Blog

The Sphynx cat is a relatively new breed of cat that has been in existence since the 1960’s. It is best known for being a hairless cat and opinions are divided as to whether it is incredibly cute or incredibly ugly! With its bat-like ears, wrinkly skin and pensive, grumpy expression the Sphynx is nothing if not unique.

Originally coming from Canada, the Sphynx was bred accidentally. A Domestic Short Hair cat had a litter in which one of the kittens happened to be completely bald. This genetic mutation was not planned for but was one which the breeder thought was appealing. This male cat was called ‘Prune’ due to his strange, wrinkled appearance. When this unusual cat was old enough, he was bred back to his mother, producing several more hairless kittens. Over the next few decades, breeders continued to develop this new hairless breed and it was not long before they became popular pets and show cats. While these cats were initially called ‘Canadian Hairless Cats’, they were eventually given the name ‘Sphynx’, thanks to their resemblance to the famous Egyptian cat sculptures.

The history of the Sphynx has not always been plain sailing and some cat fancier associations refuse to recognise the breed over concerns that breeding a cat based on a genetic mutation may lead to reduced health and lifespan.

The fascination with the Sphynx centres around the way it looks. Hairless cats have been in existence since ancient times, though many became extinct over time. Since the development of the Sphynx, similar breeds are popping up internationally, including the bald ‘Donskoy’ cat which was developed in Russia in the 1980’s.

The Sphynx is unique not only because of its lack of fur, but also because of its general appearance. Their skin has a very light, downy covering that is often likened to chamois leather and is incredibly soft. While the skin is particularly wrinkled when kittens, it does become smoother as they grow and fill out. For most, their wrinkles remain prominent on their forehead and neck.

Their heads are relatively small with a wide forehead and a narrow muzzle. Many owners love their ears which are large with a rounded tip. Their oval-shaped eyes are widely set apart and can be a number of colours, including piercing blue or dazzling green.

The body of the Sphynx is well-muscled and built in proportion with quite wide chests and well-rounded rumps. Their elegant tails are long and slim, though are off-putting to some as they can resemble big rats’ tails!

Any Sphynx owner will tell you that these cats are just full of personality. They are sometimes compared to small dogs as they are very sociable and love to spend time around people. It is not unheard of for a Sphynx to greet their owner each day when they return home from work and they seem to ‘listen’ intently while being spoken to. It would not be unusual to see a Sphynx following their owner from room to room, simply happy to be in their presence.

Their attachment to people can be a bit of a double-edged sword as some cats are very reliant on their owners and can become stressed and anxious when home alone. Unlike other breeds, the Sphynx cat is very much prone to separation anxiety and should ideally be kept in a home where there is at least one person with them for most of the time.

Sphynx cats are quite content in their own company and when around their two-legged friends but are not big fans of other cats. Real ‘lone rangers’, they can become grumpy and distant if a new feline friend is introduced to the family. Similarly, they dislike having to share their territory with dogs and will tend to remove themselves from the situation, leaving the room when the dog enters. Of course, this is just a general rule of thumb and there will be exceptions. This is especially true in those felines that have been raised with other pets since little and are used to them being around.

Though it is true that Sphynxes are loving and affectionate with people, they do not have a huge amount of tolerance for young children and can have quite low thresholds when it comes to putting up with things like ear pinching or tail pulling! As such, those with young children should probably opt for a different breed of cat.

Their lack of fur means that they have specific requirements and do not do well in cold climates. It also puts them at high risk for sun burn. Most will be kept as indoor-only cats for this reason and an effort should be made to keep the home a similar temperature at all times. Due to their lack of fur, many Sphynx cats will be on the constant look out for heat and are known to be sun-bathers, basking in any ray of sunshine that comes in the window. They also love to cuddle up close to owners and to sleep in their beds. During the winter, some owners will provide their Sphynx cats with cat clothes such as jumpers, though not every individual will tolerate this!

Very active and moderately athletic, the Sphynx loves to play around and get some exercise. Their curiosity and intelligence mean that they particularly enjoy playing with interactive toys and puzzles and will often solve any problem put to them in good time. They benefit from having access to lots of different toys and are big fans of laser pointers and wind-up mice. More so than other cats, the Sphynx is known for being an intelligent breed and can actually be trained to learn several commands.

