the sphynx, reviewed

The Sphynx is the hairless cat, a warm, wrinkled, deeply strange-looking animal that people either adore or cannot look at. It posts a fluffiness score of four, which is the lowest I will ever give and entirely fair. What it lacks in coat it makes up in personality, because the Sphynx is one of the most affectionate and demanding breeds there is. Here is the honest review.

what is a sphynx

The Sphynx arose from a natural genetic mutation for hairlessness and was then developed into a breed. Despite the ancient Egyptian look, it is a relatively modern cat, and its defining feature is the near-total lack of a coat. Beneath that bare, warm skin is an ordinary, affectionate cat with an extraordinary personality, which is the part people who fall for the breed always mention first.

the look

There is no getting around it: the Sphynx is a striking, divisive-looking animal. It is essentially hairless, covered at most in a fine, soft down that feels like warm suede, with wrinkled skin, large ears, big eyes, and a lean, muscular body. Held against you, it is noticeably warm, because there is no coat between its body heat and your hand. That fluffiness score of four is not a joke at the cat's expense so much as a simple statement of fact. Whether you find it beautiful or unsettling is entirely a matter of taste, and Sphynx owners tend to find it beautiful.

temperament: the velcro cat

This is where the Sphynx wins its owners' devotion. It is one of the most affectionate and people-oriented of all breeds, often described as a velcro cat because it wants to be on you, with you, and involved in everything you do. Sphynxes are extroverted, energetic, playful, and attention-seeking, following their humans around, greeting visitors, and demanding warmth and company, both because they crave it and because, without a coat, they genuinely seek out heat. They bond intensely and do not like being left alone. If you want a cat that treats you as its favourite radiator and closest friend at once, this is it.

care and health, the honest part

People assume a hairless cat is low-maintenance. The opposite is true. Without a coat to absorb the natural oils its skin produces, a Sphynx gets greasy and needs regular bathing to keep its skin clean and healthy, and its large ears produce wax that needs frequent cleaning. It also has no fur to keep it warm, so it feels the cold, needs a warm home, must be kept indoors or very carefully managed outdoors, and often appreciates a jumper in winter. The bare skin can also sunburn and is more exposed to scratches and cold.

On health, the breed can be prone to certain inherited conditions, including a heart condition, and responsible breeders screen for these, so buy only from a reputable, health-testing breeder or adopt and keep up with veterinary care. One genuine upside: for some people with particular sensitivities, a coatless cat can be easier to live with, though no cat is truly hypoallergenic, since the allergen is mostly in the saliva and skin, not just the fur.

is a sphynx right for you

A Sphynx suits a devoted owner who is home a lot, wants an intensely affectionate companion, and is willing to take on the regular bathing, ear cleaning, warmth, and skin care the breed needs. It is not the low-effort pet its bald appearance suggests, and it is not for someone who wants an independent, self-sufficient cat. But for the right person, it is an unusually loving, engaging, and characterful animal.

the chairman's verdict

Seventy-six, dragged down almost entirely by a fluffiness score I could not in conscience raise above four. Set that aside, and the Sphynx is a warm, funny, fiercely affectionate cat with more personality than most breeds twice its coverage. I confess the look unsettles me, and I would not swap my own excellent coat for anything. But I respect the animal underneath it, and its owners are among the most devoted I have met. A strange, warm, wonderful cat. Bring a towel.

Related reading from my desk: more breeds in the cat breeds guide, and why does my cat sleep on me, which the heat-seeking Sphynx takes to another level.

Scores are the Chairman's opinion, offered in good fun. For real advice on Sphynx skin care, warmth, and health, speak to a reputable breeder, a rescue, or your vet. I am a cat with opinions, not a veterinarian.