Introduction
If hairless cats have always existed, the odd-looking Sphynx appeared as a feline breed in the late 1970s in Canada. Brought back from Toronto to the Netherlands by Dr Hernandez, the first Sphynxes made their roots in France before reaching the United States.
The nudity of the Sphynx, which ranges from perfectly hairless skin to a “peach skin” down, is due to a spontaneous mutation. The peculiarity of this breed is not limited to its skin, because it is also recognizable by its unusual type.
Head: Of medium size, the head is longer than it is wide. It is triangular, with pronounced rounded contours, frank cheekbones and a very frank pinch. In profile, the top of the skull and the forehead are flat, extending in a concave curve, palpable at the base of the nose and ending in a straight nose.
Muzzle: Rather short, rounded and well developed, the muzzle is delimited by a large pinch, clearly separating it from the skull. The dough pieces are clearly rounded. The chin is firm and defined.
Eyes: Lemon shaped, the eyes are large, wide open and expressive. All colors are accepted in accordance with the dress.
Ears: Very large, the ears are broad at the base and open. Placed at an equal distance from the top and sides of the skull, with the lower base at the level of the inner corner of the eye, they should appear oversized in relation to the head. They are completely hairless inside and rounded at their tip.
Neckline: Medium in size, the neckline is well muscled. It is arched and clears the head of the shoulders well.
Body: Semi-cobby in size, the body is firm. The musculature, clearly visible under the skin, is round. The chest, called barrel-shaped, is wide and deep. The abdomen is very round, as if the cat had just eaten, this characteristic does not mean that the cat is obese. The hips and the rump are rounded.
Legs: The legs have a fairly fine bone structure but a firm and well-defined musculature. The forelegs are slightly arched.
Feet: Oval, the feet have long, slender toes, with well defined phalanges. The pads are thicker than in other cat breeds, giving the impression that the Sphynx is walking on air cushions.
Tail: Whip-shaped, the tail is long and slightly thick at the base, resembling a rat tail.
Skin and texture: The skin of the Sphynx can range from total nudity to a “peach skin”. The skin is very wrinkled in kittens. Adults should keep as many folds as possible, especially on the head, without this in any way affecting the cat’s normal functions. Whiskers and eyebrows are rare or absent.
Tolerances
A few tufts of hair may be accepted on certain regions of the body: base of the ear, nose, testicles, end of the legs, end of the tail.
Jowls can be quite prominent in adult males. Lockets.
Penalties
- Cobby format.
- Concave curve of the profile not palpable.
- Almond eyes.
- Ears not oversized in relation to the head.
- Narrow chest.
- Short tail.
- Lack of folds on the head.
Refusal of any title
- Slender or delicate appearance, slim body, fine bone in adults.
- Foreign format.
- Narrow head in adults.
- Strictly straight or curved profile. Small ears.
- Curled tail, lacking flexibility.
- Notched hairs of the Devon Rex or Cornish Rex in moult.
- Evidence of hair removal and / or shaving. Messy ears.
Disqualification
General eliminatory faults and faults in exhibition.
Source: https://loof.asso.fr/download/05-standards-all-201201.pdf