Misplaced Pages

#555444

39-456: The skin has a texture of chamois leather , as it has fine hairs, or the cat may be completely hairless. Whiskers may be present, either whole or broken, or may be totally absent. Per the breed standards, they have a somewhat wedge-shaped head with large eyes and ears, quite long legs and tail, and neat rounded paws. Their skin is the color that their fur would be, and all the usual cat markings (solid, point, van, tabby, tortie, etc.) may be found on

78-462: A high level of energy, intelligence, curiosity and affection for their owners. They are one of the more dog-like breeds of cats, frequently greeting their owners at the door and are friendly when meeting strangers. Sphynx cats tend to be highly attached to their owners, often demanding large amounts of attention, and if said attention is not given, can get into trouble. The mischievous cats love to cuddle for body warmth, due to their lack of fur. A study

117-673: A known presence in Europe, China, and Japan along with its well-established activity in the United States and Canada. In 2022, CFA recognized 42 breeds for its Championship Class and three in its non-competitive classes (the Khao Manee, Lykoi, and Toybob). The current president of the CFA is Richard Mastin. By alphabetical order according to breed division: The CFA offers a number of services to catteries , purebred feline owners, and

156-411: A large-mouthed funnel with a wide outlet surface that supports a woven wire base, or metal plate with a grid of holes. The lower part of the funnel is tapered to fit the receptacle or tank-filler aperture. A suitably sized chamois skin is soaked in clean fuel and placed over the grid in the funnel and brought up the sides, forming a bowl, to prevent any leakage past the skin. Fuel can then be pumped into

195-553: A more subtle and nuanced way than most erasers could. The charcoal can be washed from the leather using soap and water. Chamois leather is used around professional film and video camera viewfinders , as it provides comfort and absorbs sweat from camera operators who spend a long time with their eye planted on the viewfinder. Divers use towels made of chamois leather to dry themselves between dives, as they can be quickly dried by squeezing or wringing them. Cat Fanciers%27 Association The Cat Fanciers' Association ( CFA )

234-806: A number of problems. The genetic pool was very limited and many kittens died. There was also a problem with many of the females suffering convulsions . In 1978, cat breeder Shirley Smith found three hairless kittens on the streets of her neighborhood. In 1983, she sent two of them to Dr. Hugo Hernandez in the Netherlands to breed the two kittens, named Punkie and Paloma, to a white Devon Rex named Curare van Jetrophin. The resulting litter produced five kittens: two males from this litter (Q. Ramses and Q. Ra) were used, along with Punkie's half-sister, Paloma. The first noted naturally occurring foundation Sphynx originated as hairless stray barn cats in Wadena, Minnesota, at

273-589: A science graduate of the University of Toronto , combined efforts with his mother Yania, a longtime Siamese breeder, and Keese and Rita Tenhoves to develop a breed of cats which was subsequently renamed as Sphynx . The Bawas and the Tenhoves were the first individuals able to determine the autosomal recessive nature of the Sphynx gene for hairlessness while also being successful in transforming this knowledge into

312-542: A successful breeding program with kittens which were eventually capable of reproducing. The Tenhoves were initially able to obtain for the new breed provisional showing status through the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) but ultimately had the status revoked in 1971, when it was felt by the CFA Board that the breed had concerns over fertility. The first breeders had rather vague ideas about Sphynx genetics and faced

351-399: A type of European mountain goat, but today made almost exclusively from the flesh split of a sheepskin. The British Standard BS 6715: 1991 defines chamois leather as: Leather made from the flesh split of sheepskin or lambskin, or from sheepskin or lambskin from which the grain (the top split) has been removed by frizing , and tanned by processes involving oxidation of marine oils in

390-416: A very absorbent drying material for any automobile surface. This has made it a popular product for car cleaning and drying. The elasticity of the skin's pores, which are very close together, allow it to be used in micro-filtration. Its water absorbency and low friction make it good for other uses, such as in cycling shorts (although most modern cycling shorts now use synthetic "chamois" leather). It

