Every cat breed is special and unique in their own way, and the Sphynx cat is particularly unusual. These cats are one of the most popular cat breeds, mostly because they don’t have the luxurious coats that other cats have, which is why they’re also known as hairless cats.
These “hairless” cats are not completely hairless; they have a small amount of fuzz, but only on specific body parts. This hair is found on the cat’s body, around the ears, tail, and paws, but it’s barely visible.
What makes these cats unique is their overall “naked” look, especially the range of colors of Sphynx cats.
If you’re interested in the Sphynx cat breed and want to know more about them and their coloring, then this article is for you!
All The Colors Of Sphynx Cats
Sphynx cats have an unusual, but very interesting, appearance. They are also called hairless cats because it seems that they have a hairless body (especially when compared to other cats). The truth is that they do have hair, but it is not dense and it is very close to their skin, which makes it look almost invisible.
Even though they don’t have fluffy coats, their skin may be one of several different coat colors and patterns – not all sphynx cats look the same!.
Sphynx cats may appear in several solid colors, including black, blue, lavender, cinnamon, brown, red, and white.
Besides these possible solid colors of Sphynx cats they may also have patterned skin. Possible patterns include calico, tortoiseshell, bi-color, colorpointed, mink, and tabby.
If you want to know more about the beautiful colors of Sphynx cats, then make yourself comfortable and keep on reading!
Main Features Of The Sphynx Cat Breed
The Sphynx breed is a medium-sized cat that typically reaches a weight of 6-12 pounds. They have barely visible fine hair that lays close to the skin, so they sometimes look smaller than other cats due to their lack of coat.
Their lack of coat is what makes them special and different from other cat breeds. Thealso have large, strikingly pointed ears and a wedge-shaped head.
You will easily notice their prominent cheekbones and lemon-shaped eyes. Their eyes can be several different colors.
The skin of these felines may have different color and pattern combinations. Their skin is also very sensitive and it requires special care and grooming.
Other things that are important to mention when talking about Sphynx cats is that this breed is generally extremely healthy, which can be seen from their lifespan.
These cats may live up to 9-15 years which is very good. Like all cats, they may have some health issues. There are some health conditions that are common in this breed, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
Sphynx cats are known for being extremely friendly, intelligent, and affectionate, which makes them a top choice as a family pet. So, if you like the idea of having a Sphynx, you might like to start looking into the cost of a Sphynx cat and then explore the possible colors of these beautiful felines.
Read on to learn about the amazing colors of Sphynx cats; it may be helpful when choosing your new kitten!
Patterns And Colors Of Sphynx Cats
Many people are surprised to learn that Sphynx cats – so-called hairless cats – can have a variety of colors and patterns. According to the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA), there are 7 main colors of Sphynx cats.
These categories include solid colors and patterns; tortoiseshell, mink, bi-color, tabby, calico, and pointed.
So, read on and check out these possible combinations!
Solid Sphynx Cat Colors
Solid colors are when a cat has only one color without any pattern. According to the CFA, almost any color is acceptable in this cat breed. These are the possible solid colors in Sphynx cats and other characteristics associated with these colors:
• Black – the cat is completely black in color, and usually the nose leather is also black in color, whereas the cat’s paw pads may be black or brown.
• Chocolate – the cat is a solid rich brown color, including the nose leather and paw pads.
• Cinnamon – the cat’s skin is cinnamon in color with the nose and paw pads the same.
• Blue – the whole body, including the nose and paw pads are blue. When a cat is described as blue, this means they are a blue-toned gray color.
• White – this color is also possible in Sphynx cats, however, their nose and paw pads will be pink.
• Red – the cat will be a rich red color without any marks. While the body is in one shade of red, the nose leather and paw pads will be a brick-red color.
• Cream – this lovely color is all over the cat’s body, but the pink paw pads and nose add to the cat’s appearance.
• Lavender – this color refers to a pink-toned gray color. A solid lavender Sphynx will also have nose and paw pads in the same color.
• Fawn – this color is a pinkish brown, and both the nose leather and paw pads will be the same color as the cat’s body.
Now that you’re familiar with the main solid colors that are possible for Sphynx cats, let’s explore other possible patterns and combinations!
Tabby Patterns
You are probably familiar with tabby patterns because it’s very popular, and you may know it for the “M’“ marking on the cat’s forehead. As Sphynx cats have far fewer visible hairs than other cat breeds, this marking may not be clearly visible.
However, the tabby pattern in Sphynx cats is characterized by defined markings that can usually be found on a cat’s tail, legs, neck, or chest. This pattern may also include the vertical stripe on the cat’s spine which often appears in one of the solid colors.
