10+ Funny and Unphotogenic Sphynxes That Will Make Your Day

I'll start with the negative. Everyone has probably seen it in movies or just videos on the Internet about parking wars? Well, when in a crowded parking lot two cars find a space at the same time and one gets in faster. So this really happened before Christmas.

We have an excellent shopping center nearby (it looks, of course, not at all like the ones in Moscow, more like the outlet villages near Moscow). Never during the year there are problems with parking there, because, to put it mildly, there are a lot of parking places there. But the pre-Christmas commotion is also not weak, so even here there were difficulties and I personally witnessed screams and yells when someone did not let someone in. In general, this happens, I confirm.

History of the origin of the breed

Because of their name, sphinxes are associated with Egypt. In fact, animals have nothing to do with this country. Images of hairless cats were found in Mexico. The Aztecs who lived here definitely knew and loved these unusual creatures. There are even photos of Mexican hairless cats. This breed disappeared at the beginning of the 20th century, but managed to leave a lasting impression by participating in exhibitions. The physique of these cats and the Sphynx cats that everyone is familiar with today was slightly different. The Mexican representatives of the bald family had a mustache, their body was more elongated, and their rather large head was wedge-shaped. In addition, when it got colder, representatives of the extinct breed grew fur.

The first representative of the modern Sphinx was born in Canada. This happened in 1966. A cat of an ordinary breed gave birth to a hairless cub. The owner kept the unusual animal, and when it grew up, she decided to try to breed it with its mother cat to produce another generation of hairless animals. The experiment was a success - several hairless kittens saw the light of day.

Around the 70s, a similar story happened elsewhere. Two branches of hairless cats have already appeared. Attempts to breed as many of these unusual animals as possible met with great difficulties - cubs died, cats got sick. Soon, several representatives of the breed were sent to Europe, where breeding attempts continued. There, hairless cats began to be crossed with representatives of the Devon Rex breed - the closest in parameters. Gradually, the Sphynx breed was recognized by all existing organizations - WCF, CFA, FIFe, TICA. Today there are seven varieties of sphinxes in the world.

Sphinxes are very similar to humans: their paws resemble hands, they like to sleep under a blanket, they look straight into the eyes without looking away, which is not typical for animals

Disabled spaces

I don’t know what the rules are here about this, but no one ever parks in spaces for disabled people, the only exception that I regularly see now is parking near the center, where several kindergartens are located (regular, Russian and Japanese), where the closest At the entrance (well, in general, they are specially located this way) there are five places for the disabled. After all, all parents arrive at approximately the same time in the morning, and there are difficulties with places.

Sometimes you have to make several laps in the parking lot until you successfully catch a parent driving away. (but still, you usually find a place in 10 minutes; it doesn’t take long to send your child to kindergarten). So, only parents who take their children to a Russian kindergarten allow themselves to “quickly stumble” into a place for a disabled person in order to take the child to kindergarten and that’s it.

I have never seen Americans or Japanese (and in fairness, for the sake of most Russian-speaking people, they also park correctly) park in a space for a disabled person. By the way, disabled cars are solved very easily. Or you have a temporary “pass”, the kind that is hung on the mirror inside, and there is a number there that the police can check very easily. Or a permanent one, which is just a license plate with a disabled person’s badge.

Types of sphinxes

Three of the varieties of Sphynx that exist today are considered the main branches of the breed. They were the result of a mutation, the causes of which are unknown, i.e. they appeared naturally. Others were developed through selective breeding. The main branches of the Sphynx breed include:

• Canadian;
• Don;
• cohona (rubber, Hawaiian hairless).

The result of breeding programs was the emergence of such breeds as:

• Peterbald;
• minskin;
• bambino;
• Ukrainian Levkoy.

Canadian Sphynx

If the body of a representative of the cat family is devoid of vegetation, this does not mean that he belongs to the Canadian Sphynx breed. The criteria that are the standard for this breed are very strict.

Appearance

Features of the animal’s appearance include rounded, convex shapes, a massive chest and a rather noticeable, spherical tummy. The forelimbs are slightly crooked, which does not prevent the animals from moving gracefully. The length of the hind legs is slightly longer than the front legs. The tail is flexible, medium thick, and has a pointed tip.