429-609: Is cold. In some climates, owners provide coats or other clothing in the winter to help them conserve body heat. While they lack much of the fur of other cat breeds, Sphynxes are not necessarily hypoallergenic . Allergies to cats are triggered by a protein called Fel d1 , not cat hair itself. Fel d1 is a protein primarily found in cat saliva and sebaceous glands . Those with cat allergies may react to direct contact with Sphynx cats. Even though reports exist that some people with allergies successfully tolerate Sphynx cats, they are fewer than those who have allergic reactions. The skin of

SECTION 10

#1732772615556

468-491: Is the only Ragdoll cattery at present to make this award from both TICA and CFA. PaJean Cattery, an iconic cattery devoted to Persian cats, has produced the most long-haired Grand Champions in the world, 2nd in the world for both long hair and short hairs combined, and the most Cat of the Year honors. The cattery was founded by Pamela Bassett and her mother, the late Jean Bassett. CFA recognizes 42 pedigreed breeds for showing in

507-405: Is widely used for drying and buffing vehicles after washing. Small pieces of chamois leather (often called "chamois cloth") are commonly used as blending tools by artists drawing with charcoal . The leather blends the charcoal more softly and cleanly than the artist's fingers, which can leave smudges. The chamois is also used to lighten the drawing (or portions of it) by removing some charcoal in

546-541: The Don Sphynx and the Peterbald from Russia, which arose from their own spontaneous gene mutations. The standard for the Sphynx differs between cat associations such as The International Cat Association (TICA), Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFE) and Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA). In 2010, DNA analysis confirmed that Sphynx hairlessness was produced by a different allele of the same gene that produces

585-637: The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF). The Sphynx's distinctive hairlessness is primarily due to a mutation in the KRT71 gene, which also affects other breeds, such as the Devon Rex and Selkirk Rex, albeit with different outcomes. This gene is responsible for the keratinization of the hair follicle. In the Sphynx, the mutation, known as "hr", leads to a complete loss of function, damaging

624-806: The Championship Class and three breeds as Miscellaneous (this became effective with the 2016-17 show season). Since 1994, the CFA has hosted the CFA International Cat Show , described as the " Rolls-Royce of cat shows", the largest of its kind in the U.S.. Despite being cancelled in 2007 and 2010, the CFA International made a comeback in 2011 as the CFA World Show in Indianapolis, Indiana and has boasted renewed entries and interest since its re-branding and

663-525: The Sphynx breed since the early 1960s. Two different sets of hairless felines discovered in North America in the 1970s provided the foundation cats for what was shaped into the existing Sphynx breed. The current American and European Sphynx breed is descended from two lines of natural mutations: The Canadian Sphynx breed was started in 1966 in Toronto, Ontario when a hairless male kitten named Prune

702-604: The Sphynx cat is known for its excessive production of a greasy secretion, which often results in the accumulation of a sticky, dark brown, or reddish-brown layer that necessitates regular cleaning. Furthermore, Sphynx cats typically produce more earwax than most hairy domestic cats. This increased wax production is attributed to the minimal to absent hair within their ears, which allows for the accumulation of dirt, skin oils (sebum), and ear wax, thereby requiring frequent cleaning. Additionally, they often accumulate oils and debris under their nails and within their numerous skin folds due to

741-537: The Sphynx cat's skin. Because they have no fur, Sphynx cats lose body heat more readily than coated cats, making them both warm to the touch and prone to seeking out warm places. The breed standard from The International Cat Association (TICA) calls for: The contemporary breed of Sphynx cat is distinct from the Russian hairless cat breeds, like Peterbald and Donskoy . Although hairless cats have been reported throughout history, breeders in Europe have been developing

780-537: The acquisition of corporate sponsorships. In 2015, the show's name was restored to the CFA International Cat Show. Other activities of the CFA include setting breed standards and offering breeding guidelines, training show judges, promoting and inspecting catteries, supporting and publicizing research on cat health issues, influencing legislative issues, providing disaster relief and breed rescue programs, publishing books and magazines and informing

