Kucing Sphynx (Canadian Hairless, Moon cat)

Lihat juga : Galeri Foto Kucing Sphynx (636 foto)

Kucing Ras Sphynx (dahulu bernama Canadian hairless) adalah kucing tanpa bulu, seandainya ada bulunya, maka bulu tersebut sangat pendek dan sedikit sekali, serta sangat halus seperti lapisan tipis pada kulit. Selama beberapa ratus tahun terakhir, kucing tanpa bulu secara spontan terlahir dari kucing-kucing domestik berbulu pendek. Mutasi alamiah ini terjadi secara spontan. Kucing-kucing yang mengalami mutasi ini ditemukan di beberapa tempat seperti Kanada, Perancis, Maroko, Meksiko, Rusia, Australia dan Amerika. Tetapi kucing-kucing tersebut tidak pernah dikembangkan menjadi satu ras khusus dan sebagian besar mati akibat kurangnya perawatan atau karena berbagai masalah pengembangbiakan. Pada tahun 1960 sepasang kucing lokal Kanada yang berbulu pendek melahirkan anak-anak tanpa bulu. Sejak saat itulah program pengembangbiakan kucing-kucing tanpa bulu tersebut dimulai. Pada tahun 1970 Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) memberikan status kucing tersebut sebagai Ras "Canadian hairless". Tetapi setahun kemudian CFA menarik kembali keputusannya karena ada masalah kesehatan dan perkembangbiakan ras tersebut. Pada saat itu gen yang berhubungan dengan ketiadaan bulu dianggap mematikan (letal). Akhirnya kucing-kucing dan keturunannya tersebut menjadi punah. Pada tahun 1975, pemilik sebuah pertanian di Minnesota bernama Milt dan Ethelyn, mempunyai seekor anak kucing tanpa bulu yang lahir dari kucing normal di pertanian mereka yang bernama Jezabelle. Tahun berikutnya kembali lahir kucing tanpa bulu dari kucing Jezabelle. Kedua anak kucing ini diberi nama Epidermis dan Dermis. Kucing Dermis dan Epidermis dibeli olah seorang breeder kucing dari Oregon bernama Kim Mueske. Keturunan Dermis dan Epidermis disebut sebagai garis keturunan kucing Pearson. Sementara itu seorang breeder lain dari Minnesota yang bernama Georgiana Gattenby juga mencoba mengembangkan ras kucing tanpa bulu dari induk lain bernama Pearson yang juga menghasilkan anak tanpa bulu. Ia mengawinkan kucing-kucing tersebut dengan kucing ras Devon Rex untuk memperkuat sifat-sifat genetiknya. Keturunan kucing-kucing ini terbukti sehat dan diberi nama Sphynx. Nama tersebut diambil dari Sphinx besar yang ada di Giza, Mesir. Tahun 1978, seorang breeder kucing di Kanada bernama Shirley Smith menyelamatkan seekor kucing jantan, tanpa bulu yang diberi nama Bambi. Bambi kemudian dikebiri (steril) dan dipelihara sebagai kucing kesayangan. Setahun kemudian induk Bambi melahirkan dua ekor kucing tanpa bulu yang diberi nama Punkie dan Paloma. Pada tahun 1983, Smith mengirimkan Punkie dan Paloma kepada Dr. Hernandez di Belanda untuk dikembangbiakkan. Dr. Hernandez juga mengawinkan kedua kucing tersebut dengan kucing Ras Devon Rex. Ia juga menemukan fakta bahwa gen tanpa bulu lebih dominan dari pada gen bulu keriting seperti pada ras Devon Rex, tetapi resesif terhadap gen berbulu pada kucing normal. Kucing-kucing keturunan Punkie, Paloma dan Pearson (Dermis dan Epidermis) inilah yang kemudian menjadi dasar pengembangan Ras Sphynx. Keempat kucing itulah yang menjadi nenek moyang sebagian besar Kucing Sphynx yang ada saat ini. CFA mulai menerima registrasi Ras sphynx pada tahun 1998 dan pada tahun 2000 telah terdaftar 120 ekor kucing ras Sphynx di CFA. Kucing ras Sphynx memiliki panjang badan sedang, tegap dan membulat daerah perut seperti tabung serta dada lebar. Kepalanya lebih panjang dibanding lebarnya dan berbentuk segitiga. Dahinya rata dan tulang pipi menonjol, hidung pendek dengan lekukan yang jelas atau hanya sedikit lekukan. Dagu tegas dan sedikit kumis, pendek atau sama sekali tanpa kumis. Telinga kucing ras Sphynx besar, lebar pada bagian bawah dan berdiri tegak, bagian dalam telinga tidak berbulu. Mata berbentuk bulat lemon dengan ujung bagian luar mengarah ke telinga dan terbuka lebar, semua warna mata diakui dan tidak perlu sesuai dengan warna bulu. Leher panjang, bulat dan berotot. Kaki panjang dan proposional dengan ukuran tubuh, kaki depan lebih ramping dan lebih pendek dari kaki belakang, jari kaki panjang dengan telapak kaki tebal. Ekornya panjang dan berbentuk cambuk, diujung ekor ditemui sedikit bulu menyerupai ekor singa. Kulit seluruh tubuh dengan sedikit bulu bertekstur sangat halus, berkerut dibagian kepala, badan dan kaki. Pada anak kucing jumlah kerutan pada kepala dan kulit lebih banyak. Hampir seluruh