The head has the shape of a modified wedge with rounded contours. A feature of the short muzzle is sharply protruding cheekbones and the absence of whiskers (although whiskers may be present). The ears are quite large, rounded at the tips. They are widely spaced and have no brushes. Slightly slanted eyes are shaped like a lemon.

The Sphynx breed has strict standards.

The thick skin of the Canadian Sphynx is covered with numerous folds. Moreover, there are fewer of them with age. If kittens are completely wrinkled, then in adults folds remain only on the head and neck. There are very few “wrinkles” on cats’ stomachs.

A large number of folds is considered an advantage of a hairless cat.

To the touch, as the owners of sphinxes assure, their skin resembles kid suede. The skin is not completely devoid of vegetation, but is covered with short fluff. The color of the animal is distinct. Cats with white and piebald coats are common; tortoiseshell sphinxes are less common. The most beautiful animals are those with mink (coffee with milk) colored fur and heavenly colored eyes.

Tortoiseshell fur color is considered the norm only for Sphynx cats. Cats of this color can be called a natural mistake. The result of the mutation is not only an unusual color - such individuals are not able to leave offspring. Such sphinxes are no longer different from other representatives of the breed.

Character

The temperament of the Canadian Sphynx is quite even. They are unusually attached to their owner, peaceful and good-natured. The animals are absolutely not aggressive; it is almost impossible to anger the Sphinx. They treat their little owners wonderfully and can play with them for hours. The absence of pronounced pain points allows the animal not to feel pain, even if a child accidentally grabs or squeezes it tightly.

Sphinxes are devoid of capriciousness and are absolutely not touchy. But you should not shout at the animal, even if it has done something wrong - if it experiences stress, the pet can receive psychological trauma. Sphinxes are extremely sociable and do not like loneliness. They are not at all afraid of dogs. This is an unusually intelligent and easy to train breed.

The Sphynx is an ideal friend for a child

Don Sphynx

Being one of the few purely Russian cat breeds, the Don Sphynx appeared in 1987. Donchak are muscular, medium-sized individuals. Some call them elongated cats - all parts of their body seem to be able to stretch indefinitely.

Appearance

Compared to representatives of the Canadian breed, Don cats look more massive and have a denser build. Their chest is wide and their muscles are more developed. The tip of their tail is always bare, unlike individuals of the Canadian breed. The eyebrows and cheekbones are clearly defined, the eyes are almond-shaped, and the large ears are slightly tilted forward.

The Don Sphynx differs from the Canadian Sphynx in appearance and is more massive in build.

The Don and Canadian breeds also differ genetically. The Canadian gene is recessive. This means that the inheritance of the gene and all its inherent characteristics by the cubs is possible only if both parents have it.

The Don Sphynx is a carrier of the dominant gene. This means that for the birth of bald offspring, it is enough that one of the parents possesses this gene. This makes breeding hairless cats much easier.

Not all representatives of the Don variety of sphinxes have absolutely no fur. There are four types of Donchak:

1. Naked. These animals have no hair at all. The skin is elastic, similar to human skin, but hotter to the touch. These individuals are considered the most valuable.
2. Flock. On the skin of these representatives of the breed there is a small fluff that disappears with age.
3. Velor. Such animals are characterized by the presence of hairs up to 3 mm long. As they age, they can become completely bald.

   The short coat of the velor Sphynx may disappear over time.

4. Brush. The short fur of such individuals resembles bristles. They are actively used for breeding, but are considered a “marriage” and are not allowed to participate in competitions.

Character of the Donchak people

Don Sphynxes are sociable and friendly. It is completely uncharacteristic for them to show aggression. They are extremely difficult to tolerate separation from their owner. They are playful and patient with children. Often one of the household members is chosen as the “leader”. His sphinxes love him more and obey him more readily.

Hawaiian Hairless (Cohona)

Unlike other breeds of hairless cats, the Cojona has no hair follicles completely. This means that hair growth is completely impossible for them. This breed can be called one of the rarest . There are very few nurseries for breeding Hawaiian hairless animals, which cannot but affect the cost of these unique creatures, which is determined individually. Only a very wealthy person can afford to have such a pet.

The first official mention of these animals appeared in the 80s of the last century. In 2000, work began on their breeding. Today there are no more than 40 individuals in the world.