Happy when down low and up high, these cats enjoy having a climb every now and then and will certainly make good use of any cat trees in the home. They are particularly fond of those cat trees that contain ‘hideaway beds’ so that they can catch some shut eye without being interrupted!

Not surprisingly, grooming of the Sphynx is fairly minimal. However, owners should not assume that there is no grooming required at all. It is important to gently brush the downy coat of the Sphynx once a week or so to spread their natural oils and remove any dead skin or debris that has built- up. Bathing in a mild shampoo every few weeks is often needed to prevent the body oils from accumulating. Each cat will have different requirements, and some may even need weekly baths. It’s important to introduce this routine to them from a young age so they learn to tolerate water and baths as a normal part of their life.

As well as their brushing and bathing, owners should be confident cleaning out the wax from the ears of their Sphynx and trimming nails if they become too long. Claw clipping is especially needed in older cats who can grow quite thick claws and do not tend to use their scratching posts as much.

Sphynx cats are known to have relatively good health and tend to live into their early teens.

Owners and breeders should be aware that the Sphynx is prone to a heart disease known as Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). HCM is the most common heart disease we see in cats. It causes the walls of the heart to thicken dramatically, reducing their ability to function and to pump blood effectively around the body. The sooner the condition is diagnosed and treatment can start, the better the prognosis. HCM will eventually lead to heart failure and cats will show signs that include a fast breathing rate and a reluctance to exercise. Some unfortunate cats may also develop blood clots, which can cause issues all over the body but are best known for causing sudden hind limb paralysis. The best way to tell if a Sphynx has HCM or not is to take an ultrasound (echocardiogram) of their heart. As high blood pressure and hyperthyroidism can also cause similar changes, these diseases should be ruled out. Sadly, there is no cure for HCM and it is a progressive disease, but cats do respond well to medical therapy which can keep the symptoms under control for some time.

A curious cat that loves to play and bond closely with its family, the Sphynx can make a wonderful addition to a home with grown-up children. They are quite affectionate and do not like to be left alone for prolonged periods of time.

Guest post author: Kate Davis

Author bio:Dr Kate has always had an affinity for cats, so it was a short step for her to become a cat writer.

Kate’s longtime interest is to help people to better communicate with their pet companions, and in doing so, to help them to strengthen their relationships with their cats and dogs.

Credit: Pexels

If you’re a cat fan with a lot of love to give, why not take your feline fondness into the workplace? Starting a purrfect business is simple and there plenty of options available to you. Below I’ve listed a few of the best ways to start a feline inspired business.

Recommended reading: The Right Litter For Your Cat

Turn Your Kitten Into A Social Media Influencer

Micro, macro, real or virtual, influencers are marketing superstars du jour. Brands pay top dollar for social media celebrities and you can get in on the action. How? By making your feline friend into a social media influencer.

Grumpy Cat is the world’s most successful feline influencer. She has a fortune of $99 million, a global following, and her own Wikipedia page. For some top tips on how to make your cat into an influencer, check out the video below:  

Open Your Own Cat Cafe

It’s twenty years since the first cat cafe Cat Flower Garden opened in Taipei, Taiwan, in 1998. Today there are cat cafes across the globe, from Mumbai to Seattle. But starting your own isn’t only a way of turning your love of cats into a business, no. It’s also a way to help give abandoned kittens a new home.

America has some delightful cat cafes. Here is a pretty complete list of them.

But my personal favorite is Seattle Meowtropolitan – the Pacific Northwest’s finest cat cafe. They work with the Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) to help people adopt a rescue cat. Seattle Meowtropolitan is open from 9am to 6pm and offer four services:

• Cat lounge
• Yoga with cats
• Family day
• Purr & paint

They also have their own ecommerce store (more below on this) where you can buy a range of cat goodies. For some top tips on how to open your own cat cafe, watch the guide below:

Start A Purrfect Online Seattle Business

There are over one million ecommerce in North America alone and it’s simple for you to start your own.

