Breed history

Sphynx The history of the Sphynx started in 1966 when a domestic cat, named Elizabeth, gave birth to a hairless kitten in Toronto, Canada. It was this natural mutation that sparked the development of the Sphynx breed. These cats and a few other naturally hairless cats have been found worldwide. They have magically been produced by Mother Nature and are the foundation for this unusual breed. Cat breeders in Europe and North America have bred the Sphynx to normal coated cats and then back to hairless for more than thirty years.

The purpose of these selective breedings was to create a genetically sound cat with a large gene pool and hybrid vigor. Sphynx a very robust breed with few health or genetic problems. In the early 1990's The International Cat Association (T.I.C.A.) in North America granted championship status to the Sphynx , and in 1998 the Cat Fanciers Association (C.F.A.) of the U.S.A. granted them provisional championship status.

Some people believe that Sphynx are suitable for people with cat allergies, but this is not necessarily true - it depends upon the type of allergy. An allergy to fur means that you may be able to live with a Sphynx.

"However, an allergy to dander is a very different problem as this is basically dried saliva, which becomes airborne after cats have licked themselves. Should you have an allergy, then you need to spend time with the cats to see if there is any reaction. Of course, you may find that if there is a reaction you can learn to live with it, since the pleasure the Sphynx gives may well outweigh the discomfort. "