Experience the Beauty and Uniqueness of a Solid Black Sphynx Cat: A Rare and Coveted Breed

The solid color of the black sphynx cat stands out within this breed of hairless cats, for being one of the most striking.

Within sphynx cats, any color or pattern is allowed, including colored tips or colorpoint. The cat with drawings on the skin is highly admired since, by practically lacking hair, these drawings simulate tattoos on it.

Black Sphynx | Breed Standards & Characteristics

 

Head: It has a wedge shape with prominent cheekbones and a straight nose. There are small folds of skin at the top of the head. The nose is straight. The neck is of medium length and well-muscled. Despite the fact that their ancestors had a mustache, the sphinxes did not inherit them.

Ears: Big as the wings of a bat. Standing upright, huge, spiny, pointed, or rounded.

Eyes: Important characteristics are lemon-shaped eyes, narrow at the edges. Eye color varies. Canadians may have heterochromia in one or both eyes.

Body:  Medium in size, muscular, hot to the touch, with a broad chest, sometimes barrel-shaped.

The weight: An adult cat weighs 8–12 Pounds. Even the largest individuals do not weigh more than 12.5–16 pounds.

Limbs: Paws are slender, strong, muscular, of medium length, in proportion to the body. The hind legs are slightly longer than the front ones. The joints are pronounced.

Tail: Flexible and long, tapering at the end.

Coat: length does not exceed 1–2 mm. The skin is smooth to the touch, thick and wrinkled.

Black Sphynx
Image By@sphynx_black

Black Sphynx: Nature & Temperament 

The Black Sphynx is highly intelligent and has a good-natured disposition. One of the main features of their character is a strong affection for the owner. The Black Sphynx will always follow its owner on its heels, willingly takes part in all matters. As soon as the opportunity presents itself, the cat will immediately sit down next to you.

The black Sphynx cat loves to climb on the shoulders or chest of the owner, closer to its face, rub against the nose of its owner and purr softly. This is how they show complete confidence. Sphynxes also love to talk.

Black Sphynx
Image By@sphynx_black

The Black Sphynx cat cannot be left alone for a long time, it constantly needs communication and affection. Representatives of this breed are strongly attached to the members of the family in which they are brought up.

A long separation from the owner for the sphynx will be a real test. Those who are forced to often go on business trips are not recommended to have such a cat.

Sphinxes are completely devoid of aggression, so you can not be afraid to leave them alone with young children. A sphynx will never offend a child, even if it accidentally hurts it. Sphynxes get along well with other animals – small dogs, rabbits, and cats of other breeds.

Their hunting instinct is poorly developed, therefore, joint maintenance with parrots, canaries, or domestic rats is allowed.

Sphinxes feel comfortable even in a crowd of strangers, if the owner is nearby. This character trait allows them to relax and show themselves in all their glory at the exhibition.

These are very smart cats. They easily memorize commands, get used to the tray and scratching posts, catch the intonation of the owner. It may seem that the Sphinx understands everything perfectly. In dealing with him, rudeness should not be allowed, since he is extremely tender and vulnerable. An offended cat will not take revenge, but someone who mistreats her can permanently lose her trust.

Black Sphynx: The Genetics Behind The Color

The genetics of the colors of the sphinxes is no different from the genetics of the colors of ordinary cats. But there is a difficulty with the correct definition of such colors as cream, lilac, it is not possible to determine the colors of the shaded group (smokes, chinchillas).

Nevertheless, sphinxes obey the general rules of color inheritance, which are detailed below:

Black color refers to the so-called “base colors” or “strong”. The pigment eumelanin is responsible for its formation. The inheritance of black is sex-related

Black Sphynx

The palette of cat hair colors depends on two substances – eumelanin and pheomelanin. The former is responsible for the formation of the black color, as well as its derivatives – chocolate, blue, lilac, fawn, cinnamon. For the formation of red – the second.

The genes responsible for black (b) or red (o) color are located on the  X chromosome . In other words, inheritance of coat color is sex-linked. Cats have two X-chromosomes and three variants of coat color:
– XoXo – red;
– XbXb – black;
– XbXo – tortoiseshell.

Cats have one X chromosome. The cat can be red or black, the color of his coat depends on which gene is carrying this chromosome – b or o.

Let’s consider examples of crosses. The image shows what kind of offspring will be obtained by crossing a red cat with a black cat: male kittens inherit black color from their mother, and female kittens will turn out to be tortie.

Black Sphynx Genetics

Here you can see that when a black cat is crossed with a tortoiseshell cat, half of the male and female offspring inherit the black color, 25% of the male kittens will be red, and another 25% of the female kittens will be tortoiseshell.

black Sphynx Genetics 1

Black Sphynx: Care and maintenance

The black Sphynx should be kept at a temperature not lower than +25 degrees. In a cool room, the sphynx freezes, your sphynx would need to wear something to stay warm. During summer, the delicate skin should be protected from direct sunlight, otherwise, the cat may get burns.

The Sphinx needs good care. It seems to some beginners that the lack of wool saves the owner a lot of trouble. However, in reality, the opposite is true.

Hygiene procedures

Sphynx ears should be cleaned once every 2 weeks. For this, cotton pads and hypoallergenic lotion are used. The external auditory canal of each auricle is gently wiped with a moistened sponge.