The appearance of the cojona is typical for sphinxes - a muscular body, a round tummy, a wide chest. The folds on the body are more pronounced, the eyes are almond-shaped, the ears are large and rounded at the ends.

By nature, Hawaiian hairless ones are similar to dogs and are more dependent on people than representatives of other varieties of sphinxes. Cojones are very calm, do not have conflicts, and are not playful.

Cohona is a completely hairless cat.

Peterbald

The youngest, but already very popular variety of Sphynx is the Peterbald. The characteristic appearance features do not allow this breed to be confused with other representatives of hairless cats.

Peterbalds appeared in 1994 as a result of crossing the Don breed and the Oriental. In 1996, the Peterbald breed was officially recognized by one of the felinological organizations and was given the abbreviation PBD.

The appearance of the Peterbald is distinguished by sophistication and sophistication. It is very similar to the Oriental, differing from this breed only in the absence of hair. Representatives of the breed are distinguished by a strong and muscular body. Their characteristic feature is a curly mustache and low-set ears. Peterbalds have an elongated muzzle, a straight profile, a long nose, and small, slanted eyes.

The character of the Peterbald is typical of the Sphynx. These creatures are calm and balanced. They are distinguished by devotion and do not tolerate loneliness well. Those who constantly disappear at work should not get a Peterbald. A long absence of owners becomes a real tragedy for a pet.

Peterbald is a sophisticated and sophisticated cat

Minskin

Having appeared as a result of long and painstaking work, the Minskin is considered an experimental breed. He is a hybrid of several breeds with mutated genes, which, undoubtedly, can lead to unpredictable consequences. This breed is too young to be able to confidently rule out the possibility of any life-threatening genetic pathologies occurring in the animals. Despite this, in 2008, Minskins were officially recognized by TICA, the largest felinological organization.

To breed this miniature feline, the Sphynx, Devon Rex, Burmese and Munchkin were used. The appearance of the Minskin is original. The main feature, of course, is the wool covering. Quite densely soft fur is present only on the points - darkened areas located on a general light background - the muzzle, ears, paws and tail. The rest of the body is covered with fluff - the animal’s skin feels like velvet to the touch. Minskins are distinguished by their short legs, but this does not prevent them from being agile and agile.

Individuals of this breed are friendly and affectionate. They are very attached to their owners and love to play with children. These animals are smart and easy to train.

Minskin is a small cat, its maximum weight is 4 kg

Bambino

Bambino is an unusual and fairly young breed of cat. Features of appearance prevent these animals from being confused with representatives of other hairless breeds. They owe their appearance to the hairless sphinx and the short-legged munchkin. Today these animals are popular and expensive. The breed has been given experimental status by TICA.

These dwarf cats have no vegetation at all. The body is muscular, the chest is wide, the tummy is rounded. The head is wedge-shaped, not very large. At the tip of the tail there is small vegetation, reminiscent of a lion's tassel. The large, wide-set ears make the bambino look like an elf.

Bambinos are sweet and friendly. Animals constantly need attention, love to play, and get along well with all representatives of the fauna. Bambinos are smart and easy to train. They are able to sit in a kangaroo position for a long time, which looks quite funny.

The bambino's large ears make the cat look like an elf.

Ukrainian Levkoy

Folding ears are a distinctive feature not only of the Scots. The hairless cat, the Ukrainian Levkoy, can also “boast” of an unusual shape of its ears.

The first representative of the breed, the result of crossing a Sphynx and a Scottish Fold, appeared in 2004. In the WCF system, the breed is classified as unrecognized.

The body of the Levkoy is long, muscular, the back is slightly arched. The muzzle is rounded, with pronounced cheekbones and eyebrow lines. The mustache may be wavy, short, or completely absent. Breed standards allow the presence of a small fluff on the skin, but complete absence of hair is considered preferable. There are folds on the neck, between the ears, armpits and in the groin.

Like all representatives of the Sphynx breed, the Ukrainian Levkoy is very loving in nature. These animals are sociable, intelligent and easy to train. They are absolutely not aggressive, not capricious and not vindictive.

Unusual ears add originality to the appearance of the Ukrainian Levkoy

Photo gallery: Sphynx cats

Soft smooth features, velvet skin, devoted gaze of bottomless eyes - all this is the Canadian Sphynx

The body of a representative of the Don breed is more muscular and stronger than that of the Canadian Sphynx

As a result of a genetic mutation, the cojona cannot have hair.

