Can someone please explain the Sphinx cat to me?

[scaryshari]

I'm sorry, but I just don't get the Sphinx (or Sphynx) cat. If you don't know what feline I'm talking about, click here. The site is in French, but they have a good variety of images on one page. (My icon is obviously NOT a Sphinx. *chuckle* It's Lightfoot, an awesome cat my cousin once had). At any rate, I'm putting the rest of my question into a

Comments

[jadecat]

Those are not the true Sphynx cat. See my icon, that's a sphynx cat! ;)

I do not get those other ones... just do not.

[scaryshari]

OOPS! *blush* Then what are all the hairless, wrinkly, skinny, angry space alien cats on that website, if not Sphinx/Sphynx? It wasn't just that French site either, but many other sites in my Google search. Maybe there are hairless and NON-hairless Sphinxes? I must profess my ignorance. *blush again*

As for the cat in your icon, it's very handsome/pretty!! :) Super-furry, not pinched/scrawny, and certainly does not have scarily huge eyes and huge ears like the cats in my photos! I'm quite confused now, but I"m very glad you shared your icon! heh

[jadecat]

*grins* Well, those hairless thingies are technically the Sphynx breed... I just don't get them and thus pretend they don't exist. ;)

The icon cat is Sasha who tends to lie in Sphynx (the Egyptian statue) pose- so to me she is a true Sphynx kitty. ;) Sasha is a cat of undetermined origin. I adopted her when she was 5 weeks old from animal control. Vet suspect she's got Persian in her due to her fur type, but luckily she doesn't have the Persian quashed nose!

[mortaine]

I know someone who breeds them, actually. I don't "get it" either, but I also think pugs are hideous, and not in a cute way. I think every one of your arguments can be made about pugs, including the fact that they could not survive in the wild due to their mashed-face nasal structures and chronic breathing problems.

Basically, they're no different than any other overbred domestic species.

[scaryshari]

Yep, overbred is definitely a good word to use. I used selectively bred because I was thinking of how humans like to breed animals for a very particular trait, but in so doing, they take most of the healthy genetic variety out of that species' gene pool. :( So of course problems arise. *sigh*

As for "so ugly they're cute," I have to admit I don't even know how I'd describe that, even though I said it! ;) It's an oxymoron. I don't understand how I can find an animal so damn ugly, but also somewhat cute. All I know is I certainly do NOT find pugs the same level of "cute" as I find golden retrievers or ducklings or pet rats -- including those in my icon! *giggle*

[alicetheowl]

I think they're hideous, too. But, they are a breed that people allergic to cats can own, and apparently they're as affectionate as hairy kitties, so I can see a person settling for a Sphinx if they can't have anything else.

I'll take a furred cat over a Sphinx any day, though.

[dragonkiri]

Argh. This makes me rue my cat allergies, because if I ever want to actually own a cat or live in a household of cats ever again, it'd have to be of sphynxes. They do look unfriendly. =\

[scaryshari]

Sorry to hear about your cat allergies. :( Maybe there are other hairless cat breeds aside from the sphynx? Also, have you thought about allergy shots? My dad used to be allergic to a handful of different things -- I'm not sure what, but I believe certain animals and certain pollens, but after several years of allergy shots, the allergies went AWAY! :) I know this doesn't work for everyone, but I've heard it works for something like 2/3 or 3/4 of people. Not bad statistics, if you think about it! :D

[littlelion]

I don't necessarily think they're cute - but I don't know that they are meant to be "cute" I think they are more meant to be a version of a hypo-allergenic cat