If a dark brown mass was found inside, and the cat began to shake its head often and scratch its ears, you need to show it to the veterinarian. 

The eyes of the sphynx are not protected by cilia, so dust and pathogenic bacteria easily penetrate there. To avoid inflammation, you need to wipe the cat’s eyelids every day with cotton pads filled with saline.

Veterinarians recommend brushing cats’ teeth at least 4 times a month to remove accumulated plaque. For dental hygiene, a soft-bristled baby brush and a special paste for animals are used.

Every 15 days it is necessary to trim the claws of the sphynx. This is done with a claw cutter. During the procedure, the cat is fixed on its lap and each claw is carefully processed in turn. Only the tip is cut off so as not to touch the living tissue in which the blood vessels are located.

Black Sphynx
Image By @neo_athena_sphynx

Skin Care

The black Sphinx does not need combing, but it should be washed weekly. If you do not adhere to this rule, the cat will smell unpleasant. The skin sweats and gradually becomes covered with a sticky coating. Particular attention should be paid to the folds of the skin – they collect grease and dust.

Special hypoallergenic shampoo is used for washing. It is important to ensure that water does not enter the sphinx’s ears while bathing.

Black Sphynx: Parenting & Physical Activity

In the upbringing of the Sphinx, you need to show perseverance and patience. When training a cat, you cannot shout or apply force to it. Better to use the reward method. Every time the cat does what is expected of it, you should treat it with a treat.

With this approach, the Sphynx can be taught:

  • bring the ball on command;
  • to open the door;
  • and even flush the toilet.

Black Sphynx: Health & Disease Propensity

The average lifespan of a black sphynx is 13-14 years. With good care, cats rarely get sick, but they still have a predisposition to some diseases:

  1. Twisting of the eyelids. This is a congenital pathology, which will help to correct the operation.
  2. Vasculitis. An inflammatory process affecting the walls of blood vessels. The problem is manifested by the appearance of bluish or reddish spots on the skin.
  3. Kittens fall asleep syndrome. When homozygous sphinxes mate, non-viable kittens are born. Due to serious pathologies of internal organs, they die soon after birth.
  4. Acne. Sphynx acne occurs due to excess sebum secretion.

How Much Does a Black Sphynx Cost?

A Black Sphynx kitten has an average price of $1500-$2500. Some Breeders could even offer Black Sphynx kittens for $4000 or even higher.

The cost of a black Sphynx kitten varies widely and depends on many factors. The price of the cat is influenced by the eminence of the breeder, as well as the availability of working and exhibition certificates from the parent couple.

Aside from the kitten’s price, it would be best to consider the expenses that would come with it. For instance, you may want to get the essential things for your kitten like grooming tools, food, and shelter.

Sphynx cat

Where Can You Buy a Black Sphynx Near You

We’ve added these alternative platforms. These platforms will help you connect with people who have Sphynx Kittens for sale or adoption near you. It can be a great alternative in looking for your future kitten within the comfort of your home.

Adopt A Pet

If you want to give an abandoned kitten a second chance, a shelter is definitely the place to find one.

Adopt a pet is North America’s largest non-profit pet adoption website. They help over 21,000 animal shelters, humane societies, SPCAs, pet rescue groups, and pet adoption agencies advertise their homeless pets to millions of adopters a month, for free.

https://www.adoptapet.com/

GoKitty

GoKitty matches lovable kittens with caring owners. You can browse their breed profiles to find the perfect match for your lifestyle. Peruse the available kittens or cats for sale within your matching breeds then save your favorites. When you are ready, contact the cat breeders, rescues, or pet owners of your favorite kittens to learn more and plan your visit.

https://gokitty.com/

Best Names For Black Sphynx Cats

  • Ash
  • Coal
  • Cinder
  • Ebony
  • Ember
  • Shady
  • Smoky
  • Stormy
  • Thunder
  • Carbon
  • Graphite
  • Night
  • Onyx
  • Opal
  • Tarmac
  • Dusty
  • Elvira
  • Goth
  • Midnight
  • Mystery
  • Magic
  • Merlin
  • Phantom
  • Rorschach
  • Hocus Pocus
  • Raven
  • Wizard
  • Lucifer
  • Damien
  • Frankenstein
  • Dracula
  • Twilight
  • Shadow
  • Warlock
  • Banshee
  • Coven
  • Voodoo
  • Omen

Author

  • Amanda Wheatley

    Passionate about animals, Amanda draws her expertise from her training as an educator, pet behaviorist as well as her extensive experience with animal owners. A specialist in dog and cat behavior, Amanda continues to learn about our four-legged companions by studying veterinary reference books but also university research sites (UCD, Utrecht, Cambridge, Cornell, etc..) Why Trust ShelterAPet? At ShelterAPet, our collective is composed of writers, veterinarians, and seasoned animal trainers with a deep passion for pets. Our team of esteemed professionals delves into extensive research to deliver trustworthy insights on a broad spectrum of pet-related subjects. We anchor our evaluations on direct customer experiences, meticulous testing, and comprehensive scrutiny. Our commitment is to uphold transparency and integrity for our cherished community of pet aficionados and prospective pet parents.