Canadian Sphynx: keeping, diseases, training to use a scratching post (photo), features of keeping a Canadian Sphynx? Is it possible to walk with a sphinx on the street? what diseases do Sphynx cats have? long lasting

History of the Don Sphynx breed

The Don Sphinxes owe their origin to His Majesty's chance.
In 1986, a resident of Rostov-on-Don, Elena Kovaleva, picked up an exhausted stray kitten on the street, which was thoroughly mocked by local schoolchildren. The tiny creature, which turned out to be a cat, was emaciated, and in addition, had a somewhat shabby appearance, which the new owner attributed to lichen. At first, Varvara—that’s the name of the mustachioed, purring creature—didn’t leave veterinarians’ offices. But since the strange baldness stubbornly refused to respond to treatment, the animal was left alone, without becoming interested in the amazing mutation that gave the kitty a hairless back. However, one specialist did show attention to the mongrel foundling, and it turned out to be Irina Nemykina. For several years, the breeder maintained a close relationship with Elena Kovaleva and her ward, and when in 1990 Varvara acquired offspring even more hairless than herself, Irina took one of the kittens, whom she later named Chita. When Chita reached sexual maturity, she was immediately mated with a European Shorthair to produce even more spectacular offspring. The fact is that Varvara’s daughter was not completely hairless and had curly hair on her paws, as well as, although rarely, a pubescent tail. Her kittens were born the same way, which did not stop them from finding their fans and successfully traveling to exhibitions. Soon, the desire to get a completely hairless purr pushed Irina Nemykina into inbreeding, that is, at some point the breeder simply bred Chita with her son, Hannibal. The experiment went well, and in due time the cat brought several babies, one of which turned out to be completely bald and received the nickname Basya Myth.

In 1997, the Don Sphynx was recognized by the WCF, after which the breed began to gain popularity outside of Russia. At the same time, the gene pool of Rostov cats still left much to be desired. Moreover, the unlucky cat family had to be regularly pumped up, involving “third-party producers”, who usually became short-haired European mousecatchers. Only in the early 2000s did the crossing of Don Sphynxes with other breeds begin to gradually fade away, as the number of healthy breeding individuals in domestic nurseries increased noticeably.

Interesting fact: as a result of mating the Don Sphynx with the Siamese, Russian Blue and Turkish Angora, an independent branch of the breed was born - the Peterbald.

Appearance of the Don Sphynx

The appearance of the Don Sphinx evokes strong associations with the Nile Valley, the pyramids and the pets of the pharaohs. And indeed, in appearance, these long-eared purrs dotted with elegant folds are almost no different from the images of the first mousecatchers found in Egyptian tombs. People who have an insufficient understanding of the breed are often confused by the cosmic image of the Rostov cat, forcing them to classify the animals as part of the Canadian Sphynx family. In fact, the relationship between the breeds is zero point one thousandth, but the differences are much greater. Take, for example, the fact that the gene for hairlessness among the “Donets” was and remains dominant, which allows breeders to get hairless offspring even when one of the parents has a full coat. In addition, unlike the “Canadians”, the Rostov sphinxes are already born completely naked, while their overseas counterparts come into this world dressed in, albeit short, but still “fur coats”.

Head

Don Sphynx cats have a wedge-shaped skull with a wrinkled forehead, prominent cheekbones and a convex brow. The muzzle is of moderate length, slightly rounded.

Nose

The straight nose of the Don Sphynx is connected to the forehead through a not very sharp, but quite pronounced transition.

Eyes

All representatives of the breed have wide, almond-shaped eyes, set somewhat askew.

Ears

Large, wide and high, with a pronounced forward bend. The tip of the ear flap is rounded, while its outer edge does not extend beyond the animal’s cheeks.

Vibrissae

The whiskers (whiskers) of the Don Sphynx are thick and curling. In some animals, the hair often breaks off at the root, which is why the cat looks completely beardless.

Frame

The Don Sphynx has a not too long, muscular and dense body, somewhat wide in the croup area.

Legs

Cats' paws are of medium length, with straight forearms and noticeably elongated toes.

Tail

Don Sphynxes have very flexible and long tails without kinks.

Leather

A distinctive feature of the breed is the skin, which in sphinxes is almost hot, elastic, gathering in folds on the forehead, armpits and groin.