Let’s take a closer look at the tabby pattern and the different variations it includes:
• Spotted Tabby – this pattern is – unsurprisingly – characterized by spotted markings. The spots may be different shapes such as oblong, round, and rosette-shaped and they can be found on the tabby cat’s body, legs and tail.
• Mackerel Tabby – this pattern refers to markings typically found on the cat’s legs and tail. It’s also distinctive because it appears as though the cat is wearing a necklace around its neck.
• Patched Tabby – this pattern includes possible solid colors with a patched marking of red or cream colors that are visible around the cat’s body. In addition to that, cats with this pattern often have a blaze on the face.
• Brown Tabby – the skin is brown in color with black dense markings. The chin and lips will match the colors around the cat’s eyes, while the nose is brick red in color. The paw pads may be either black or brown.
• Silver Tabby – a silver tabby has a solid gray color all over its body, including chin and lips, with dense black marking. The nose leather should be brick red in color while paw pads should be black.
• Cream Tabby – this tabby has a pale cream color all over the body, with markings in a darker shade of the same color. The nose and paw pads are pink in color.
• Red Tabby – the cat’s body is red in color with darker red markings, and the paw pads and nose leather are brick red.
• Blue Tabby – the main color on the cat’s body is blue-gray, which is decorated with deep blue markings making a good contrast, especially with a dark pink nose, and pink paw pads.
• Cinnamon Tabby – cinnamon is the main color of the cat’s body and the markings are in a darker cinnamon color. Both nose and paw pads blend with the overall appearance because they’re cinnamon in color too.
• Cinnamon-Silver Tabby – this color of Sphynx cat includes pale silver body color with dense cinnamon markings. The nose leather is also cinnamon in color while the paw pads stand out in a coral color.
• Fawn Tabby – the cat’s body will be pale fawn with dense markings of the same color, creating a beautiful contrast. Both the nose and paw pads are also a pale fawn color.
• Chocolate Tabby – the main color is a lighter chocolate shade, while the markings are a rich, darker chocolate color. In this pattern, the nose leather may be either chestnut or pink in color while the paw pads should be cinnamon in color.
• Chocolate-Silver Tabby – this pattern includes silver as the main body color, with darker brown markings. The nose is chestnut or pink in color while the paw pads are cinnamon.
• Lavender Tabby – this pattern has a pale lavender body which is decorated with a darker shade of the same color. Both the nose and paw pads blend in with the rest of the colors as they’re both lavender-pink.
• Lavender-Silver Tabby – the whole body is covered with a cold silver color which is marked with shades of lavender that also appear on the nose leather and paw pads.
Tortoiseshell Patterns
A tortoiseshell pattern, also known affectionately as tortie, includes uneven patches, usually of red or cream colors with black mottles.
Some people may have difficulty differentiating calico patterns from tortoiseshell, but the main difference between these two is that the tortie pattern doesn’t include any white markings on the cat’s legs or stomach.
According to the CFA, this pattern may also include a blaze on the cat’s face, which is a specific feature for this pattern. A tortoiseshell pattern may include following color combinations:
• Cinnamon Tortoiseshell – this pattern consists of a cinnamon body color with patches of red or cream.
• Chocolate Tortoiseshell – this pattern consists of a rich chocolate color with patches of cream or red colors.
• Blue-cream – the pattern consists of a blue body with red or cream patches.
• Lavender-cream – this pattern consists of a lavender color with cream or red patches.
• Fawn-cream – this pattern consists of a fawn color body with red or cream patches.
Pointed Pattern
A pointed pattern is possible in Sphynx cats. When pointed Sphynx kittens are born, the pattern is very light and not that noticeable, but it becomes darker as they age.
This pattern may include any color and it may appear in combination with other patterns as well, except for the mink pattern. The pattern is usually complemented by beautiful blue eyes.
Calico Pattern
Calico cats are very special. Besides their beautiful and unique appearance, it’s interesting that calico cats are in most cases females. This happens due to certain genetic mutations.
Male calico cats are extremely rare, but they are possible. Due to genetic mutations, many people wonder if calico cats are hypoallergenic. However, the answer is that there are no hypoallergenic cats, there are only cats who shed less, and therefore they spread less of the dander that causes allergic reactions.
As far as their appearance is concerned, the calico pattern includes a white color as a base with black and red patches. The white color is the dominant one on the cat’s underparts.
The calico pattern of the Sphynx cat is not as colorful as it is in cat breeds with fluffy coats but it is still possible (and beautiful) in Sphynx cats.
Other possible variations of the calico pattern are:
• Van calico – the cat has a white body with just a few black and red patches on the head, legs, and tail.
• Dilute calico – the cat has a white body with patches of cream and blue colors (paler versions of the typical calico), and the cat’s underparts are usually white.
• Dilute van calico – the same as a van calico, but instead of black and red, the patches are in blue and cream colors.