819-485: The care and polishing of carriages . This industry usage later transferred to the chauffeurs of the " horseless carriages " invented in the early 1900s. The popularity of chamois leather greatly increased with the advent of mass-produced automobile windshields , which needed to be washed frequently for visibility purposes, but were inconvenient and time-consuming to dry through alternative means. Genuine chamois leather has almost no abrasive properties, and can be used as

SECTION 20

#1732772615556

858-694: The farm of Milt and Ethelyn Pearson. The Pearsons identified hairless kittens occurring in several litters of their domestic shorthair barn cats in the mid-1970s. Two hairless female kittens born in 1975 and 1976, Epidermis and Dermis, were sold to Oregon breeder Kim Mueske, and became an important part of the Sphynx breeding program. Also working with the Pearson line of cats was breeder Georgiana Gattenby of Brainerd, Minnesota , who outcrossed with Cornish Rex cats. Other hairless breeds may have body shapes or temperaments that differ from those of Sphynx standards. There are, for example, new hairless breeds, including

897-418: The first 3 to 23 weeks of their life. This condition has also been described, but is rarely seen. Cats affected by CMS show generalized muscle weakness and fatigue, as well as ventroflexion of the head and neck, head bobbing, and scapulae protrusion. Chamois leather Chamois leather ( / ˈ ʃ æ m i / ) is a type of porous leather, traditionally the skin of the chamois ( Rupicapra rupicapra ),

936-470: The general public on topics relating to cats. While no two shows are identical, CFA cat shows follow certain procedures and guidelines: A CFA cat show actually consists of a number of simultaneous cat shows running at the same time within the same place. Depending on the size of the show, there are anywhere from 4 to 12 "rings" (or miniature shows) which generally run 1 to 2 days in length. Each "ring" has its own judge who independently scores cats and awards

975-452: The general public. One service the CFA offers is certified pedigree lists for registered cats. Registered cat pedigrees going back from three to six generations are available. Breeding catteries register their cattery name following the CFA naming standards. Certificates are awarded to Catteries of Excellence that meet strict health codes for the cats and their environment. As of this writing, 40 catteries meet these requirements. Riversiderags

1014-550: The kitten is mature enough to cope in a new environment. In a review of over 5,000 cases of urate urolithiasis the Sphynx was over-represented, with four recorded cases out of a population of 28. The breed does have instances of the genetic disorder hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Other domestic cat breeds prone to HCM include Persian , Ragdoll , Norwegian Forest cat , Siberian cats , British Shorthair and Maine Coon ; however, any domestic cat including mixed breeds can acquire HCM. Studies are being undertaken to understand

1053-541: The lack of fur. Regular maintenance of these areas, including the nails and skin folds, is essential for the health and hygiene of the breed. The Sphynx faces challenges because of its lack of protective fur. Skin cancer may be a problem if exposed to sunlight for long durations of time. The lack of hair can cause health issues with kittens in the first weeks of life because of susceptibility to respiratory infections. Reputable breeders should not let their kittens go to new homes without being at least 14 weeks of age to ensure

1092-767: The links in breeding and the disorder. Cats are screened for HCM disease with echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart), as well as with additional tests determined by the veterinarian cardiologist including electrocardiogram (EKG, ECG), chest radiographs (X-rays), and/or blood tests. The Sphynx cat has a high rate of heart disease, either as HCM or mitral valve dysplasia . In a 2012 study of 114 Sphynx cats, 34% were found to have an abnormal heart, with 16 cats having mitral valve dysplasia and 23 cats having HCM. These prevalences were found in cats with an average age of 2.62 years. Male cats developed more severe disease than female cats and often developed it earlier, at an average age of 19 months for males and 29 months for females. Since

1131-499: The nose, tails, and toes, but overall, their coat is significantly reduced and lacks the typical structure seen in other cats. In the Devon Rex mutation, a residual activity of the protein still exists. The Selkirk Rex allele (sadr) is dominant over the wild type gene, which is dominant over the Devon Rex allele (re) and the Sphynx (hr), which forms an allelic series of : KRT71SADRE > KRT71+ > KRT71re > KRT71hr. Sphynx are known for their extroverted behavior. They display

