Showing a Sphynx in Switzerland

by Carlee Marrer-Tising

When I entered my first Sphynx in a cat show in 2003, I had been forewarned of what it would probably be like! I had seen a Sphynx in a Swiss cat show a couple of years before and had heard some of the negative remarks and sounds made regarding this hairless cat. I could tell that his owner was not having a very good time and I actually felt quite sorry for her. I talked to her a bit about her cat, little knowing that I would ever be fortunate enough to have Sphynx of my own some day! Owning a Sphynx in Switzerland is interesting, because whenever people see them there are sure to be a lot of stares, as well as some comments and questions. The most frequent question is, ―Excuse me, is that a cat or a dog?
Although the average person here has never even heard of a naked cat, much less seen one, they are rarely rude to me when they see my cats. It is a completely different story when I enter them in shows how-ever. It is a sad fact that Sphynx, on the whole, do not get a very cordial welcome from the general public in the show halls in the German-speaking part of Switzer-land. A lot of the visitors get quite emo-tional. I have been showing my Sphynx in this country for over five years, and I would probably think that the situation here was normal if I hadn‘t also entered my cats in shows in the French-speaking part of the country where the Sphynx are received very enthusiastically, and in Italy (where the gen-eral public love the breed and react with almost total enthusiasm, even if the breed is new to them) and in Germany, where they are also quite popular. The reactions of the average German-Swiss cat show visitor, upon seeing a Sphynx, range anywhere from shocked, horrified, and appalled—the com-ments often expressing pity for the ―poor cats, disgust and anger toward the owners, and a complete lack of understanding for the cruel and brainless breeders who would intentionally ―produce such a miserable creature—to completely enthusiastic and admiring. Very rarely do I run into people anywhere in this part of the world who have a ―lukewarm reaction toward these cats. It seems that they either love them or they detest them.
The rude reactions are a real challenge for the Sphynx exhibitor. I have observed some who ignore the thoughtless and mean remarks completely, some who strike back and insult the person who is being so negative toward their beloved cat, and others who simply leave the show hall as often as possible to avoid having to hear the same negative things over and over again. As for me, it greatly depends on the mood I am in as to how I respond. Usually I don‘t let on that I have heard them.

Here are some of the negative or strange comments I have heard.

A man who was probably talking to his daughter explained to her, ―Oh, look! There are the cats that they breed with no skin! I was so surprised by that particular description that I didn‘t react at all, but it was certainly hard not to laugh out loud.
A woman walked by and commented to her companion, ―Ewwwww, how ugly! Look at that. Another visitor who had heard this replied, ―Hey Lady! Look in the mirror and you will see ugly! Again, I just tried not to laugh!
The following remark DID make me laugh out loud: ―Oooooo! Sphynx! How beautiful they are! Then the lady spotted my Bur-mese. ―Oh Yuck There‘s one with fur!!
Last year I showed my cats in a town where—so I was told, or should I say warned—people were especially unpleasant to exhibi-tors with Sphynx. I braved it and entered three of my Sphynx and my Burmese. It was at this show that I actually had the impression that a woman who was very upset about my cats was going to actually attack me! She lam-basted my cats and me, making lunges at me and shouting at the top of her voice. After saying that they were ugly, she said that if they ever got outside they would die a wretched death because they would never survive in the wild. I asked her what she thought would happen to a Sia-mese or Persian suddenly put outside after having led a pampered life indoors. The discussion did not end here, since she kept raving, but I informed her that she had a very unpleasant tone, and with that I walked away. Four hours later the ―revenge was very sweet for me when my two-year old Sphynx, AlNa-keed Kalli Delight, won Best in Show!! This, of course, shows that the Fifé judges who come to Switzerland to do their job are not influenced by the atmosphere created by the local visitors.
The first time I showed my male Sphynx, Jamie, an unneutered boy who shows his wares more obviously than a furry cat does, a woman went to great lengths to let me know how awful this cat was and how terrible he looked. I asked her if she had ever touched a Sphynx, and she said no, of course she hadn‘t. I asked her if she would like to. Surprisingly, she said yes, she would, so I had her come around to the back of the cage, and I got Jamie out. She hesitatingly petted him, then petted him again and again, saying what a wonderful sensation it was to touch this soft, velvety skin! Then she asked me what his name was. After I told her, she leaned over to him and with her face very close to his, said, ―Jamie, forgive me! When I first saw you, I said some very rude things, but now I see that you are wonderful and I am so sorry I acted that way. That was one of the most touching conversions I have seen so far.

There are also some very nice reactions to my cats. At the last show I attended, a young lady asked me if she could touch Kalli, so I said yes, and got her out of the cage. The lady held out her arms, so I gave her Kalli to hold and she whispered, ―This is a dream come true. Things like this happen every now and then. The most moving experience of all was in Lausanne where there were several people in wheelchairs at the show. One lady asked me if her daughter, who was in a wheelchair, could touch Kalli, and of course I said she could. The lady took her daughter‘s hand and placed it on Kalli‘s back and together they petted her, the daughter, who was partially paralyzed, with a look of complete ecstasy on her face and stars in her eyes, just gazed lovingly at Kalli, and I was so glad that my cat and I were able to be included in this moment of wonder and joy.

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