Other combinations of this pattern include: chocolate calico, chocolate van calico, lavender calico, lavender van calico, cinnamon calico, cinnamon van calico, fawn calico, and fawn van calico.
Mink Pattern
The mink pattern is reminiscent of the pointed pattern. The main difference is the eye color, nose leather, and paw pads. Mink Sphynx cats may appear in any color and pattern besides pointed.
The difference in the body color and pointed areas is barely visible, especially in adult Sphynx cats as they get darker as they age. Their eyes will be aqua in color while the nose and paw pads match their body color.
Besides solid colors, the other possible mink colors are:
• Champagne – champagne color refers to a honey-beige body color without any markings and shadings. In this case, the cat’s nose leather is a light brown color, while the paw pads are pink.
• Platinum – an adult platinum Sphynx cat should have a pale gray body color without any markings, with a lavender-pink nose and paw pads.
• Sable – an adult sable cat has a warm brown-colored body without any markings or shadings, and the nose and paw pads are also brown in color.
Bi-color Pattern
A bi-color pattern is a combination of the white color and any other solid color (such as black and white).
This pattern may include a white color in combination with any other pattern. Besides that, there is another variation of this specific pattern:
• Van bi-color – this combination includes a white-colored body with a few small patches of any other color or pattern, usually on the extremities.
Other Sphynx Colors (OSC)
The previously mentioned colors for Sphynx cats are the ones that are officially approved by the Cat Fanciers Association. However, there are other Sphynx colors that may occur. In fact, any other color or pattern and their combinations is possible.
The most famous example of these other colors are Sphynx cats that can appear in any color but with one or more white feet. Adorable!
One of the best things about the Sphynx cat is that you can find one in any color or pattern that you can imagine; they are all possible in this breed, and most breeders don’t concentrate on just one specific color of Sphynx cat.
Interesting Facts About The Sphynx Cat Breed
As well as all of these beautiful colors and patterns, there are a lot of other interesting things about Sphynx cats that may attract you to the breed.
• The origin of the Sphynx cat may surprise you – even though most cat lovers consider Sphynx cats as descendants of the Egyptian cats (as seen in ancient artworks), the Sphynx cat breed actually originated in Toronto, Canada!
How did these hairless cats originate from such a cold place?! The breed appeared as a result of a certain genetic mutation when a black and white shorthair domestic cat (Elizabeth) had a hairless kitten, known as Prune.
• Make sure that your Sphynx is warm and cozy – due to their lack of coat, Sphynx cats need to be taken good care of, especially if the temperature is too cold for them.
Furry coats help cats to regulate their body temperature. Sphynx cats can’t do that as they’re almost hairless. This means they may need sweaters or warm blankets to keep them safe during the cold weather.
• The most popular Sphynx cat is – wait for it – probably Ted Nude-Gent, the famous feline from the Austin Powers movies, where he plays a cat named Mr. Bigglesworth.
• Although Sphynx cats are almost hairless, their skin is high maintenance – you don’t have to brush Sphynx cats, but they have extremely sensitive, oily skin which may be problematic if not taken good care of.
Owners must make sure they bathe their Sphynx at least twice a month using sensitive shampoo for felines. It’s also important to clean their ears regularly and trim their nails in order to avoid claw infections and similar issues.
FAQ
What Are Rare Colors For Sphynx Cats?
The solid chocolate color is one of the rarest colors for Sphynx cats.The reason for the rarity is that a Sphynx cat needs to carry not just one, but two recessive genes for the chocolate skin color.
Are Calico Sphynx Cats Rare?
The calico pattern is one of the rarest of them all, and Sphynx cats are no exception. It may be very hard to find a calico Sphynx, so those who manage it are very lucky.
Do All Sphynx Have Blue Eyes?
Blue eyes aren’t a “must-have” for Sphynx cats in the way they are for other official breed standards (for example in Ragdoll cats). Therefore, Sphynx cats may have different eye colors including blue, yellow, copper, golden, green, and so on.
Sphynx cats may have heterochromia, which is a condition where a cat has two eyes of different colors.
For The Conclusion!
The Sphynx cat breed is truly special and unique. Thanks to their unique appearance, people either love them unconditionally or don’t like them at all. Besides their looks, these cats have a winning personality; they are very affectionate, friendly, and loving. Many owners feel they make wonderful companions.
The Sphynx cat’s almost hairless skin is just one of the reasons they are very popular among cat lovers. You may be surprised at just how many beautiful colors Sphynx cats there are.
The Sphynx cat breed can be almost any color and pattern and a range of the most beautiful combinations.
Even though they’re almost hairless cats, their skin is so sensitive which is why it requires special care. However, it’s definitely worth the effort because they’re one of the sweetest and most endearing cat breeds.
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