeed, the Sphynx is acrobatic,
devoted, lively, and mischievous.
The Sphynx is also affection-
ate and lovable. He follows you
wherever you go, including the
bathroom.
Sphynx cats are sociable and
enjoy meeting your neighbors, relatives, and friends.
The best home for a Sphynx is
one with a person or family who
gives him lots of love and attention
and makes sure he has a warm lap,
cozy bedding, or a sweater to keep
him from getting cold.
Things you should
know
Despite his lack of fur,
the Sphynx requires
regular grooming. That
includes a weekly or
as-needed bath to
remove oily secretions
from his skin, which
can not only cause skin
DAVIDP
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ANCH/SHUTTERSTOCK
The Bald and
Beautiful Sphynx
FUN FACTS
The Sphynx comes
in many different
colors and patterns,
which are seen in the
pigment of his skin. In
addition to solid col-
ors like black, white,
Sphynxes can be found in the
various tabby patterns, tortoise-
shell, and pointed looks.
Breeds used to devel-
op the Sphynx include
the Devon Rex and
American Shorthair.
The Sphynx was
named for his resemblance to the giant
sculpture that sits in
the Egyptian desert.
Sphynx cats, in the roles of Mr.
Bigglesworth and his small-
er sidekick, stole the show in
the Austin Powers movies. Mr.
Bigglesworth was played by a
Sphynx named Ted Nude-Gent
while Mini Mr. Bigglesworth was
played by three Sphynx kittens:
Mel Gibskin, Paul Nudeman, and
Skindiana Jones.
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