The Sphynx is the best known hairless cat breed. It is not entirely hairless: most are covered in a fine down that feels like warm suede.

The breed originated from a natural mutation in Canada in the 1960s and was developed from there.

Hairless does not mean low maintenance

This is the most common misunderstanding about the breed. A Sphynx needs more routine care than a coated cat, not less.

In a coated cat, the fur absorbs and distributes the oil the skin produces. With no coat to absorb it, that oil accumulates on the skin and in the folds, and collects dirt.

So a Sphynx needs:

Bathing every one to two weeks with a gentle shampoo, more often if the skin feels greasy
Ear cleaning weekly, because they produce a great deal of wax with no hair to trap it
Nail beds wiped, since oil gathers there and turns dark
Skin folds dried properly after bathing

Start bathing from kittenhood. A Sphynx introduced to water early usually accepts it; one that meets its first bath as an adult often does not.

Warmth

They lose heat quickly and feel cold to the touch because there is no coat between you and their skin, not because they are unwell. Their body temperature is normal for a cat.

Practically: keep the house warm, provide soft warm places to sleep, expect them to seek out laps and radiators and to burrow under blankets. Jumpers are useful in winter, provided they are washed frequently, since the fabric absorbs skin oil.

Sunburn

Bare skin burns. A Sphynx sitting in a sunny window can develop sunburn and, over years, skin damage. Limit direct sun exposure and keep them out of it in the middle of the day.

Appetite

Sphynxes eat noticeably more than coated cats of the same size, because maintaining body temperature without insulation costs energy. A hungry Sphynx is usually a normal Sphynx. Feed a good quality complete food and monitor body condition rather than restricting on principle.

Temperament

Highly social, demanding of attention, active and often described as more dog like than most cats. They follow their owners, greet visitors and dislike being left alone.

This is a breed to think carefully about if the house is empty all day.

Health

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most important condition in this breed. It is a thickening of the heart muscle and it is seen at higher rates in Sphynxes than in cats generally. It can be present without an audible murmur, so screening by ultrasound is the reliable route in a breed predisposed to it. Ask about it at your annual check.

Also relevant: skin conditions of various kinds, dental disease, and the ear wax already mentioned.

Routine care

Annual health checks, twice yearly over the age of ten, current vaccination and parasite control, dental attention, and a heart check as part of the routine examination.