SENSATIONAL SPHYNX

General

The Sphynx appears to be a hairless cat, although it is not truly hairless. The cat should not be small or dainty. Males may be up to 25% larger as long as proper proportions are maintained. The cat should not be penalized or faulted for any evident scars, scratches or blemishes on its body. The Sphynx is sweet-tempered, lively, intelligent and above all, amenable to handling.

Head

Shape/Size: Medium. Modified wedge with rounded contours, slightly longer than wide. Skull slightly rounded with a rather flat forehead. Muzzle/Chin: Strong rounded muzzle with distinct whisker break and firm chin. Profile: Slight to moderate stop at bridge of nose. Cheekbones: Prominent. Ears: Large, shaped like a rounded lemon. Placement Slanting to outer corner of ear; slightly more than an eye width between eyes. Eye color should ideally conform to coat color, but green and hazel acceptable.

Body and Tail

Body: Medium. Very hard and muscular, not delicate. Medium to medium long in length with medium boning. Neck is medium, rounded and well muscled. Arches from shoulders to base of skull; powerful, especially in males. Chest: Broad, may tend toward being barrel-chested. Abdomen: Well rounded, having the appearance of having eaten a large meal, but not fat. Legs/Feet: In proportion to body but not fine-boned; the legs are firm and muscular to the feel. Female legs may be more slender. The hind legs are slightly longer than the front. The forelegs are widely set. Paws are oval with long, slender toes and the paw pads are thicker than those in other breeds, giving the appearance of walking on air cushions.

 Coat

Length: Appears hairless. May be covered with short, fine down. May have lion tail (puff of hair on tip of tail). Short, soft, fine hair is allowed on ears, muzzle, tail, feet and scrotum. Lack of coat makes the cat quite warm to the touch. Texture: Chamois-like. A feeling of resistance may be felt when stroking the skin of some cats.

Whiskers and Eyebrows: Short and sparse. May be present, either whole or broken, or may be totally absent. Wrinkles: Skin is very wrinkled in kittens. Adults should retain as many wrinkles as possible, especially on the head, although wrinkling should not be so pronounced that it affects the cats normal functions.

Color

Accepted in all recognized colors/patterns registered by CFA.