1170-480: The prepared skin of any goat-like animal, specifically the European antelope —commonly called the "chamois"—and exclusively used by the glovemaking industry of southwest France . It was discovered that when tanned in the local cod oil of nearby Biarritz , the result was a material of unprecedented absorbency. This leather was fashioned into soft white gloves designed for carriage footmen, who were responsible for

1209-541: The prevalence of genetic heart disease is high in this breed, many breeders will recommend screening for HCM yearly. As HCM progresses into an advanced stage, cats may experience congestive heart failure (CHF) or thromboembolism . Congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) previously referred to as muscular dystrophy, myopathy or spasticity, is a type of inherited neuromuscular disorder associated with alpha- dystroglycan deficiency, found in Sphynx and in Devon Rex cats as well as variants of these breeds, which can occur between

Sphynx cat - Misplaced Pages Continue

1248-657: The short curly hair of the Devon Rex (termed the "re" allele), with the Sphynx's allele being incompletely dominant over the Devon allele and both being recessive to the wild type . The Sphynx's allele is termed "hr", for hairless. The only allowable outcross breeds in the CFA are now the American Shorthair and domestic shorthair . Other associations may vary, and the Russian Blue is a permitted outcross in

1287-509: The skin. In the United States, the term chamois without any qualification is restricted to the flesh split of the sheep or lambskin tanned solely with oils (US Federal Standard CS99-1970). Chamois leather is often counterfeited with goat or pig skin, the practice of which is a particular profession called by the French chamoiser . The term chamois as used to refer to specially-prepared leather originated sometime before 1709, referring to

1326-449: The structure of the hair. Normally, KRT71 helps produce strong hair that is securely anchored to the skin. However, due to the "hr" mutation, the hair of Sphynx cats lacks a solid root or bulb, making it extremely weak. Consequently, the hair is fragile and loosely attached, causing it to fall out easily and contributing to the breed's nearly hairless appearance. Sphynx cats may still retain very soft, short hair on parts of their body, such as

1365-417: The top of the funnel by the fuel dispenser and watched for signs of water accumulation. The process can be stopped to lift out the assembly from the tank and the trapped water removed so that the job can be continued. Chamois leather is used thus as a fuel filter by boaters, auto detailers , and aircraft refuelers, particularly of a past age when aircraft were flown into very remote areas. Chamois leather

1404-409: Was also used in purifying mercury , which is done by passing it through the pores of the skin. Chamois was historically used as a gasoline filter. When soaked with clean gasoline , chamois will not allow water to pass through its surface fibers. This property is used to filter fuel that has been stored in drums prone to ingress of water, or from any other doubtful source. The technique is to provide

1443-405: Was born to a black and white domestic shorthair queen (Elizabeth). The kitten was mated with his mother (called backcrossing ), which produced one more naked kitten. Together with a few naked kittens found later, the cat Prune was the first attempt to create a hairless breed. After purchasing these cats in 1966 and initially referring to them as "Moonstones" and "Canadian Hairless", Ridyadh Bawa,

1482-543: Was conducted by the Journal of Veterinary Behavior in 2012, and while further research needs to be conducted, purebred Sphynx cats were rated by their owners as friendlier than purebred European cats. Care should be taken to limit the Sphynx cat's exposure to outdoor sunlight at length, as they can develop sunburn and skin damage similar to that of humans. In general, Sphynx cats should never be allowed outdoors unattended, as they have limited means to conserve body heat when it

1521-579: Was established in the United States in 1906. The CFA is currently the world's largest registry of pedigreed cats . Originally headquartered in Manasquan, New Jersey , the CFA moved to Alliance, Ohio in 2010. The association's stated mission is preserving and promoting pedigreed breeds of cats while also enhancing the well-being of all cats. CFA's first licensed cat shows were held in Buffalo, New York and Detroit, Michigan in 1906. The association today has

#555444