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The Don Sphynx is a cat breed that attracts attention with its amazing appearance. The reaction caused by a creature with large eyes, long legs and a complete lack of hair can not be called unequivocal.
No man can remain indifferent at the sight of such a cat. Although the emotions that she will cause may be different. Some are disgusted by looking at a bald animal, others - tenderness and admiration. But in most cases, the first emotion at the sight of this breed is a surprise, and then delight.
The Don Sphynx gained its popularity not so long ago, before people had not heard about it, and at the moment not everyone knows about this breed, but the demand for it has grown significantly and continues to grow.
Before you get acquainted with the description of the breed, its features and character, you should forget about its appearance for a while. A cat is more like an alien creature: long legs, large ears, large eyes. But the main feature of her appearance is the complete absence of wool. But there are many wrinkles.
Where did this breed come from? What served as the source for the appearance of a cat of amazing appearance.
A bit of history
From the name it becomes clear that the Don Sphinx is a native Russian breed. Breeding began in 1987 in the city of Rostov-on-Don. The ancestor of the clan was an absolutely ordinary bald yard cat, found on the street. Breeders have come a long and thorny path, over the years of difficult work, they were able to breed a new breed, which was called - Don Sphynx.
She became known all over the world only in 1996. Naturally, in the beginning not a single person was serious about the appearance of such an animal. People believed that they were being played, joking unsuccessfully, and treated the breed as an absurd mistake. But over time, it became clear that these are amazing cats. Opinion changed overnight. For a short period of time, the Don Sphinx from absurdity turned into an indicator of status and wealth.
High cost, original appearance, a small amount - thanks to all this, the popularity of such cats has increased dramatically.
However, there were problems with the number of individuals, since not so many were born. Until about 2000, this breed was crossed with other cats, in most cases - with European Shorthair. This was done to strengthen the gene pool.
To date, the number of representatives of this breed around the world has increased, and such mating is no longer required, now the breed is clean.
It should be borne in mind that such an animal is a carrier of the dominant gene, which means that in the litter of kittens, where at least one of the parents was a Don Sphynx, most of them will show characteristic signs of the breed. Due to this, breeding is quite simple. In addition, such cats usually have good health and good immunity, due to which the animal is resistant to viral and bacterial diseases.
Breed description
If we compare the Don Sphinx with the Canadian one, its main difference will be that it has no hair at all, however, in the cold season a subtle fluff can form. The skin has a large number of wrinkles, it is pleasant to the touch, a little velvety and hot. Excess skin is collected by folds in the lower body, in the abdominal and inguinal region, on the paws.
The physique of the animal is powerful, the bones are strong, the muscles are well developed. Paws and fingers on them are thin and long. The head has the shape of a triangle, the ears are large, also triangular and slightly rounded at the tips. The eyes are large, expressive and a little slanting. The males are much larger than females.
When kittens are born, they notice a slight soft fluff, but after a while it falls out.
Inside the breed, animals appear whose hair is short, stiff and resembles a brush. Such males and females will not be able to achieve valuable awards at exhibitions, but they are actively involved in breeding. Thanks to their use in such work, it is possible to reduce the birth of animals with “marriage” - problems with the heart, bite, inversion of the eyelids and other defects.
Various colors of the Don Sphinx are allowed.
Cat character
A cat of this breed has a peaceful character and never shows any aggression. The animal is kind and affectionate, very attached to its master. However, his behavior shows that he is not just a pet, which depends on him, but a full member of the family.
The cat is friendly not only to the person, but also to the rest of the pets. However, adult males do not always get along well with other males, although in this case, the nature of the animal is more influenced. Such cats need communication, they do not like to be alone, so if the owner is often absent, it is preferable to keep two animals.
Cats have a calm character, they are lazy, but at the same time they like to play. Their favorite pastime is to curl up in a lump in a warm place and take a nap. However, when they are awake, they happily run around the house, seeking entertainment.
When compared with other breeds, Don Sphinxes do not often bite and scratch, so they will be an excellent option for a family with a child.
Human Relationship
Weasel and communication are very important for the Don Sphinx, so in some cases the pet can be annoying. However, such cats very well capture the mood of a person.
Accustoming to the tray, the daily routine is easy for cats of this breed. They can even be trained - they will gladly learn some easy teams.
The animal has powerful energy, due to which healing properties are attributed to the breed. It is not established whether this is true or error. However, the ancient Egyptians considered hairless cats to be healers of diseases.
Fans of this breed say that even touching a velvet skin not only has a beneficial effect on mood, but also helps get rid of fatigue.
It is believed that bald cats do not cause allergies, but it is impossible to say for sure whether this is so. Therefore, before acquiring the Don Sphinx, it is advisable to talk closely with the animal for some time.
How to care for the Don Sphinx
Such cats cannot live in natural conditions; they need the owner to take care of them and observe some rules of keeping.
Due to the fact that the animal is completely bald, it is very dependent on low temperature: a small draft, a slight cooling - will necessarily lead to the fact that the pet will catch a cold. For this reason, it is necessary that the cat is kept in warm conditions, taking it out of the house, if not urgently needed, is not recommended.
If suddenly the temperature in the house for some reason drops, then measures should be taken for additional heating: turn on the heater, or put on a warm jumpsuit for the animal - at the moment a large number of clothes for cats are sold in specialized stores.
Ultraviolet rays have a negative effect on skin on which there is no hair, so in the warmer months you should not be overly carried away by exposure to the sun. To protect your pet from burns, you can use a simple sunscreen designed for people.
In Don Sphynxes, metabolism is accelerated, so they need enhanced feeding: a cat can not retain the heat of its body for a long time. To maintain optimum temperature, she needs a large amount of energy. As a rule, pets of this breed are fed 3-4 times a day. It is necessary that in the pet's menu there were feeds enriched with protein. It is better if it is a premium food. Cats are happy to eat sweets, fruits, vegetables, pastries, but do not implicitly fulfill all the whims of a pet, otherwise there will be disturbances in its digestive system, or an allergic reaction will occur.
Since the breed does not have wool, it becomes obvious that it is not necessary to care for it. But sweating in such cats is very plentiful. In addition, the skin is oily. To remove such effects, the pet should be cleaned once a day with a soft cloth or a damp, alcohol-free cloth and bathed once a week.
In this case, special attention should be paid to the folds, since pollution can accumulate in them, which creates an ideal environment for the propagation of pathogens, and, as a result, the emergence of a pungent odor. Water procedures should be carried out in a warm room, it is necessary to use water, the temperature of which is at least 38 degrees. After bathing your pet, wipe it dry with a soft towel and treat the body with petroleum jelly or baby cream, then wrap it in a warm blanket.
It should be noted that the Don Sphinxes calmly endure when they brush their teeth and ears, cut their claws and perform other hygiene procedures, since they fully trust their own owner.
The eyes of the sphinxes are highly sensitive to infections, because they do not have eyelashes, which means there is no natural defense. For this reason, 2-3 times a week, the eyes of the pet should be treated with infusion of chamomile or simple tea leaves. Big ears are stronger than other breeds and are subject to pollution - they are cleaned once every 1-1.5 weeks.
Don Sphinx and other pets
Cat health
Animals of this breed have endurance and good health, therefore, if you properly care for them, they will not cause any special trouble.
Unlike many other hairless breeds, Don Sphinxes do not need to be present at birth. In most cases, they occur in a short time and without complications. Kittens are born strong, already three days later their eyes cut out. It very rarely happens that babies are born with their eyes open. In this case, it is necessary to immediately treat them with a non-concentrated manganese solution. This will help prevent infection, the eyes will not watery and sour.
Video: Don Sphinx
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