BreedInfo

THE WONDER of the SPHYNX .....

The sphynx are a wonderful loving breed. While often noted
as hypoallergenic, this is not entirely true. Some people do
seem to be less reactive to these hairless wonders, but the
current theory of thought is that people are allergic to the
saliva that the cats use to clean themselves. The sphynx are
easier to bathe than haired cats and this allows for the
removal of saliva. So with regular bathing, this does make
them less allergenic. Sphynx also require a regular routine of
ear and nail cleaning which corresponds nicely to their
weekly bath.

The Sphynx are extremely inquisitive and love to be the
center of attention. They perform silly antics for your
entertainment and are sometimes downright clumsy.. .on
purpose it seems. They make great show cats because of this
''look at me" attitude and they are easy for judges to handle.
They prefer human attention but enjoy the company of dogs
and other cats. They have an abundance of energy and
mischief and are always with you, on you or showing off for
you. "Love Mooch" is the perfect term for these amazing
cats.

GENERAL: the most distinctive feature of this cat is its
appearance of hairlessness. The Sphynx is of medium size
and body conformation with surprising weight for its size.
Females are generally smaller than males. The head shape is
a modified wedge, with prominent cheekbones and whisker
pads giving a squared appearance to the muzzle. 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 slightly longer than it is wide, with
prominent cheekbones and a distinctive whisker break. 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 wide set apart with the distance between the
eyes being a minimum of one eye width. Eye color
immaterial.

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.

SPHYNX COLORS
GENERAL: all colors and patterns, in any combination,
found in felines is acceptable.

WHITE: white to pink. Nose leather and paw pads: pink.

BLACK: black. One level tone from nose to tip of tail. Nose leather:
black. Paw pads: black or brown.

BLUE: blue. One level tone from nose to tip of tail. Nose leather
and paw pads: blue.

RED: deep, rich, clear, brilliant red, without markings. Lips and chin
the same color as the skin. Nose leather and paw pads: brick red.

CREAM: one level shade of buff cream, without markings. Nose
leather and paw pads: pink.

CHOCOLATE: rich chestnut brown, even throughout. Nose
leather: brown. Paw pads: brown or cinnamon.

LAVENDER: frosty-grey with a pinkish tone, even throughout.
Nose leather and paw pads: lavender-pink.

CINNAMON: cinnamon, even throughout. Nose leather and paw
pads: cinnamon.

FAWN: pale, pinkish fawn, even throughout. Nose leather and paw
pads: pale fawn.

CLASSIC TABBY PATTERN: markings clearly defined on legs and
tail. Pattern tends to fade on hairless body. Legs evenly barred with
bracelets coming up to meet the body markings. Tail evenly ringed.
Several unbroken necklaces on neck and upper chest, the more the
better. Markings seen on the skin. Frown lines on head form an
intricate letter "M" Unbroken line runs back from outer corner of
eye. Swirls on cheeks. Vertical lines over back of head extend to
shoulder markings which are in the shape of a butterfly with both
upper and lower wings distinctly outlined and marked with dots
inside outline. Back markings consist of a vertical line down the
spine from butterfly to tail with a vertical stripe paralleling it on
each side, the three stripes well separated by stripes of the ground
color. Large solid blotch on each side to be encircled by one or more
unbroken rings. Side markings should be the same on both sides.
Double vertical rows of buttons on chest and stomach.

MACKEREL TABBY PATTERN: markings clearly defined on legs
and tail. Pattern tends to fade on hairless body. Legs evenly barred
with narrow bracelets coming up to meet the body markings. Tail
barred. Necklaces on neck and chest distinct, like so many chains.
Head barred with an "M" on the forehead. Unbroken lines running
back from the eyes. Lines running down the head to meet the
shoulders. Spine lines run together to form a narrow saddle. Narrow
pencillings run around body.

SPOTTED TABBY PATTERN: markings on the body to be spotted.
The spots can be round, oblong, or rosette-shaped. Any of these are
of equal merit but the spots, however shaped or placed, shall be
distinct. Spots should not run together in a broken Mackerel pattern.
A dorsal stripe runs the length of the body to the tip of the tail. The
stripe is ideally composed of spots. The markings on the face and
forehead shall be typically tabby markings. Underside of the body to
have "vest buttons." Legs and tail are barred. Markings clearly
defined on legs and tail. Pattern tends to fade on hairless body.

PATCHED TABBY PATTERN: a patched tabby (torbie) is an
established silver, brown, blue, lavender, fawn, cinnamon or
chocolate tabby with patches of red or cream clearly defined on both
the body and extremities; a blaze on the face is desirable.

SILVER TABBY: skin ground color, including lips and chin, pale
clear silver. Markings dense black. Nose leather: brick red. Paw
pads: black.

BROWN TABBY: skin ground color brilliant coppery brown.
Markings dense black. Lips and chin the same shade as the rings
around the eyes. Back of leg black from paw to heel. Nose leather:
brick red. Paw pads: black or brown.

BLUE TABBY: skin ground color, including lips and chin, pale bluish
ivory. Markings a very deep blue affording a good contrast with skin
ground color. Nose leather: old rose. Paw pads: rose.

RED TABBY: skin ground color red. Markings deep, rich red. Lips
and chin red. Nose leather and paw pads: brick red.