Wool

According to the type and structure of the coat, Don Sphynxes are divided into four main types:

naked (“rubber”) - the animal is completely devoid of hair, its skin is hot, heavily wrinkled, slightly sticky;
flock - the skin has a very short and thin fur coat, reminiscent of peach fuzz, which disappears over time;
velor – the pet’s fur reaches a length of 2-3 mm, but as the animal grows older, it falls out, completely revealing the body;
Brush is the hairiest type of the Don Sphynx, characterized by long, but sparse, coarse and curled hair. Such cats are not allowed into exhibitions, but they are quite suitable for breeding. Usually by the age of two the hair of the brasha falls out, although not always completely.

Color

Don Sphynxes have the right to have any color, that is, they can be snow-white, black, smoky, red, blue and pinkish-red. Tabby-colored individuals are also considered full-fledged representatives of the breed, although they are combined into a separate group.

Defects and vices of the breed

The most common reasons for reducing the score of a show animal are a head that is too narrow, round or short, a weak constitution, a tail that is too short and small ears. Serious defects are considered to be malocclusion (underbite by more than 2 mm) and entropion of the eyelids.

Description of diseases and defects of the Don Sphynx

The Canadian, Don and St. Petersburg Sphynxes are the main representatives of the hairless breed.
Hairless cats from St. Petersburg are known as Peterbalds. Each type of such cats has its own breed characteristics. It is impossible to describe the Canadian Sphynx breed without describing the incredible number of folds; the more folds there are, the higher the animal is valued. Canadians have large numbers of them on their faces. There is so much bare skin that even if the animal stretches out to its full length, it will still remain unmelted to the end. To say that such a cat is completely hairless would be incorrect. The skin of sphinxes is covered with light fluff, which feels like suede or peach peel. Short hair can be on the paws, scrotum, and the outer part of the ears. On a thin, graceful and bald tail, a small tassel is allowed at the end.

The body is medium sized, muscular and very hot. The body has a wide chest, sometimes in the shape of a barrel.
The limbs are slender and muscular, the hind legs are longer than the front legs. The finger joints are clearly defined. The paw pads are thick and match the general coloring.
The cat's head is wedge-shaped with prominent cheekbones and a straight nose.
The neck is muscular and long.
There are small folds of skin on the head.
Important characteristics of cats are their eyes, which are shaped like lemons, and huge, erect ears, pointed or round in shape.
Canadians may have heterochromia in one or both eyes.
Despite the fact that their ancestors had mustaches, the sphinxes did not inherit them.
The largest sphinxes weigh no more than 5-6 kg.

Sphinxes can look a person in the eyes continuously for a long time. And it’s difficult for the owner to take his eyes off the pet’s huge, slightly slanted, attentive eyes. The expression is such that it may seem as if he is ready to jump.

A carp bite (shortened lower jaw) is a congenital disorder of the ossification of the jaw. Malocclusion occurs in all domestic animals, but is most common in the Don Sphynx.

A violation is considered to be a displacement of two rows of incisors that cannot align. The violation occurs due to the arrest of the animal's growth at the moment when the symphysis in the lower jaw of the incisive bone ossifies prematurely.

Sometimes such a defect is mild and does not bother the animal. Long fangs can injure the upper jaw, which quickly develops painful “pockets.”

The character of the Don Sphynx

In the body of this alien creature hides a very vulnerable soul, yearning for close emotional contact with its owner. So the correct Don Sphynx is unusually soft (as soft as a representative of the cat family can be), not at all jealous and absolutely not prone to aggression. Anyone can offend this good-natured big-eared dog, but no one can make him angry, which makes “Donetsk” dogs ideal pets for families where young tomboys are growing up.

Meek and loving, the Don Sphynx is always happy to receive “calf tenderness,” but if the owner is not yet ready for an open manifestation of feelings, it is not a sin to push him a little. There are a lot of ways to do this, and Rostov cats have mastered almost all of them. In particular, any unoccupied knees in the house will certainly be tested by the Donetsk team for softness and elasticity, and their owner will be caressed to the point of semi-consciousness. At the same time, bald purrs do not suffer from excessive clinginess and do not try to impose their company on someone who does not need it.

In general, Don Sphynxes are moderately lazy creatures, equally willing to devote their free time to both standard cat pranks and lying on radiators. In childhood, they show strong curiosity and activity, but as they grow up, they become somewhat fed up with new impressions and look at life with slight indifference. The peacefulness and non-conflict nature of the breed is already a cliché, so feel free to release parrots, hamsters, guinea pigs and other representatives of the feathered and fluffy world from their cages - the Don Sphynx has nothing to do with them.

