Once you get past the shock of seeing a naked cat, you'll notice that this breed has other distinctive traits. Their ears, for one thing, look large enough to intercept satellite transmissions. Their paw pads are thick, giving them the illusion of walking on tiny air cushions. The large, lemon shaped eyes are expressive, slightly slanted, and set wide apart. The head is a modified wedge shape, with prominent cheekbones and whisker pads and a strong, well-developed chin. Medium-sized cats, Sphynx are broad-chested and hard-muscled. The Sphynx is the only recognised hairless breed of cat. The Sphynx will thrive in a house filled with other pets. These cats make wonderful playmates that will form strong bonds lasting a lifetime.

The Sphynx is often referred to as the cat that has no coat, but in truth this cat does have a coat that is very short, almost suede-like. The coat on the face has been described as “looking similar to velvet and feeling similar to moss”.

The Sphynx is a sweet-tempered, lively, intelligent, and easy to handle cat. It is easy to train and enjoys being kept busy, so within a lively household it will make itself right at home. The Sphynx is an extremely affectionate creature and will thrive in a house filled with people and other pets.

It is also the only cat that has sweat glands and so does not need to pant to keep itself cool. Because of these sweat glands, these cats will have skin secretions, which discolour their skin, and so will need to be bathed from time to time to maintain a healthy coat.( You might think a hairless cat requires no grooming. Think again. Sphynx must be bathed regularly to remove excess oil from their skin.)

The Sphynx will usually live up to 13 years of age, but with the proper care and nutrition can live up to 15 years of age.