Sphynx
Hairless cat breed developed from natural genetic mutations.
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The Sphynx cat is a breed known for its lack of fur, resulting from a naturally occurring genetic mutation.[1] The Sphynx cat's skin feels like chamois leather, and it can either have a very fine covering of hair or none at all.[2]
Quick Facts
- Country
- Canada
Facts from the source article.
Biology and range
The Sphynx's hairlessness is primarily due to a mutation in the KRT71 gene, which damages the structure of the hair.[3] Sphynx cats may retain very soft, short hair on parts of their body such as the nose, tails, and toes.[3] The breed is distinct from Russian hairless cat breeds like Peterbald and Donskoy.[4] The contemporary Sphynx breed descended from two lines of natural mutations: barn cats from Wadena, Minnesota in 1975, and stray cats found in Toronto, Ontario in 1978.[5]
The Canadian Sphynx breed was started in 1966 in Toronto when a hairless male kitten named Prune was born to a domestic shorthair queen.[4] The "hr" mutation in Sphynx cats prevents hair from forming a proper root or bulb, which leaves the hair exceptionally fragile.[3] Because the hair is delicate and not firmly rooted, it sheds readily, which is why the cat appears mostly hairless.[3] The Bawas and the Tenhoves were the first people to both identify that the Sphynx's hairlessness is caused by an autosomal recessive gene and to successfully apply that knowledge to create a breeding program that produced fertile kittens.[6]
What the specialist sources record
A 2012 study in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior ranked Sphynxes as the most affectionate cat breed.[7] The PetMD account notes that Sphynx cats have glands that secrete oils meant to keep fur lubricated, but without fur to absorb that oil, it accumulates on the skin.[8] The same source states that Sphynx cat ears tend to be much more waxy than other breeds' ears, requiring frequent cleaning to avoid infections.[8] The Wadena Pioneer Journal reported that when Sphynx cats were starting to be in demand, they were promoted as being good for people with cat allergies because of the lack of fur.[9]
The Mental Floss article explains that Sphynxes still produce Fel d 1, the allergenic protein in cat saliva and skin secretions that causes allergic reactions.[7] The Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine notes that the Sphynx is among the breeds where hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is more prevalent, suggesting a genetic role.[10]
References
- Wikipedia, "Sphynx cat" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Kirstin Fawcett, "11 Not-So-Fluffy Facts About Sphynx Cats", Mental Floss, 15 May 2015 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Sphynx cat" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "TICA Sphynx Breed Introduction", The International Cat Association (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Sphynx cat" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Gandolfi, "The naked truth: Sphynx and Devon Rex cat breed mutations in KRT71", Mammalian Genome, October 2010, p. 509–515; Gandolfi, "The naked truth: Sphynx and Devon Rex cat breed mutations in KRT71", Mammalian Genome, October 2010, p. 509–515 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Sphynx cat" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: James Thoene, "Sphynx History", Beeblebrox Sphynx, 15 July 2016 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Sphynx cat" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Prestigious Sphynx cats once considered 'feral' breed", Wadena Pioneer Journal, 21 January 2012; James Thoene, "Sphynx History", Beeblebrox Sphynx, 15 July 2016 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Sphynx cat" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Jamie Bradburn, "Toronto Invents: The Sphynx Cat", Torontoist, 20 March 2013; Julia Wilson, "Sphynx Cat Breed Profile", Cat-World, 5 July 2017 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Kirstin Fawcett, "11 Not-So-Fluffy Facts About Sphynx Cats", Mental Floss, 15 May 2015. facts only, no text reused. mentalfloss.com
- "How To Keep Sphynx Cats and Other Hairless Cats Warm", PetMD. facts only, no text reused. petmd.com
- "Prestigious Sphynx cats once considered 'feral' breed", Wadena Pioneer Journal, 21 January 2012. facts only, no text reused. wadenapj.com
- "Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy", Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, January 2014. facts only, no text reused. vet.cornell.edu
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Sphynx cat (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Sphynx cat (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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