It is generally accepted that, intellectually, the “Donetsk people” are somewhat superior to their “woolen” relatives. Indeed, they are incredibly smart and savvy. For example, almost any adult cat knows how to deal with a door latch (long fingers, like those of an alien from an American blockbuster, come in handy here). In addition, they have excellent intuition: the Don Sphynx is always aware of when it is possible to cuddle with its owner, and when it is better to move away so as not to provoke the two-legged master to anger.

Education and training

For all her softness and pliability, the Don Sphynx is not alien to aristocratic manners. Moreover, these cats consider themselves equal to humans, so forcing the sphinx to do something against its will is a futile effort. Yes, bald eared cats have a tendency to learn and are even capable of performing simple acrobatic sketches, but only when they themselves want to.

Developmental defects

Hairless sphinxes were specially bred through inbreeding in order to consolidate the mutation of “rubbery” smooth skin and an abundance of folds. As a result, animals were prone to abnormal development of a number of organs: eyes, jaws, spine, intestines.

Shortening of the lower jaw

Another name is “carp bite.” A congenital pathology of smooth-haired pets, manifested by shortening of the lower jaw. Its growth stops prematurely due to early ossification of the symphysis in the incisor area.

The disease is manifested by the following symptoms:

the rows of incisors do not align or touch;
distortions of the jaw, narrowing of the arch;
asymmetry of the dentition;
tongue hypoplasia;
on the hard palate there are ulcers and inflammations from dental injuries.

With mild manifestations, sphinxes adapt and can eat solid pieces of food.

Microphthalmos

Improper formation and development of the eye leads to a decrease in its size. Accompanied by decreased visual acuity, keratitis, coloboma and cataracts.

This disease can be detected in kittens at birth. They are born with open eyes, tumors and eye cysts. One of the causes of the anomaly is intrauterine chlamydia.

Scientists have proven the connection of the disease with reduced fertility of small animals.

Something else interesting: How to tell if your cat is sick?

Congenital entropion of the eyelids

Externally, the pathology looks like an inward turning of the eyelids. The eyelashes and the edge of the eyelids curl up and touch the membrane of the eye. As a result, animals from birth suffer from continuous conjunctivitis and inflammation of the sclera. Surgeons perform surgical interventions for correction, as a result of which minor improvements are possible.

Curvature of the caudal spine

The defect often occurs in kittens born after inbred crossing. Every second litter is characterized by such a congenital disease. Animals often turn out to be non-viable, since additional serious defects are simultaneously detected in them:

anomaly of the intestine, mainly the thick section;
weak rectal sphincter;
reduced height;
underdevelopment of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae.

Nipple hyperplasia

It is inherited through the female line. Scientists have proven the connection with the characteristic color and eye color.

The following animals are mainly affected:

with light blue skin;
blue-cream;
with blue eyes.

The disease manifests itself and progresses gradually. When female kittens turn one year old, their nipples turn red. Over time, the skin around the nipple thickens and becomes keratinized. The nipple itself takes the shape of a club and increases in size. Cysts often appear.

In such mother cats, babies are often born with pathologies of internal organs and die at an early age due to the incompatibility of severe defects with life. The birth itself is difficult due to the weakness of labor. Little milk is produced.

One of the proven causes of hyperplasia is taking medications that suppress sexual activity. At the same time, unilateral or bilateral ovarian cysts form. Surgical treatment: sterilization, nipple removal.

Underdevelopment of the thymus

Kitten falling asleep syndrome is also called pathological underdevelopment of the thymus. Outwardly healthy kittens, who had just eaten or played, begin to die one by one - they literally fall asleep.

The most common cause of mass death of kittens of the same litter is inbreeding. Babies have a very low survival rate. Already in the first days, some people clearly notice the following signs:

bluish skin on the face and paws;
growth retardation;
parchment leather;
weak, sluggish sucking.

Even attempts at artificial feeding do not help. Babies die within a period of several days to weeks.

Gingival hyperplasia

Accompanied by pathological growth of mucous tissue, up to the closure of the surface of the teeth. It manifests itself as increased bleeding, pain, and a high risk of bleeding when eating solid food or cartilage. Does not affect other structures of the oral cavity (tongue, cheeks). It occurs chronically. Blue cats are most often affected.

