Sphynx Showing
All about your Sphynx Cat's hygiene
Sphynx Cat Hygiene
Showing
CFA Sphynx Standards
GENERAL: the most distinctive feature of this cat is its appearance of hairlessness, although Sphynx are not actually completely hairless cats and there should be some evidence of “hair” on the bridge of the nose and the ears. The Sphynx is of medium size and body conformation with surprising weight for its size. Females are generally smaller than males. The body feels warm and soft to the touch, with a skin texture akin to either a soft peach or a smooth nectarine. The Sphynx is sweet-tempered, lively, and amenable to handling.
HEAD: the head is a modified wedge, slightly longer than it is wide, with prominent cheekbones, a distinctive whisker break and whisker pads giving a squared appearance to the muzzle. The skull is slightly rounded with a flat plane in front of the ears. The nose is straight and there is a slight to moderate palpable stop at the bridge of the nose.
CHEEKS AND CHEEKBONES: prominent, rounded cheekbones which define the eye and form a curve above the whisker break.
MUZZLE AND CHIN: whisker break with prominent whisker pads. Strong, well developed chin forming perpendicular line with upper lip.
EARS: large to very large. Broad at the base, open and upright. When viewed from the front, the outer base of the ear should begin at the level of the eye, neither low set nor on top of the head. The interior of the ears is naturally without furnishing.
EYES: large, lemon-shaped, with wide-open center while coming to a definite point on each side. Placement should be at a slight upward angle, aligning with the outer base of the ear. Eyes to be set wide apart with the distance between the eyes being a minimum of one eye width. As no points are assigned to eye color, all eye colors are accepted and should be harmonious with coat/skin color.
BODY: the body is medium length, hard and muscular with broad rounded chest and full round abdomen. The rump is well rounded and muscular. Back line rises just behind the shoulder blades to accommodate longer back legs when standing. Boning is medium.
NECK: the neck is medium in length, rounded, well muscled, with a slight arch. Allowance to be made for heavy musculature in adult males.
LEGS AND FEET: legs are medium in proportion to the body. They are sturdy and well muscled with rear legs being slightly longer than the front. Paws are oval with well-knuckled toes; five in front and four behind. The paw pads are thick, giving the appearance of walking on cushions. TAIL: slender, flexible, and long while maintaining proportion to body length. Whip-like, tapering to a fine point.
COAT/SKIN: the appearance of this cat is one of hairlessness. Short, fine hair may be present on the feet, outer edges of the ears, the tail, and the scrotum. The bridge of the nose should be normally coated. The remainder of the body can range from completely hairless to a covering of soft peach-like fuzz whose length does not interfere with the appearance of hairlessness. This coat/skin texture creates a feeling of resistance when stroking the cat. Wrinkled skin is desirable, particularly around the muzzle, between the ears, and around the shoulders. There are usually no whiskers but if whiskers are present they are short and sparse.
COLOR: color and pattern are difficult to distinguish and should not affect the judging of the cat. White lockets, buttons, or belly spots are allowed.
PENALIZE: hair other than described. Delicate or frail appearance. Thin abdomen, thin rump, or narrow chest. Bowed front legs. Should not resemble the Devon Rex, Cornish Rex or Oriental body type.
DISQUALIFY: kinked or abnormal tail. Structural abnormalities. Aggressive behavior endangering the judge.
TICA Sphynx Standards
HEAD: Shape: Medium-sized, modified wedge with rounded contours, slightly longer than wide. Skull is slightly rounded with a rather flat forehead and prominent cheekbones and a distinct whisker break. Eyes: Large, rounded lemon shape. Slanting to outer corner of ear. Slightly more than an eye width between eyes. Ears: Very large, broad at base and open. Set upright, neither low set nor on top of the head. The interior is totally hairless. Slight amount of hair allowed on lower outside edges and on the back of the ear. Muzzle and Chin: Strong rounded muzzle with distinct whisker break and firm chin. Profile. Slight to moderate change of direction at bridge of nose. Some degree of fuzz on bridge of nose. Neck: Medium in length, rounded and well-muscled. The neck arches from the shoulders to the base of the skull and is powerful, especially in males.
BODY: Torso: Medium in size, medium to medium long in length. The chest is broad, may tend toward barrel chested. The abdomen is well-rounded, having the appearance of having eaten a large meal, but not fat.
LEGS: Length in proportion with body, with medium boning and firm musculature. Hind legs slightly longer than front. Front legs widely set. Females may have slightly finer boning.
FEET: Medium in size, oval shape with long, slender toes. The paw pads are thicker than in other breeds, giving the cat the appearance of walking on “air cushions”. The toes are very long, slender and prominent.
TAIL: Whippy, tapering from body to tip (rat-tailed). Length is in proportion to body. A lion tail (puff of hair on tip) acceptable. Musculature: Hard and muscular, not delicate.
BONING: Medium.
COAT/COLOR/PATTERN: Length: Appears hairless. May be covered with short, fine down. May have puff on hair on tip of tail. Whiskers are sparse and short. Texture: Chamois-like. A feeling of resistance may be felt when stroking the skin of some cats. The skin is very wrinkled in kittens. Adults should retain as many wrinkles as possible, especially on the head, although wrinkling should not be so pronounced that it affects the cat’s normal functions.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The Sphynx appears to be a hairless cat, although it is not truly hairless. The skin should have the texture of chamois. It may be covered with very fine down which is almost imperceptible to both the eye and the touch. On the ears, muzzle, tail, feet and scrotum, short, soft, fine hair is allowed. Lack of coat makes the cat quite warm to the touch. Whiskers and eyebrows may be present, either whole or broken, or may be totally absent. The cat should not be small or dainty. Males may be up to 25 percent larger so long as proper proportions are maintained. The Sphynx is sweet tempered, lively, intelligent and above all, amenable to handling.
ALLOWANCES: Lockets.
PENALIZE: Overall small cat. Body that is too thin, frail-appearing or delicate or fine-bonded; too cobby or foreign. Lack of wrinkles on the head. Straight profile, narrow head. Nonamenable disposition. Significant amounts of hair above the ankle.
WITHHOLD ALL AWARDS (WW): Any indication of wavy hair or suggestion of the Devon Rex, or Cornish Rex in molt.
DISQUALIFY (DQ): Any evidence of depilation, plucking, shaving or clipping or any other means of hair removal. Inability to handle.
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