Peterbald is an original cat, recognizable and unlike others

The Minskin is a miniature cat with the short legs of a munchkin and the velvety skin of a sphinx.

Bambinos are entirely domestic cats without a hint of autonomy or independence.

Ukrainian Levkoy is an original cat breed, with two atypical genes: lop-eared and hairless.

General features of the breed

The first acquaintance with the Sphinx causes a mixed impression. But as soon as you touch the delicate skin and look into the expressive eyes of the animal, a feeling of attachment to these unusual creatures arises in your heart. Sphinxes are highly intelligent, they are able to understand any words and requests of their owner. They remember their name the first time and easily learn commands.

Bald animals are unusually active, they like to follow their owner, jump, and play. There is something of a dog in their character - they are unusually loyal, and are very bored when alone. This breed is decorative - the animals are completely devoid of the hunting instinct. Sphynxes are non-aggressive and get along well with any animal. They are completely dependent on humans and if they accidentally find themselves alone on the street, they will most likely die.

Sphynx cats are less likely to cause an allergic reaction in humans than other cat breeds

Claims that Sphynx dogs do not cause allergies are greatly exaggerated. The fact is that an undesirable reaction is caused not only by fur, but also by animal protein contained in saliva, urine and dead epidermal cells. But it is a fact that Sphynx cats are hypoallergenic. It is also known that animals with light fur, as well as neutered ones, are less dangerous for allergy sufferers.

Table: pros and cons of the breed

Time limit

There are a lot of places where there are parking spaces with a time limit. Most often it is 2 hours. How it works. I have seen 3 different control systems. The first is in the parking lots of large centers (shopping and office) - there is just a sensor in the floor. Parked = blocked, time has passed.

The second is regular street parking - the parking meter will not allow you to buy parking for more than two hours.

And the third is control by a special patrol. By the way, there are really a lot of them, they look like in films or even like in cartoons (in the cartoon “Zootopia” the main character, a bunny, drove such a car. They are exactly like that in reality).

There are automatic ones like in the photo.

Alexander Gruzdev

But there are not very many of them. Mostly these are employees - something like our MADI and TsODD, they drive small cars or walk and check. I also saw a very smart one. He has a chalk attached to a long stick made of some kind of foam rubber and he simply drives along the parked cars and scratches the chalk along the bottom edge of the tires. The white chalk on black tires is very visible. And then after a certain time he goes and issues fines to those who have not moved.

Defects and diseases of sphinxes

The most vulnerable place of sphinxes is their skin. Due to excess fat and its irregular removal, acne may appear in animals. Predisposition, puberty, and color play an important role in the development of the disease. Cats of all shades of blue and red, completely devoid of vegetation, are more susceptible to the appearance of a rash.

If such a problem occurs, it is better to contact a specialist. Usually Zinerit, salicylic ointment, Delex-Acne or Gepar-sulfur are prescribed.

In addition to skin lesions, hairless animals can suffer from other types of congenital and acquired pathologies:

1. Microphthalmos. It is an abnormal development of the baby's eyes that occurs as a result of infection of the mother during pregnancy. The complicated form often ends with a tumor. Surgery can correct the situation.
2. Congenital inversion of the eyelids. Manifests itself in an unnatural inward turning of the eyelids. In this case, the eyelashes may touch the eyeball. Treatment is surgical.
3. Shortened jaw. This is a congenital anomaly characterized by a lack of alignment between the rows of incisors. It may not be very pronounced and may not affect the condition of the animal. It is recommended to castrate such sphinxes, as they cannot take part in breeding.
4. Curvature of the spine in the caudal region. It is accompanied by pathologies of the skeletal system and dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as dwarfism. The cause may be heredity or inbreeding.
5. Vasculitis. It is an inflammatory process in the blood vessels, manifested in the form of red and blue dotted rashes. The problem may disappear on its own, but complications may also develop. The cause may be the presence of internal diseases, stress, or a reaction to drug therapy.
6. Conjunctivitis. It is purulent discharge from the eyes caused by injury, infection, vitamin deficiency.
7. Kitten falling asleep syndrome. It often appears in offspring obtained by crossing “rubber” (i.e. completely hairless) individuals. Such cubs are extremely weak, some organs may be absent or not functioning. Nothing can be done to help such kittens.

