Sphynx.

Sphynx. Sphynx, breed of mostly hairless cat, the result of a natural mutation--change in breed characteristics that occurred naturally rather than through a selective process by cat breeders. The first Sphynx was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1966. Hairless cats had been seen before, especially in the early 20th century when a cat known as the New Mexican hairless appeared in exhibitions. But efforts to develop the hairless cat as a breed did not begin until after this Canadian cat was born. The Cat Fanciers' Association gave the Sphynx full Championship class status in 2002. The adult male Sphynx is about 25 percent larger than the adult female. Both sexes have a medium-long, compact body with a barrel chest. The legs are muscular, with the back legs longer than the front legs. The cat appears slightly bowlegged. Its paws are unusually thick and look like little air cushions. The rounded, wellmuscled neck supports a wedge-shaped head with prominent cheekbones. Large, lemon-shaped eyes slant up toward the outer corner of the ears. Large, upright ears are broad at the base. The long tail tapers to a slender tip. The Sphynx has a higher body temperature than other cats, and its skin feels warm and soft, like suede. An extremely short, fine down covers much of its body. The face, feet, ears, and tail have a soft fur. A ridge of short, wiry hair may grow on the spine. Many Sphynx have no whiskers or eyebrows, but some have short or broken strands of these facial hairs. The skin of the Sphynx carries the pigmentation normally seen in the coats of other cats, and this cat comes in many of the colors and patterns found in other cats. A Sphynx kitten has wrinkled skin, which becomes taut and smooth as the cat matures. Only the face retains the wrinkles. Unlike other cats, the Sphynx sweats. But like most cats, the Sphynx secretes natural skin oils. Because this cat does not have a fur coat to absorb these secretions, its skin must be bathed or wiped down with a towel regularly. The lack of a coat also means the Sphynx can not tolerate extreme temperatures. Because it is mostly hairless, the Sphynx makes a good pet for people with allergies. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.