Why Sphynx cats are bald: where does this breed come from

Sphynxes are cats with no visible hair. Their appearance has both its admirers and those who do not like bald animals.

Despite the name, this breed has nothing to do with Egypt. OBOZREVATEL figured out where sphinxes come from.

It is noteworthy that the skin of Sphynxes is not bald, as most people think, it can be covered with small hairs, like a peach.

The first representative of the breed was born in the twentieth century in Canada. It happened by accident as a result of a mutation. It aroused the scientific interest of a scientist from Toronto, who studied the hairless gene and helped breed such cats.

In 1975, an ordinary cat gave birth to bald kittens in Minnesota. They were taken to a cattery in Oregon, where they gave rise to the main lines of Canadian Sphynxes.

Later, hairless cats were crossed with other breeds. However, in 1985, they received the status of a separate breed and became extremely popular. Which, it should be noted, does not subside even now.

In fact, Sphynxes are not completely bald, but their fur is not visible. It feels like suede to the touch. Despite its appearance, the Sphynx is a very warm cat.

So far, scientists have not yet figured out why Sphynxes are born without hair. There is a version that this became possible because a natural mutation was fixed on a regular basis.

The name "Sphynx" is a collective name for three breeds of hairless cats: the Canadian, Don, and Peterbald.

Those who want to get such a cat should remember the rules: its skin should always be protected from direct sunlight. Also, the Sphynx should not be exposed to cold.

The skin of this breed should always be clean to avoid fungal diseases.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL published a selection of the smallest cat breeds that get along well with children.

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