In the European standard of breed the Canadian Sphynx is written: "He is like a little kitten, a little puppy, like a little monkey and also like a little child in a hot little body." The sphynx type, character and behavior are so unusual that make this breed detached. The interest to them and their popularity are very large around the world. There is even a special association, uniting fans of the breed the Canadian Sphynx. The largest of them is ISBFA (THE INTERNATIONAL SPHYNX BREEDERS AND FANCIERS ASSOCIATIONS) – was founded in the United States, but has members all over the world. Where on earth have taken a cat-sphinxes?

The pictures of bald cats were found at times of Aztecs. Possibly, it is the descendants of that cats survived nearly to our days as the "Mexican naked cats." Single copies of this breed could be seen at exhibitions in America at the beginning of this century. But, unfortunately, it was unable to save them, and the last Mexican cat died in the 20-ies without leaving progeny. Hairless Mexican cats differ from today's Sphynx. They had whiskers, they were more ordinary, had wedge head with large ears and amber eyes, in winter they covered with short hair on the back and tail, which usually disappeared in summer. It's hard to say whether the modern Canadian Sphynx is the descendant of that cats or it is hairless mutation arose again. However, in 1966 in Ontario (Canada) a hairless kitten was born with simple domestic cats. From this moment the count of today’s Sphynx appearance have started, but, strictly speaking, it’s not right. Despite the systematic breeding work with the first bare cats, for various reasons the breed almost died away in the mid 70-ies. And only the second finding of three kittens in 1978, in the vicinity of the Ontario in a simple street bare of cats gave the "second breath" for breed. It is possible, that the appearance of hairless kittens took place before in cold Ontario, but these three kittens were lucky - they were picked up by tender-hearted people, probably out of pity. After unsuccessful attempts to "heal the injuries of denying", people finally realized what cats they had in their hands. Kittens fell in the cat's professional hands and then just from them was started a real Sphynx breeding. The greatest influence on the breed had a crossover with the Devon Rex for  fresh blood injection and exterior modifications (in particular, thanks to Devon Rex, Sphynxes  have big ears). But in general, modern sphynx is much closer to the original version found on the "scrap-heap" rather than to simply Devon - Rex without hair. By the way, one of the pioneers of race cat Bambi seventeenyears old is on "retirement" and living now in a Sphynx nursery in Canada. Perhaps the most important feature of Sphynx is a wonderful soft shapes. In his figure there are no straight lines, they are all rounded, all convex, and at the same time fluid and smooth. He is like a Chinese statuette (perhaps that's why the second, but the less known name of Sphynx - "Moon Cat"). Even the front paws are slightly curved in the manner of bulldog and tail is very flexible and always smoothly curved or pinned dense to one side in the form of doughnut-shaped bread roll. The ends of the ears are also necessarily circular, and the ears large and broad. Another feature inherent to Sphynx - thick skin, which is forming folds. Kittens one month old usually have the whole body in wrinkles, even including the tail and paws. After a number of years wrinkles smooth out, and adult cats have them only on the head, neck, slightly at the abdomen and trunk. Wrinkles make look sphinxes old. If adult sphinx has a lot of wrinkles it is so much the better to him, because the lack of wrinkles is related to defect. On one TV show was said that Sphynx should have at least 9 wrinkles on the forehead, but it's not quite right - in fact such number of wrinkles on the forehead could have any cat, if we shave her, that is why shpynxes should have wrinkles on the chin, cheekbones, and neck . The body of the Sphinx is muscular and strong. He mustn’t be lean, on the contrary, his belly should have a form of "pear". Hind limbs longer than the front, that is why Sphynx has a little bit strange gait. Leather like suede to the touch - because it covers a very short down. Wool keeps save on the nose, on the back of the ears and it is allowed a small amount of wool on the end of paws and tail. Futhermore, the hair in these areas may appear in the case of incorrect feeding or when it is cold or during pubescence when hormonal changes are happening. Sphynx keeping is not a headache. But you should remember about some features of this breed. Sphynxes are very high energy, therefore their body temperature at 0.5 - 1 degree higher than normal cats have. To maintain this high-level, Sphinx must eat a lot (on average twice more times than a usual cat). Sphynxes are always hungry and eat almost everything, but the best diet for them consists of meat and cooked cereals (rice, buckwheat) in approximately equal proportions. The meat substitution for different "Wiskas" is not desirable (at least not entirely). Vitamins, mineral supplements should be present, as for all cats, but the plenty affects immediately, you’ll see a appearance of the fluff on the foot and tail. The character of  Sphynx cats is not like the other cats have, they are very friendly, peace-loving, they became much attached to man, usually they choose one person from a family to concentrate on,  they don’t afraid of dogs and other pets, they are very easy to learn, as they haven’t kept cat’s instincts. They perceive us as their fellows and treat us equally. Sphinx - the only breed of cats that sweats and gets a tan. That’s why the skin is slightly damp to the touch (especially in hot weather). Besides this, the skin exudes a special brown substance, that makes the Sphynx "grimy", especially white spynxes, if you don’t wash or wipe them with a sponge and no lotion at least 1 time per week. The same substance accumulates in their ears and claws. Some veterinarians recognize this substance as the symptom of sickness "tick disease" and ready to treat it. Sphynx is a heat-loving breed. They go to sleep with you under your blanket with great pleasure, stretch along your body trying to put their heads on pillow. When it’s cold at home in the day time you should prepare a warm place for cat,  where they’ll get warm (for example, put a hot-water bottle in his or her box). You also could dress a Sphinx in waistcoats, that will covers the front of the body. Although the sphynxes doesn’t afraid of cold conditions, a large undercooling for them may be dangerous and account for respiratory infections and even pneumonia, which is hard to diagnose and treat. Sphynxes look magically not only because of hairless or big ears. Sphynxes have a special harmony, which belongs only to them and any deviation from it makes them look like a nice bold cat. Sphynx breeding is not difficult. Maturation is the same like normal cat has, but mating is better to make after one year. Cats heat is expressed more by positions rather than by a voice (by the way, their voice is soft and pleasant). Kittens usually born either totally naked or covered with a short gun. A newborn sphynx is unpleasant spectacle. But for the more kitten is terrible, the more cool animal will be latter. Kittens are usually active, very vigorous, what is not suit to their premature embryos appearance. At this time problems could appear with cats (girls). Sphynx often have mastitis because of too large quantities of milk. Kittens open their eyes o much earlier than other breeds in 4 - 5-day (!), and you should attentively watch after eyes to avoid the appearance of conjunctivitis, which can cause more serious  problems with the eyes (unfortunately, chance to get a thorn is much higher than other cats have). The most dangerous age for kittens is 3-5 weeks. It is the time, when appearance of conjunctivitis, rhinitis, and other problems are most likely. After 6 weeks the health of kittens stabilizes, and according to one American breeder, "if the Sphynx have survived after 6 weeks, he would be healthy as a horse." Transfer to normal food comes easy, without causing complications for the intestine (but you should look after kittens and cat diet all the time). Young kittens are playful and sociable, very soon become accustomed to humans, preferring their company to all the cat's companies. Communicate with the sphynx is always very pleasant, perhaps because - for lack of hair creates a feeling of contact is not with the animals, but with the substance, which is to step closer to humans - and how to know whether only the externally?