asosiasi/federasi/organisasi internasional memiliki standard (breed standard) kucing ini, otomatis terdaftar pada asosiasi tersebut sebagai kucing ras yang dilindungi/dikontrol standardnya. Asosiasi/federasi internasional yang memiliki standard ras Sphynx tersebut antara lain : CFA - Cat Fanciers Association FIFe - Federation Internationale Feline WCF - The World Cat Federation ACF - Australian Cat Federation GCCF - Governing Council of the Cat Fancy NZCF - New Zealand Cat Fancy TICA - The International Cat Association CCCA - Co-Ordinating Cat Council of Australia SACC - Southern Africa Cat Council LOOF - The Livre Officiel des Origines Félines AACE - American Association of Cat Enthusiasts ACFA - American Cat Fanciers Association CCA/AFC - Canadian Cat Association / Association Féline Canadienne CatZ - Catz Incorporated (Cat Fancy in New Zealand) IPCBA - International Progressive Cat Breeders Alliance CCI - Capital Cats Incorporated CFF - Cat Fanciers Federatio WNCA - Waratah National Cat Alliance Dsb-nya Di bawah ini adalah breed standard dari kucing Sphynx yang dikeluarkan CFA (disalin sesuai aslinya). Untuk melihat breed standard yang dikeluarkan asosiasi/organisasi lainnya, silakan langsung ke situs asosiasi tersebut (silakan klik nama organisasinya pada link di atas). CFA Breed Standard ras Sphynx POINT SCORE HEAD (35) Size/Shape = 5 Ears = 10 Muzzle/Chin = 5 Profile = 5 Cheekbones = 5 Eyes = 5 BODY (35) Neck = 5 Chest = 10 Abdomen and Rump = 10 Legs and Feet = 5 Tail = 5 COAT/SKIN = 30 GENERAL: the most distinctive feature of this cat is its appearance of hairlessness. The Sphynx is of medium size and body conformation with surprising weight for its size. Females are generally smaller than males. The body feels warm and soft to the touch, with a skin texture akin to either a soft peach or a smooth nectarine. The Sphynx is sweet-tempered, lively, and amenable to handling. HEAD: the head is a modified wedge, slightly longer than it is wide, with prominent cheekbones, a distinctive whisker break and whisker pads giving a squared appearance to the muzzle. The skull is slightly rounded with a flat plane in front of the ears. The nose is straight and there is a slight to moderate palpable stop at the bridge of the nose. CHEEKS AND CHEEKBONES: prominent, rounded cheekbones which define the eye and form a curve above the whisker break. MUZZLE AND CHIN: whisker break with prominent whisker pads. Strong, well developed chin forming perpendicular line with upper lip. EARS: large to very large. Broad at the base, open and upright. When viewed from the front, the outer base of the ear should begin at the level of the eye, neither low set nor on top of the head. The interior of the ears is naturally without furnishing. EYES: large, lemon-shaped, with wide-open center while coming to a definite point on each side. Placement should be at a slight upward angle, aligning with the outer base of the ear. Eyes to be wide set apart with the distance between the eyes being a minimum of one eye width. Eye color immaterial. BODY: the body is medium length, hard and muscular with broad rounded chest and full round abdomen. The rump is well rounded and muscular. Back line rises just behind the shoulder blades to accommodate longer back legs when standing. Boning is medium. NECK: the neck is medium in length, rounded, well muscled, with a slight arch. Allowance to be made for heavy musculature in adult males. LEGS AND FEET: legs are medium in proportion to the body. They are sturdy and well muscled with rear legs being slightly longer than the front. Paws are oval with well-knuckled toes; five in front and four behind. The paw pads are thick, giving the appearance of walking on cushions. TAIL: slender, flexible, and long while maintaining proportion to body length. Whip-like, tapering to a fine point. COAT/SKIN: the appearance of this cat is one of hairlessness. Short, fine hair may be present on the feet, outer edges of the ears, the tail, and the scrotum. The bridge of the nose should be normally coated. The remainder of the body can range from completely hairless to a covering of soft peach-like fuzz whose length does not interfere with the appearance of hairlessness. This coat/skin texture creates a feeling of resistance when stroking the cat. Wrinkled skin is desirable, particularly around the muzzle, between the ears, and around the shoulders. There are usually no whiskers but if whiskers are present they are short