Sphynx Cats

Family: Felidae

Common Name(s)
    Sphynx, Canadian Hairless Cat, the Moon Cat, the Wrinkled Cat, the Birthday Suit Cat, Chat sans Poils (French name)


Description
     The Sphynx is a medium-sized, elongated, muscular cat. The body is well-rounded and fully muscular. The back is slightly arched. The legs are in proportion with the body and well-muscled. The tail length is also proportionate with the body. It is slender, and tapering. The head is medium-sized, angular, and slightly triangular. The eyes are large, lemon-shaped, wide-set, and slightly slanted upward toward the ears, which are very large and wide-set. They live to be 10-15 years old and weigh 6-11 pounds.
The main defining feature of the Sphynx is, of course its coat, or lack there-of. The Sphynx is known as being hairless, but that is not completely true. It is covered in fine down, making it feel like a warm peach or suede fabric. Short, fine hair is sometimes present on the tail, feet, nose, and cheekbones. Wrinkled skin is desirable, but not excessively. The Sphynx is accepted in all color variations, which can be seen in the skin pigmentation and fine hair.


Care and Feeding
    The Sphynx eats a lot more than other cats of similar body size, in order to help regulate body temperature.


Breeding/Reproduction
    The average litter size for this breed is 4 kittens. Females have difficulties rearing kittens.