Medical, Genetic & Behavioral Risk Factors of Sphynx Cats

This cat first appeared as a mutant hairless kitten born in a litter of short-haired cats in 1966 in Ontario, Canada. As he grew older, this original kitten developed a short, downy coat with thin, short hair present on the ears, muzzle, tail, feet, and testicles. A breeding program was developed, and the CFA granted provisional status to the Canadian hairless, but this recognition was withdrawn due to the breeds health problems. Three additional hairless cats were found in Ontario, and two female cats were sent to Dr. Hugo Hernandez in Holland and crossed with Devon rex cats. In 1975, Milt and Ethelyn Pearson of Minnesota discovered a hairless kitten born to a brown tabby shorthair. When these cats were bred to normal short-haired cats, they produced normal kittens. But when inbred, they produced hairless cats, indicating that the hairless gene is recessive. Hairless cats from the Pearsons were bred to rex cats and were the foundation of the Sphynx breed. The CFA recognized these new