If you are a member of the media and wish to contact us as a qualified resource for information about Sphynx cats, please inquire through our sphynxlady@yahoo.com

Below, a recent magazine cover featuring a Sphynx cat from our cattery.  The accompanying article also appears below:

I Love Cats Magazine: Mar/ Apr. 2001 - Cover Featuring SenzaCapelli Barenardo Breed History One of the most unusual cats to have magically been produced by Mother Nature is the Sphynx. In 1966, a domestic cat in Toronto, Canada gave birth to a hairless kitten that was discovered to be a natural mutation. This cat and a few other naturally hairless cats were found worldwide and the Sphynx, as we know it today, came into existence. Breeders in Europe and North America have bred the Sphynx to normal-coated cats and then back to hairless for more than 30 years. The outcome was a genetically sound cat with a large gene pool, and a hybrid vigor - a robust breed with few health problems or genetic problems.

Distinct Features - Featuring Senza Capelli Winnie the Purr, our very first Sphynx

The Sphynx is not totally hairless. There is a fine down on the body, and often light hair is found on the nose, tail and toes. The feel of the skin has been compared to a horse's warm muzzle.

Coloration is seen in the pigment of the skin and the few hairs they do possess. All colors that are seen in the cats are registered in the Sphynx.

This is a strong, medium-sized cat. An adult female weighs 6-8 pounds, and an average male weighs 8-10 pounds. They have sturdy boning and good muscle development.

Get To Know The Sphynx

One of the most common questions asked is: Don't they get cold? Of course they do. If you're cold, these cats are cold. They are also resourceful. As soon as they feel chilled, they a warm human or animal body to snuggle into, or they head for a bed where they can get under the covers.

Their open-eyed, friendly expression is a mark of their intelligence and personality. They loved to be looked at and are constantly "on".

Sphynx perform nonsensical antics for your entertainment and are sometimes clumsy … seemingly on purpose. This attitude, and the fact that they enjoy being handled, makes them exceptional show cats.

The Sphynx does not do well alone. While they do prefer human attention, they do enjoy the company of dogs and other cats.

The Sphynx was accepted for registration and competition in the miscellaneous class by the CFA in February 1998. These cats are rare, and most breeders have a long waiting list. The price usually depends on type, markings and bloodlines.

Kittens are made available from 12-16 weeks. After 12 weeks kittens have had their basic inoculations, and have developed the physical and social stability needed for a new environment, for showing, or for being transported by air.

Sphynx Features (Featured EnRoute Shaineh Hillarity of Senza Capelli )

The most distinctive feature of this cat is the appearance of hairlessness. The Sphynx is medium-sized and surprisingly heavy for it's size. The head shape is a modified wedge. The cheekbones and whisker pads are prominent, giving a squared appearance to the
muzzle.

The body is warm and soft to the touch and, because of the lack of hair that normally absorbs body oils, this cat needs to be bathed periodically. This doesn't seem to be a problem because the Sphynx is sweet-tempered and amenable to handling.

The head is slightly longer than it is wide. There is a distinctive whisker break. The skull is slightly rounded with a flat plane in front of the ears. The nose is straight and there is a slight to moderate stop at the bridge of the nose.

The cheeks and cheekbones are prominent and rounded, which define the eye and form a curve above the whisker break. A strong, well-developed chin forms a perpendicular line with the upper lip. The ears are very large, full at the base and then tapering to a rounded tip. They are set at a slight angle on the head, but are not flaring. The interior of the ear is naturally without furnishing.

Large lemon shaped eyes slanted slightly upward to the outer edges add to the expression of this intelligent cat. The eyes are set wide apart. Color should be clear and appropriate to the coat color.

The body is medium length, hard and muscular with a broad, rounded chest and a full round abdomen. The rump is also well rounded and muscular. The line of the back is slightly arched and they have medium bones. The neck is slightly arched, medium length, rounded and well muscled. Allowance is made for heavy musculature in males.

The legs are in proportion to the body. They are sturdy and well muscled. The paws are oval with five toes in front and four behind. The toes are long and slender, more so than in other breeds. The pads are thick and give the impression that the cat is walking on cushions. The tail is slender, flexible and in proportion to body length. It is heavier at the base and tapers to the tip.

Short fine hair is allowed on the feet, across the bridge of the nose and the cheekbones, back of the ears, the scrotum, and tail. Wrinkled skin is desirable, especially around the muzzle, between the ears, and around the shoulders. There are usually no whiskers,
but if they are present, they are short and sparse.

Because this cat is hairless, colors and patterns are difficult to distinguish and should not affect judging.