Rosethecopycat,

The Sphynx is a great cat with a wonderful temperament.

MooShoo is 2 1/2 years old and a fantastic cat! Two things you should know...they can be very high maintenance cats because of their lack of fur. For instance, Moo has to be bathed every 2 weeks because the oil in his skin has no fur to go into, therefore it lays on the top of his skin and he will get a ring around his neck (that's my cue to bathe him). The same thing with his ears. They get VERY dirty (again, due to lack of fur in the ears) and have to be cleaned 2-3 times a week. Their lack of fur also requires that you keep your heat turned up to at least 70-72 during the winter time. Whenever Moo gets cold, he knows where he can burrow himself to warm up. It's usually in a kitty sack, under a blanket, or with good 'ole Mom under the covers.

A Sphynx can be very expensive. MooShoo is a rescue from a bad breeder who neglected him. He is a special needs kitty who is blind in his right eye and has partial vision in his left, due to a herpes virus that was left untreated. But that doesn't prevent him from tearing through my apartment. The cost of one depends on whether you want pet quality or show quality. Pet quality means that they are not quite up to show standards (ears not big enough, bent tail, etc.). They run anywhere from $1500 to $3000 depending on the breeder and quality. You can e-mail a breeder and ask if they have any Sphynxes that they plan to retire from breeding or showing. Most breeders will do that providing they have the cat spayed/neutered.

Allergies to cats is due to the saliva. When a cat bathes (licks himself), the saliva dries and becomes airborne. That is what makes people allergic. A Sphynx will probably not give you as much of an allergy as a full furred cat.

I wish I could give you some links to go to but unfortunately I'm at work and my computer isn't able to to that. But if you go into yahoo.com, search for feline breeds and click onto "Sphynx". It'll give you a whole bunch of websites for different breeders. I hope it helps AND I hope I've been of some help. Good luck in your search.

Another thing you might want to look into is a Cornish Rex, which is basically a Sphynx with short, wavy fur. They don't shed half as much as a regular furred kitty.

Check out my avatar slideshow, MooShoo is in it!!