The first step is to have a good idea – a niche for your business. This article has some great suggestions to inspire you. Once you’ve decided what your business will be, all you need is the will to make it a reality.

The most popular way to start an online business is to build one from scratch. There are many great ecommerce platforms but my favorite is WooCommerce. It’s a plugin for WordPress and is super easy to use. Another way is to buy a company that’s already making money. You could look at the businesses for sale inspired by cats. Once you’ve bought one you can either keep it as it is, or add your own kitty twist.

For a detailed run-through of how to start a purrfect online business, have a look at the video underneath. It explains how you can start an online business in only one week:

Making money from your passions is the dream. For cat lovers like you and me it’s simple to make our dream a reality. All you need to do is pick on of the ideas from this article and get started!

Guest post contributed by Patrick Foster

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Written by Sandy Robins for ökocat (photo on right),

Sandy is a leading multi-media celebrity pet lifestyle expert and  influencer and a regular contributor and columnist in multiple national publications such as Modern Dog, Dog Fancy and Cat Fancy as well as industry leaders such as Pet Age magazine and mainstream media such as Consumers Digest. Her books include the award-winning Fabulous Felines: Health and Beauty Secrets for the Pampered Cat and For The Love of Cats. Her latest book, The Original Cat Bible is out now. Sandy is an avid campaigner for animal shelters and laws that protect animals everywhere. She is a strong advocator of pet adoption. Of course it goes without saying that she is a besotted pet parent to a menagerie of fur kids at her home in Southern California.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”15691″ img_link_target=”_self”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]The right litter choice for your cat is a type that she is happy to use and simultaneously meets a pet parent’s prerequisite for easy cleanup and effective odor control.

Fortunately, pet parents now have better options than clay litter such as eco-friendly alternatives made from coconut husks, wheat, corn and now ökocat™ 100% natural litter made from reclaimed wood and paper materials.

Natural litters provide benefits to you, your cat and the environment because they are made from sustainable resources and are fully biodegradable, unlike clay litters. Plus, no harmful chemicals or synthetic scents are added, which can be a real turn-off for some cats.

When choosing a natural litter, you not only want it to be healthy and safe for your cat but also convenient and lightweight, with great odor control and very little dust. High absorbency and easy cleanup is important too.

Consider trying one of the new natural litters from ökocat which have all the important benefits that mean the most. Superior absorbency, 7 day odor control, biodegradable and very little dust make ökocat litter the right natural choice for you and your cat.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

*WE HAVE STOPPED TAKING APPLICATIONS THANKS TO EVERYBODY WHO APPLIED*

This is a part-time position for 12 – 18 hours (2 – 3 shifts) per week.

Requirements:

-Professional or volunteer experience working with cats

-Availability to work our morning shift (9:30am-4pm)

-Customer service skills and a passion for our feline friends

Job Summary:

Seattle Meowtropolitan, Seattle’s cat cafe is hiring! We are looking for an outgoing, personable, and knowledgeable person with feline handling experience to fill a part time position as a Feline Guardian.

A Feline Guardian at the Seattle Meowtropolitan is responsible for serving customers and felines with respect and kindness. At Seattle Meowtropolitan, your knowledge, patience, loving nature, and enthusiastic passion for working with cats will ensure that we provide a nurturing and fulfilling environment in the cat lounge. Responsibility as a Feline Guardian includes:

• Cat care: taking care of cats’ physical, mental, and emotional needs by following the daily behavior and physical observation protocol. This includes following daily feeding schedules and administering any necessary medications for the cats.
• Lounge care: Maintaining the overall cleanliness and organization of the cat lounge according to protocols and regulations to ensure the wellbeing of the cats and our customers. This includes scooping litter boxes and restocking supplies.
• Customer care: Educating customers on cat care, handling, and behavior, as well as helping customers enjoy the cat lounge experience by providing excellent customer service with patience and friendliness.

YOU WILL BE WORKING WITH CATS – if you have any complications working with felines, this position may not be right for you.

If you are interested, please email your resume to meowstaff@seattlemeowtropolitan.com