Features of appearance that do not allow participation in the competition

Sphinxes belonging to the SHOW-quality category (from the English show - spectacle) are allowed to participate in the competition. Their external data fully complies with accepted standards. Defects in appearance that do not allow you to participate in competitions and win prizes include:

• the presence of vegetation in excess of the amount allowed by the standard;
• excessively fragile physique;
• narrow chest, thin stomach;
• curvature of the forelimbs;
• similarity in body type to a Devon Rex, Cornish Rex or Oriental.

  If the physique of a Sphynx resembles a Devon Rex, it will not be able to participate in competitions

Individuals with kinks or defects in the tail, structural anomalies, or those behaving excessively aggressively are disqualified. Sphynxes with the above disadvantages (the so-called Pet quality) are not used for breeding.

Own parking space at the apartment building

The thing is mandatory. Every apartment in every complex I've ever been to has at least one parking space.

A two-room apartment usually requires two places, but in any case at least one. Our complex has 418 apartments and just over 1000 parking spaces. Including guests, workers, etc. Standing in someone else's place is considered something from the category of entering someone else's apartment.

Alexander Gruzdev

Although such situations sometimes occur, in 90% of cases it is not when someone specially parked in someone else’s space, but just the opposite, accidentally parked in the wrong place. All kinds of cleaners, friends/guests, when the owners are absent, often park in their reserved spaces, but “miss” and stand in someone else’s. Quite often there are not enough guests, especially on weekends, when many people have guests. At the same time, guest cars that will stay overnight (or several) must be registered and receive a parking permit for them, otherwise they will simply be towed away.

The number of overnight parking spaces is limited and it may happen that the complex's parking system simply will not give you such a pass and your guests will be forced to park outside the complex. We have already had scandals with the night evacuation of such cars here several times. People are people everywhere, and of course it’s very unpleasant to wake up in the morning to find out that your car has been taken away, although “well, who bothered you at night?” and “I just left.” But they took him away just like that.

Rules for choosing a Sphynx kitten

You can buy a purebred Sphynx kitten only in a specialized nursery. Information about trustworthy breeders is available on their official websites. You can also choose a real sphinx at exhibitions.

At cat shows you can purchase a Sphynx kitten from reliable breeders

Criterias of choice

Once you are convinced of the breeder's reputation and have decided to purchase, it is worth observing the kittens in their familiar environment. This way you can choose a pet of a suitable temperament and understand its physical condition. The kitten should be agile and playful, sociable and easy to make contact with.

Healthy little ones should not shake their heads or scratch their ears. The kitten's eyes and ears should be dry and free of discharge. The animal should not have a bloated abdomen, it should not cough, sneeze, or be lethargic or lethargic. If you notice signs of illness in at least one of the individuals present in the nursery, you should refuse to purchase.

A responsible breeder is obliged to provide a certificate of registration of the cattery, information about the pedigree of the parents, diplomas about their receipt of various awards and, of course, present the mother cat herself.

When purchasing a pet, a sales contract must be drawn up. Along with the animal, the breeder must submit a birth certificate, pedigree and veterinary passport.

At what age is it better to buy a Sphynx?

Pedigree animals are usually considered ready for sale when they reach 3 months of age. Such kittens are already ready to be separated from their mother and have mastered the first necessary skills. By this time, the course of vaccinations ends and it becomes possible to assess how well the pet meets the breed standards.

Features of caring for the Sphinx

The main rule of caring for a Sphynx is the need for regular water procedures - at least 2 times a month. First, remove dirt from the animal using soapy water and a soft washcloth, and then rinse it. After bathing, the sphinx is dried with a towel using soft “blotting” movements and wrapped warmly. Too frequent water treatments are not good for the animal - water washes away the natural lubricant that prevents the development of inflammatory processes. In addition to water hygiene procedures, the skin of hairless animals is treated daily with soft wipes.

Sphynx cats also require regular manicures, as sweat mixed with dirt quickly clogs the space under their overgrown claws. The visible parts of the ears also need to be cleaned of dirt. This should be done using cotton swabs soaked in warm water.