CREAM TABBY: skin ground color, including lips and chin, very
pale cream. Markings buff or cream sufficiently darker than the
ground color to afford good contrast but remaining within the dilute
color range. Nose leather and paw pads: pink.

CHOCOLATE (Chestnut) TABBY: skin ground color is warm fawn,
markings are rich chestnut brown. Nose leather: chestnut, or pink
rimmed with chestnut. Paw pads: cinnamon.

CHOCOLATE-SILVER TABBY: skin ground color, including lips
and chin, is silver. Markings rich chestnut. Nose leather: chestnut or
pink rimmed with chestnut. Paw pads: cinnamon.

CINNAMON TABBY: skin ground color, including lips and chin, a
pale, warm honey, markings a dense cinnamon, affording a good
contrast with skin ground color. Nose leather: cinnamon or coral
rimmed with cinnamon. Paw pads: cinnamon.

CINNAMON-SILVER TABBY: skin ground color, including lips and
chin, a pale glistening silver. Markings dense cinnamon. Nose
leather: cinnamon. Paw pads: coral.

LAVENDER TABBY: skin ground color is pale lavender. Markings
are a rich lavender, affording a good contrast with skin ground color.
Nose leather: lavender, or pink rimmed with lavender. Paw pads:
lavender-pink.

LAVENDER-SILVER TABBY: skin ground color, including lips and
chin, a cold clear silver. Markings lavender. Nose leather: lavender
or pink rimmed with lavender. Paw pads: lavender-pink.

FAWN TABBY: skin ground color, including lips and chin, pale ivory,
markings dense fawn, affording good contrast with skin ground
color. Nose leather and paw pads: pale fawn.

TORTOISESHELL: black mottled or patched with red and/or
cream. Blaze on face desirable.

BLUE-CREAM: blue mottled or patched with cream. Blaze on face
desirable.

CHOCOLATE (Chestnut) TORTOISESHELL: rich chestnut brown
mottled or patched with red and/or cream. Blaze on face desirable.

CINNAMON TORTOISESHELL: cinnamon mottled or patched
with red and/or cream. Blaze on face desirable.

LAVENDER-CREAM: lavender mottled or patched with cream.
Blaze on face desirable.

FAWN-CREAM: fawn mottled or patched with cream. Blaze on
face desirable.

CALICO: white with unbrindled patches of black and red. White
predominant on underparts.

VAN CALICO: white with unbrindled patches of black and red
confined to the extremities; head, tail, legs. One or two small
patches of color on body allowable.

DILUTE CALICO: white with unbrindled patches of blue and
cream. White predominant on underparts.

DILUTE VAN CALICO: white with unbrindled patches of blue and
cream confined to the extremities; head, tail, legs. One or two small
patches of color on body allowable.

BI-COLOR: solid color and white, tabby and white, tortoiseshell and
white, pointed and white, any color and white, etc.

VAN BI-COLOR: solid color and white, tabby and white,
tortoiseshell and white, etc., with color confined to the extremities;
head, tail, and legs. One or two small patches on body allowable.

FAWN CALICO, LAVENDER CALICO, CINNAMON CALICO,
CHOCOLATE CALICO: as for calico above, with appropriate
marking color.

FAWN VAN CALICO, LAVENDER VAN CALICO, CINNAMON
VAN CALICO, CHOCOLATE VAN CALICO: as for van calico
labove, with appropriate marking color.

POINTED PATTERN: point restricted colors show little or no color
contrast between body and points in the mature Sphynx. Although
born very light in color, the pointed Sphynx will darken and appear
solid in color as an adult. Eye color: vivid blue. Nose leather and paw
pads: appropriate to coat color. The pointed pattern may be
combined with ANY other pattern (except mink) and ANY colors,
e.g. lilac-silver lynx point and seal-tortie point with white (shown in
the Bi-Color Class).

MINK PATTERN: point restricted colors show little or no color
differentiation between body and points in the mature Sphynx.
Although born very light in color, the mink Sphynx will darken and
appear solid in color as an adult. Eye color: aqua. Nose leather and
paw pads: appropriate to coat color. The mink pattern may be
combined with ANY other pattern (except pointed) and ANY colors,
e.g. natural mink, blue mink, champagne mink, platinum mink,
natural tabby mink, blue-cream, tortie mink and white (shown in
Bi-Color Class).

SABLE: the mature specimen is a rich, warm, sable brown without
shadings, barring, or markings of any kind. (Kittens are often lighter
in color.) Nose leather and paw pads: brown.

CHAMPAGNE: the mature specimen should be a warm honey beige
without shadings, barring, or markings of any kind. Nose leather:
light, warm brown. Paw pads: warm, pinkish tan.

PLATINUM: the mature specimen should be a pale, silvery gray
without shadings, barring or markings of any kind. Nose leather and
paw pads: lavender-pink.

OSC (Other Sphynx Colors): any other color or pattern. Cats with
no more than a locket and/or button do not qualify for this class,
such cats shall be judged in the color class of their basic color with
no penalty for such locket and/or button. Examples: any color with
one, two, three, or four white feet. All point restricted colors such as
seal point, chocolate point, natural mink, blue mink, sable,
champagne, platinum, etc.

Sang Royal
Sphynx

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