Something else interesting: Tuberculosis in cats

Maintenance and care

The absence of hair does not yet make the Don Sphynx a comfortable pet. Firstly, the breed has the peculiarity of sweating - yes, these pseudo-Egyptians also smell. In addition, the skin of animals secretes a brownish substance that will have to be removed in time. It is recommended to bathe cats at least once every two weeks using a special shampoo for hairless pets. And since the breed is prone to skin rashes, it is useful to add herbal decoctions (chamomile, chamomile) to the bath. By the way, the water temperature for washing should be at 39-40 °C. In between bath days, discharge and brownish deposits from the skin of the Don Sphynx are removed with a soft cloth soaked in warm water or alcohol-free wet wipes.

The tail and spine area of the “Donetsk” are the places where acne, pimples and boils form, so they are wiped with a ph-neutral lotion. Just remember to rinse the treated areas of skin with water afterwards so that the cat is not tempted to lick off the “cosmetics.” In general, there are a lot of sebaceous glands on the tail of the Don Sphynx, which begin to work in an intensive mode during the period of puberty of the animal. So if, despite your efforts, this part of your pet’s body becomes covered with blackheads (comedones), they will have to be squeezed out. Yes, it’s an unpleasant matter for both the owner and the cat owner, but it’s necessary.

Due to the lack of eyelashes, the eyes of Don Sphynxes are quite vulnerable, so experts recommend washing them once a day, and without using cotton swabs and pads, the fibers of which can get stuck on the mucous membrane. By the way, if, even with systematic care, clear or brownish discharge accumulates in the corners, this is normal. But if the nitrous oxide in the eyes of the “Donetsk resident” has acquired a greenish or yellowish tint, you have a serious reason to look into the veterinary office.

The large, fan-shaped ears of the Don Sphynx quickly fill with wax secretions, so they will have to be cleaned every week. If you prefer to remove wax with lotion, it is better, after instilling it inside, to massage the ear linen a little - this will help the dirt move away from the inner walls faster. Do not fall into perfectionism and do not try to clean the ear of your cat 200% by inserting the cotton swab deeper, otherwise you risk rewarding the animal with sudden deafness.

The claws of hairless cats are long and do not retract completely into the pads of the fingers, so no matter how hard the purr tries, he will not be able to grind them off completely. Arm yourself with a claw clipper and take the initiative, remembering safety measures and carefully avoiding the area where the nerve endings are located. The nail bed also needs to be regularly wiped with a napkin soaked in lotion, as grease accumulates in it. A couple of times a month, the Don Sphynx’s teeth are brushed with fish-flavored veterinary paste or, if your pet is very patient, with soda mixed with a drop of the cheapest red wine.

The Don Sphynxes develop a warm relationship with the sun: the bald purrs love to arrange a solarium for themselves on the windowsill, as a result of which their skin changes color. Sometimes it comes to a real overdose of ultraviolet radiation, so if your pet overexposes to sunbathing, drive him off the windowsill or take him to the shade. Otherwise, you will get an infernal creature with burnt skin, which will come off in rags within a few days. And the Don Sphynxes often freeze, so they have extreme respect for any warm places. So if you are tired of watching a bald charmer cuddle with a radiator for days, sew him warm pajamas or overalls - patterns can be found on the forums of breed lovers.

Feeding

Accelerated metabolism and increased heat transfer, characteristic of the body of the Don Sphynx, require the same increased attention to the animal’s diet. Please note that two meals a day will not be enough for a representative of this breed, so treat the cat at least three to four times a day. An adult cat should consume 150 g of lean meat (beef, veal) per day, which can be successfully replaced by offal a couple of times a week. Fish plays a secondary role in the diet of the Don Sphynx. Several times a month, you can treat your eared fish with boiled fish fillet, but you definitely shouldn’t completely replace meat with it.

Otherwise, the Donetsk team can do everything that other kitties can. In particular, low-fat fermented milk products, cereals in the form of porridges and vegetables in the form of salads. Raw egg yolk is very useful for hairless purrs, but due to its not very positive effect on the liver, it can be given no more than four times a month. Keeping Don Sphynxes dry is also quite acceptable, but if you have already spent money on such an exotic pet, forget about saving on industrial food. The best “drying” option for hairless catfish would be holistic varieties that do not contain synthetic preservatives. If such expenses do not fit well with your budget, lower the bar to premium food, but never stoop to economy options.

