More Info

Did you know?

A Sphynx's skin is the color and pattern that the fur would have been which can include solid, pointed, tabby, tortie and van patterns. The variant causing Sphynx hairlessness is found in the same gene as the rexing variants causing the curly or wavy coats of the Devon Rex and Selkirk Rex. However, the Sphynx variant causes structural damage to the hair and is the reason why the hair either falls out or can be very easily removed. If one copy of the Hairlessness (Discovered in the Sphynx) variant is inherited along with one copy of the Rexing (Discovered in the Devon Rex) variant, the cat will demonstrate hairlessness much like that of a Sphynx, but can produce kittens with normal, curly, or no hair, depending on the breeding. Surprisingly, hairlessness in the Donskoy cat is actually caused by a different genetic variant than the Sphynx!

How it works

Two copies of this hairlessness variant will result in a cat having a hairless body and head.

Health implications

Despite their lack of a fur coat, hairless cats (such as the Sphynx) need regular grooming and bathing. Debris and body oils, which would normally be distributed on the fur, tend to build up on the skin, within the ears, and under the nails. They can also be more prone to certain skin conditions and infections. Hairless cats have a higher propensity for sun damage to their skin and are more susceptible to the cold. Care should be taken when allowing these cats outdoors.