Sphynx
Canada · 1966Hairless, warm, clingy and clownish
Sphynx cats look bald but are covered in fine peach fuzz and feel warm and suede-like. They are extremely social, affectionate and playful — one of the most people-focused breeds.
At a glance
Life with a Sphynx
Expect a shadow: they sleep under the covers, sit on shoulders and want to be part of everything. They get cold easily and can sunburn. Skin oils that fur would soak up build up on the skin, so baths and ear cleaning are routine.
- People who are home a lot
- Families who want a very cuddly, sociable cat
- Homes with another cat or a friendly dog
- You’re away all day — they hate being alone
- You don’t want to bathe a cat every week or two
- You expect no allergy symptoms — they still make the cat allergen
Often suggested for people with allergies — but no cat is allergy-free. All cats make the main allergen (Fel d 1), and the amount varies from cat to cat. Spend an hour or more with the kitten and its parents before you pay.
- Bathe every 1–2 weeks; wipe skin folds and clean ears weekly.
- Keep the home warm; sweaters in winter, no long sunbathing.
- They burn more calories to stay warm — feed a quality diet.
Health
HCM (a heart disease) is a serious and common concern. Skin problems, ear wax buildup and gum disease are frequent. A rare inherited muscle disease (CMS) occurs in Sphynx and Devon Rex.
- Heart scan (echocardiogram) of the parents, ideally yearly
- Sphynx HCM DNA test — one known gene; a clear result doesn’t rule out HCM
- CMS (Devon Rex/Sphynx myopathy) DNA test
Prices are rough ranges from registered breeders and vary by line, color and region. A much cheaper “purebred” kitten is a common scam sign.
See Sphynx kittensSimilar breeds
Sources: breed standards and profiles from CFA and TICA, DNA tests listed by the UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, and veterinary breed profiles.