Sphynx vs Owyhee Bob - Breed Comparison | MyCatBreeds

The Sphynx cat is well known for its hairlessness. This breed started its development in Toronto, Canada.

A hairless kitten was born and it was mated to produce more hairless kittens. These kittens were called Canadian Hairless Cats. They were used as the foundation for a new breed.

In the 1970s, more hairless kittens were born and placed into the Sphynx breeding program. They were mated with Devon Rex cats. The International Cat Association recognizes this cat breed.

This breed of cat is a cross between two fantastic cat breeds – the Manx and the Siamese. It’s a cat breed that is recognized by the Rare and Exotic Feline Registry.

The Owyhee Bob is also just casually referred to as the Owyhee and it's an experimental feline breed.

It’s from the USA and is polydactyl, which means that the cat carries the genes of the Manx while the other breed used to create them is the Siamese.

The Sphynx is a medium-sized, fine-boned, muscular cat that weighs roughly between 3.5 – 7 kg. The skin of the cat has a soft chamois type feel to it.

Sometimes there can be a few hairs. The head of this cat is longer and narrower than many of the other cat breeds. The ears are large.

This cat is going to need a bath once a week with special medicated cat shampoo. The cat also has no whiskers or eyelashes. The legs are long and slender and he has a barrel chest. All skin patterns and colors are available with the cat.

Temperament:

The Sphynx is a loving, friendly, energetic, extrovert cat that loves nothing more than to be petted and pampered.

It one of the few dependent cats there are. Even though he is social, he isn’t very vocal. They are playful too and because they are also intelligent, they will need stimulating games and toys to keep them from becoming bored.

They get on well with children in the home. Like many other cats, the Sphynx cat can be doglike and they like to welcome their owners home.

The cat has spotted or marbled markings on his coat which can be long or short. In fact, the coat can be in all colors and patterns.

Its a medium to large-sized cat, muscular with a round head and medium to large-sized ears that have some feathering around the rounded tips.

The tail too can be long or short but the preferred look is the stumpy tail. The cat has large oval eyes that are wide-set and blue, like one of the parent cats - the Siamese.

Temperament:

The Owyhee Bob is a social cat and very playful. He likes nothing more than to be part of his human family. He is intelligent too and becomes a loving and loyal pet.

The personality of the Owyhee Bob is sweet-tempered and social. They are also these kinds of cats that follow you wherever you go and when you sit down, they’re eager to be in your lap.

These cats don’t do well in homes where their humans work all day, every day and they are left in solitude hour after hour.

Remember that the socialization you give your kitten as well as the environment it grows up in can play a role in the temperament of your cat.

The Sphynx can be in a house where there are children who have been taught to be kind and gentle with animals.

The cat is energetic and loves to entertain and amuse his human family with his antics.

He is loving and loyal to his human family and absolutely hates staying on his own. He can actually get depressed when he is left on his own often.

He would be far better off with another cat companion. If you're looking for a fun, playul, loving and affectionate feline companion, you need look no further than the weird-looking sphynx cat.

The Owyhee cat in your home becomes a wonderful pet. They’ve got such playful, jaunty personalities and they’re clever too.

Social, sweet-tempered, and active, you won’t be disappointed by having such an awesome feline companion in your home.

After all, he has fantastic parent breeds – the Siamese and the Manx – and the two blended together brings out all the most amazing characteristics in the Owyhee Bob cat.

The Canadian Sphynx, just because of its lack of hair, already faces challenges. Other cats have fur to keep them warm and to protect the skin from sunlight.

In fact, when the kittens are born, without hair, they are vulnerable and become prone to respiratory infections. Reputable breeders, therefore, only allow their kittens to go to new homes when they are at least 14 weeks of age.

This cat is also prone to skin problems and this could include rashes and fungal infections. As with any other cat, the Sphynx cat requires protection from harmful cat diseases by being vaccinated.

Every cat, regardless of how healthy can get ill. If you don’t want your cat to become a parent, he or she will need to be spayed or neutered as well which comes with a host of health benefits.

If you worry about the cost of vet bills, you can rather pay a small amount each month for pet insurance.

Certainly, as a cat owner, you need to recognize the signs and symptoms of some of the more common illnesses your cat could get so that you can get your feline pet to the vet before he gets too sick by neglecting it.

Cancer:

Cancer is a killer disease where cells grow uncontrollably so that the disease spreads to every area of the body. Cats can get different types of cancer but you need to know some of the symptoms to watch out for.

Your cat may lose weight, you’ll maybe notice a difficulty with swallowing, he has a sore that won’t heal, he doesn’t want to eat, he is losing weight and he may have a new, unusual lump.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV):

This is a tricky illness and cats infected with this disease may not show symptoms until years after they were infected. With this disease, the cat’s immune system is weakened and the cat is open to all kinds of other secondary infections.

Worms:

Parasites can make a cat seriously ill. It is why vets deworm kittens. Infestations of worms can cause a host of symptoms. Certainly, your cat is listless, dull and the hair may even fall out.

Even though the Sphynx cat is hairless, he isn’t to be regarded as a low maintenance cat. First of all, the sheer lack of hair means he is more vulnerable to the sun and to the cold. If he goes outdoors, you have to be careful that his skin doesn’t get burned.

These cats also have more ear wax than other cats as they don’t have hair in their ears. Dirt, wax, and oils can accumulate in the ears. They will need to be cleaned regularly, and a vet or the pet groomer can help you with this.

The Sphynx cat also collects oil and dirt under their nails, so just like the ears, the nails as well as the surrounding skin folds will need to be properly cleaned. Cat owners need to know that these hairless cats aren't as low maintenance as thought, but require quite a bit of grooming. Special grooming products are available for this cat.

What one cat likes to eat won’t be the same as another cat. The Sphynx, like every other cat, is a carnivore and he will need all the different nutrients from his food.

The best commercial cat food manufacturers know that the proportion of these nutrients will vary as the cat ages and goes through different stages of its life. Your cat needs the right meat foods and he needs the right quantity as well.

Your Owyhee Bob is a social cat so he will require interest and companionship from his human owners.

Choose the best cat food that there is. Your Owyhee Bob cat is a carnivore and he will require excellent cat food to ensure his health. Make sure he has a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Provide a litter tray and clean it out every day.

Provide a warm, dry bed for your cat, stimulating toys, a scratching-post, climbing tree, food and water bowls, a collar and grooming accessories.

Get you Owyhee Bob to the vet when he shows any sign of illness. Make sure that he gets his kitten vaccines.