By MAKENNA MCCORVEY
Staff Writer
Sphynx cats, or commonly known as hairless cats are the only breed of cat to be bred for their hairless trait. Sphynx cats are mistaken to be originated a long time ago in Egypt due to their exotic look and name. But, they were not bred until 1966 in Ontario, Canada. This all started when a Canada dwelling cat gave birth to a kitten without fur. The whole breed started as a genetic mutation! This continued in Canada, and today Sphynx are widespread and most likely descended from a Toronto feline born in 1978. I am the owner of Penny Lane, she is a 6-month-old sphynx and she is rambunctious, loving, and adventurous. Sphynx are not like your average house cat (for obvious reasons ), they are more dependent on the care provided by their owner. They require baths, due to their lack of fur there is nothing to absorb oil from their skin. They also do not have any sort of eyelashes, so they have to get their eyes cleaned more often than your average tabby. They are also known to be much more affectionate than other cats. Because they don’t have anything to trap their body heat, they love to snuggle up on their humans(for heat). Not only that but they are much more playful and charismatic. There is little research done as to why they are so playful and affectionate, but it might be due to the fact they stay with their mothers longer than other cats. Sphynx kittens stay with their parents/siblings for 3-4 months, while the average kitten stays with its mother for 2 months.