Posts tagged "sphynx"

Ah, the unfortunate sphynx cat. Left with nothing to cover its pink, muscular body, this hairless feline doesn't know the tactile joy of a full coat of fur. That's okay for some cats, but this kitty, on the other hand, isn't satisfied,

He just wants to know what it feels like to have hair, y'know? Ain't nobody gonna keep him from getting the whole taste of it -- the texture, the touch, the smell... Even if it belongs on the head of a middle-aged dude standing nearby.


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Is it possible that dark-colored cats cause more allergies than their paler counterparts, or is that just black-cat superstition talking? The New York Times recently took a hard look at this dark question.

This is what we do know. According to the Times, the proteins that cause sneezing, drippy nose and runny eyes are found in cat dander, urine and saliva. And cat allergies, they report, plague twice as many Americans as dog allergies do.

But are all cats created equal where allergies are concerned? In 2000, a small study found that cats with dark-colored fur were more likely to set off an allergic reaction. But the conclusion isn't as clear as black and white. A later study found no effect of fur color on allergies but that hasn't ended the questioning. Scientists at Allergy and Asthma Care of New York are now planning a larger study in hopes of settling the matter once and for all.

What scientists have determined is that a cat's gender does make a difference for allergy sufferers. Male cats produce more allergens than females, the Times explains.

Whether your feline friend is black, white or something beautifully calico in between, one thing is clear: Allergies are no fun. But if you're allergic to animals, there are steps you can take to minimize the irritation. Check out this article on Paw Nation for more ideas.

If you're considering a hairless cat to get around the concern altogether, think again. According to the Cat Fanciers' Association, the hairless sphynx cat still causes allergies in many people. And to that, we have only one thing to say. Gesundheit!

Name: Devon Rex

Appearance: The Devon rex is a strange looking cat that, like all rexes, has a genetic mutation affecting its hair. The result is a cat with short, soft, curly hair that rests in waves across its body. According to the Rex Cat Club, the breed's whiskers are curled as well, and can often be so short and curled that they seem to not be there at all. In fact, because of the diversity among Devons in terms of coat length, some Devons actually don't have whiskers, and others are almost completely bald. The Devon has large ears, large eyes, a tiny, wedge-shaped skull, and an upturned nose. They have long, slender legs that stand high at the hip, and in general are lanky, medium-sized cats, weighing six to nine pounds,

History: According Rex-N-FX, the first Devon rex, Kirlee, was born in 1959 in Devon, England after a genetic mutation. The mother was non-pedigree, and the father is supposed to be a curly-haired stray cat that lived in the town. After the owner wrote about Kirlee to a newspaper, he was suddenly the center of attention. At first it was thought that Kirlee's strange mutation was the same as the mutation for the Cornish rex, which had appeared about nine years before, but after Kirlee was bred to a Cornish rex and fathered only normal, non-rex cats, it became clear the mutation was different. However, because of the lack of other Devon rex cats, the breed had to be grown from some of the curlier-haired offspring of Kirlee's unions with Cornish rexes, and so the modern Devon rex is very closely related to the Cornish rex.

The sphynx is easily the most recognizable breed of cat. Though considered hairless, the sphynx does have a layer of light fuzz over its body. Other than its unusual follicular qualities, the sphynx has other eye-catching features including a wedge-shaped head, large ears and often, a distended belly.

Sphynxes are not nearly as old as their name would suggest. Although the genetic mutation that results in their lack of fur is as old as genetic mutations themselves, the sphynx breed has only existed since the 1960s. Several naturally hairless cats were bred both amongst themselves and also with normal cats in order to create the genetically healthy yet consistently hairless medium-sized cat.

Being fur-free makes the sphynx an unusual cat to care for. They need to be kept warm, as their lack of fur makes them more susceptible to cold than a normal cat. They also require regular bathing because they don't have the fur that normally would remove oils from their skin.

Naturally extroverted, inquisitive, and intelligent, sphynxes are easy cats to love. They do well with humans, and always like to be the center of attention. A goal easily attained considering the breed's bizarre appearance.