Acne, pimples and other manifestations in cats

Did you know that this breed can develop acne during puberty? This is due to the sebaceous glands of the animal’s skin; most often, pimples can be seen on the back, belly and tail, and it is possible that they may appear on other parts of the body. Hereditary factor is the main reason for the appearance of these rashes. The so-called risk zone includes: blue, red and cream colors.

This breed has another health problem, many kittens of this breed often have watery eyes. This can be either a simple allergy to something or an infectious disease. To determine why your animal's eyes are watering, you need to contact a veterinarian. Infections such as conjunctivitis are common in this breed and cause watery eyes very often. In this case, long-term treatment and constant prevention of the animal are required.

Allergies can also manifest themselves, for example, to household chemicals. Dust, as well as pollen from plants, cannot be ruled out either. In the long-haired variety of the breed, allergies may occur due to the long hair. Since allergies can manifest themselves for many reasons, you should seek help from a specialist who can help you understand this issue.

Health and diseases of the Don Sphynxes

The Don Sphynx is a relatively young and not the healthiest breed. Predisposition to diseases in cats is usually hereditary and caused by errors in breeding. For example, various kinds of eczema and microphthalmia (improper development of the eyeball), which are often diagnosed in representatives of this family, passed to them from cats born in the early 90s, when the gene pool of the breed was unstable. Another “family” defect that can seriously ruin a “Donetsk resident’s” life is congenital entropion.

Breeders who commit the sin of inbreeding often give birth to kittens with a curved part of the caudal spine. At first glance, the disadvantage does not seem so significant, but if you breed a crooked-tailed purr with a normal cat, you can get a whole litter of real bald freaks. Nipple hyperplasia and mammary cyst are diseases typical only for cats, and the latter disease most often makes itself felt in tortoiseshell-colored individuals. The so-called shortening of the lower jaw (carp bite) is also a fairly common defect among Don Sphynxes. Animals with such a developmental anomaly cannot eat properly and often injure their own palate with their teeth.

Diseases of a hygienic nature

Microphthalmos. This is a congenital defect of the eyeball; it is reduced in size. As a rule, this pathology occurs due to an infection suffered during pregnancy. The pathology, as a rule, leads to decreased vision and is treated exclusively with surgery.
Curvature of the tail. With this disease, pathology of the skeletal system is observed. As a rule, this is a congenital defect; very often kittens with such a congenital defect have underdeveloped intestines and a dwarf appearance. The reason for this anomaly is inbreeding. If you want to get normal kittens, you need to carefully study the entire pedigree of the family so that they do not have a similar disease in their family.
Vasculitis. This is an inflammatory process that occurs in the blood vessels and can occur in all cats. However, kittens of this breed are more susceptible to this pathology. The disease manifests itself in the formation of spots on the very surface of the skin. Depending on the type of vasculitis, the spots are small red or large bluish. In some cases, spots may be combined or disappear without a trace. The reasons for this phenomenon are different; to determine the problem, you need to contact a veterinarian.

Nipple hyperplasia. Typically, small kittens inherit this disease from their mother. Sometimes the cause of this pathology may be the improper use of medications. The nipples of such animals increase in volume, swell and become very painful. A cyst may form, females often give birth to poor offspring, this is due to concomitant diseases. Since the mother is unable to breastfeed the kittens, they have virtually no chance of survival.

How to choose a kitten

Don Sphynx kittens are fragile, sickly creatures and often leave this mortal world in infancy. So buying a baby who is under 12 weeks old is a big and unjustified risk.
Most parents pass on their temperament and character to their offspring, so before adopting a kitten, talk to its dad and mom. What if they are not charming at all, but evil misanthropes?
Be sure to ask the cattery owner for a veterinary passport for the kitten. The Don Sphynx, which is taken to a new home, must receive a full package of vaccinations.
Carefully examine every square inch of your potential pet's skin. If peeling or, worse, traces of eczema are found on it, this is a reason to leave the nursery and never return to it.
Female and male Don Sphynx kittens differ in character. Cats are more independent and curious, and their skin and fur have a stronger odor. Kitties are more affectionate, more enterprising and more inclined to have close contact with their owner.
The appearance of the young “Donetsk” is not the last selection criterion. When examined, a proper kitten should give the impression of a healthy and neat creature. As much as possible, avoid babies with bloated bellies, signs of diarrhea and pus-filled eyes, as the consequences of poor care in childhood will follow the animal for the rest of its life.