Two Types of Sphynx?
by Blake Gipson

When the Sphynx were first introduced in the U.S. there were questions and secrecy surrounding the very principle of their health and its relation to the genetics of hairlessness. Because the breed was still very young, the few breeders that had them were learning things on the fly. There were problems with the general health of the breed at that time, and so it was evident that, in order to strengthen the gene pool, it would be necessary to outcross. The Devon Rex was chosen due to their hairless recessive gene.
The statistical odds of using Devon’s as outcrosses were 50% of offspring would be hairless. If a breed was used that did not have a recessive hairless gene, such as the domestic short hair, all kittens in the first generation expressed full coats. In addition to the Devon Rex, the Cornish Rex was used by one of the breeders from the Northern U.S., and this is how the two different head types of Sphynx were borne – one head type being clearly Devon, expressing a shorter face with a more moderate nose break, and one being clearly a Cornish look, with a longer face and less of a nose break.

During this early time in the Sphynx history TICA (The International Cat Association) was the only feline registry that allowed Sphynx to be shown. Other associations were not only unsure as to which direction the Sphynx breed was headed (type-wise), but also questioned the very viability of the breed. There was also confusion as to how to judge the breed in TICA, due to varying expressions of type, and this feeling would prevail for several decades, until the type became more consistent and evolved into what we now know as the Sphynx.

These breeders, who basically laid the foundation for the Sphynx in the U.S., rarely mixed their lines, but from time to time would show their Sphynx across each other's regions. Judges from the North were accustomed to seeing the longer faced Sphynx (Cornish influence), while judges from the South were used to seeing the shorter faces (Devon influence). This created confusion as to what Sphynx breeders were aiming for in their breeding programs, and whether or not there was to be an eventual consistency in the type that was being shown. The standards for the breed in TICA were eventually written to accommodate both types by stating that the Sphynx should have a slightly longer than wide head shape with a slight to moderate stop at the bridge of the nose. That pretty much covered both head types.

As Sphynx popularity continued to grow, new breeders often fell into two separate factions: those that preferred a longer face, and those that enjoyed the shorter face. Many referred to this as having the Type A Sphynx (longer head shape) or Type B Sphynx (shorter head shape). There was little or no middle ground between the two factions for years until they merged and began working closer in the late
1990's.

Today, very few breeders use the Devon Rex in their Sphynx breeding programs and it is quite rare that you see any Cornish Rex. In order to continue to strengthen the gene pool, breeders have used Domestic Shorthairs (DSH), and American Shorthairs (ASH). Although the DSH are not approved as an allowable outcross for the breed in TICA, they are in CFA (The Cat Fancier’s Association), and many people cross-register. Currently the only allowable outcrosses for the Sphynx in TICA are American Shorthair and Devon Rex. At this time, however, Sphynx to Sphynx breedings are the most common. Nobody knows just how much the two types of Sphynx have influenced the look today. We have seen the Sphynx lose some of its original type over the past 15 years due to the lack of outcrossing to its formerly closest ancestor, the Devon Rex. This is evidenced by the rarity of Devons in 5 generation pedigrees, faces being more non-descript and ears being smaller. In addition, outcrossing to the ASH has brought the Sphynx to a much "boxier" look in Europe.

The breed continues to evolve and hairlessness has improved substantially since the early 90's as more breeders began working closely together. There are also many more colors, and thermal qualities that have been introduced by outcrosses to other breeds of cats, and possibly the DSH. Many breeders have been reluctant to use what they consider illegal outcrosses in the Sphynx – outcrosses that produce certain qualities some desire. It will be interesting to watch and see how this wonderful breed progresses over the next few decades.

Blake Gipson is co-owner of Bemisu Sphynx, in Colorado / USA.

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