Nutrition

Representatives of the Sphynx breed have an excellent appetite. They are not too picky about food and can happily eat even plant foods. The owner must control the frequency and balance of food intake. Sphynx cats should be fed 3 to 4 times a day. The diet must include raw fish, meat (beef and lamb), boiled liver, fermented milk foods, and fresh plant products.

Sphynx cats love to try new foods

Walk

Sphinxes should not be allowed to roam during the cold season. In the mid-season, animals should be dressed in overalls or use a carrier. With the arrival of warm days, you can take walks every day. Hairless animals love to bask in the sun; the owner’s task is to prevent the pet from getting burns.

Toilet

There are no special recommendations for arranging a toilet for the Sphinx. It is better to choose a plastic tray; it should be washed frequently, but without using disinfectants, the smell of which can scare away the animal. The filler can be anything - the main thing is that the pet likes it. Some people make do with just a tray.

Video: features of the breed and its care

Payment for paid parking

There are two types of paid parking: private and municipal. Private is when an empty piece of land in the center or near a place of attraction (for example, a beach) is turned into a parking lot.

S. Domuschiy

Usually these cost between 10 and 20 dollars, regardless of whether you need them for 5 minutes or 5 hours. Roughly speaking, for the race. Shopping centers have free parking, and office ones have paid parking.

Municipal ones are just those with bollards along the road (well, or separate organized parking lots, there are even multi-storey municipal parking lots). They cost from 25 cents to 2.5 dollars per hour (I personally have not seen more). But payment is either 25 cent coins or a card. Payment from the application is already available, but the application is of course poor. Not like Moscow parking lots :)) this is how they park in California.

Knitting features

Before breeding Sphynxes, it is necessary to take into account that completely hairless cats cannot be mated with the same cats. As a result of such a union, offspring with various pathologies may appear. Ideally, one of the parents will be bald, and the other will have brush or velor.

The cat should go on a “date”. Ideal for mating are individuals who have already gone through two heats - this is approximately one and a half years old. A sign for a cat to visit is the animal's excessive affection - the cat rubs against everything, and when you stroke its back, it purrs, arches and trembles. A cat will help you figure out exactly whether he is ready for mating - if the kitty arrived on time, he will immediately show his readiness for affection, filling the room with a loud cry. If the time has not yet come, the cat may leave altogether. A guaranteed result can be achieved only after several matings.

"Valet parking"

These are the same ones that are also from films, you come out, hand over the keys, and they give you a special ticket. Most common in restaurants and hotels.

Why? Because parking lots are often small and a specially trained boy parks cars one after another, and when he needs to drive the car out, he starts playing tag.

Remember in the movies, such parking boys are given money not when he brings the car back in the form of a tip, but immediately - when they give the keys and ask “put it on the edge” or “put it closer.” This is necessary so that your car does not end up against the wall, locked behind 3-4-5 rows of cars. Otherwise, of course they will give it to you, but you will have to wait not 2-3 minutes as you would like, but 15-20 minutes.

S. Domuschiy

In a regular parking lot, you can “squeeze” someone on your own and leave a phone number, well, simply because there’s a store, I need to go there, and “just for 5 minutes.” This is unrealistic. I've never seen anything like this before. I can’t even imagine how Americans would react to this. But tow truck services work well and quickly. All of them are private and you can easily call the nearest one and ask to tow your locked car, and a tow truck will come and take you to your parking lot. For the work he will take money from the person whose car he took.

I don’t know what the legal basis is for this and how it all works, but that’s how it works. So “locking in” can be a big problem here.

Castration and sterilization

Differing in the mechanism of implementation, castration and sterilization are operations to artificially disrupt the reproductive function of an animal. Owners who do not want to have offspring from their pets resort to one of these methods. The advantages of these manipulations:

• the life expectancy of pets increases;
• the animal’s hormonal levels stabilize, it becomes calmer, stops making loud sounds and marking;
• the risk of such pathologies as ovarian cysts, inflammation of the uterus and some others is reduced.

Neutered animals produce less allergenic protein, which reduces the risk of adverse reactions in humans.

An animal needs sexual intercourse only to reproduce. Violation of reproductive function through surgical intervention does not negatively affect the health of the pet. Castration must be carried out before the onset of puberty.