and sparse. COLOR: color and pattern are difficult to distinguish and should not affect the judging of the cat. White lockets, buttons, or belly spots are allowed. PENALIZE: hair other than described. Delicate or frail appearance. Thin abdomen, thin rump, or narrow chest. Bowed front legs. Should not resemble the Devon Rex, Cornish Rex or Oriental body type. DISQUALIFY: kinked or abnormal tail. Structural abnormalities. Aggressive behavior endangering the judge. SPHYNX COLORS GENERAL: all colors and patterns, in any combination, found in felines is acceptable in the Sphynx. Note: exposure to sun will intensify all colors. WHITE: white to pink. Nose leather and paw pads: pink. BLACK: black. One level tone from nose to tip of tail. Nose leather: black. Paw pads: black or brown. BLUE: blue. One level tone from nose to tip of tail. Nose leather and paw pads: blue. RED: deep, rich, clear, brilliant red, without markings. Lips and chin the same color as the skin. Nose leather and paw pads: brick red. CREAM: one level shade of buff cream, without markings. Nose leather and paw pads: pink. CHOCOLATE: rich chestnut brown, even throughout. Nose leather: brown. Paw pads: brown or cinnamon. LAVENDER: frosty-grey with a pinkish tone, even throughout. Nose leather and paw pads: lavender-pink. CINNAMON: cinnamon, even throughout. Nose leather and paw pads: cinnamon. FAWN: pale, pinkish fawn, even throughout. Nose leather and paw pads: pale fawn. CLASSIC TABBY PATTERN: markings clearly defined on legs and tail. Pattern tends to fade on hairless body. Legs evenly barred with bracelets coming up to meet the body markings. Tail evenly ringed. Several unbroken necklaces on neck and upper chest, the more the better. Markings seen on the skin. Frown lines on head form an intricate letter "M" Unbroken line runs back from outer corner of eye. Swirls on cheeks. Vertical lines over back of head extend to shoulder markings which are in the shape of a butterfly with both upper and lower wings distinctly outlined and marked with dots inside outline. Back markings consist of a vertical line down the spine from butterfly to tail with a vertical stripe paralleling it on each side, the three stripes well separated by stripes of the ground color. Large solid blotch on each side to be encircled by one or more unbroken rings. Side markings should be the same on both sides. Double vertical rows of buttons on chest and stomach. MACKEREL TABBY PATTERN: markings clearly defined on legs and tail. Pattern tends to fade on hairless body. Legs evenly barred with narrow bracelets coming up to meet the body markings. Tail barred. Necklaces on neck and chest distinct, like so many chains. Head barred with an "M" on the forehead. Unbroken lines running back from the eyes. Lines running down the head to meet the shoulders. Spine lines run together to form a narrow saddle. Narrow pencillings run around body. SPOTTED TABBY PATTERN: markings on the body to be spotted. The spots can be round, oblong, or rosette-shaped. Any of these are of equal merit but the spots, however shaped or placed, shall be distinct. Spots should not run together in a broken Mackerel pattern. A dorsal stripe runs the length of the body to the tip of the tail. The stripe is ideally composed of spots. The markings on the face and forehead shall be typically tabby markings. Underside of the body to have "vest buttons." Legs and tail are barred. Markings clearly defined on legs and tail. Pattern tends to fade on hairless body. PATCHED TABBY PATTERN: a patched tabby (torbie) is an established silver, brown, blue, lavender, fawn, cinnamon or chocolate tabby with patches of red or cream clearly defined on both the body and extremities; a blaze on the face is desirable. SILVER TABBY: skin ground color, including lips and chin, pale clear silver. Markings dense black. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black. BROWN TABBY: skin ground color brilliant coppery brown. Markings dense black. Lips and chin the same shade as the rings around the eyes. Back of leg black from paw to heel. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black or brown. BLUE TABBY: skin ground color, including lips and chin, pale bluish ivory. Markings a very deep blue affording a good contrast with skin ground color. Nose leather: old rose. Paw pads: rose. RED TABBY: skin ground color red. Markings deep, rich red. Lips and chin red. Nose leather and paw pads: brick red. CREAM TABBY: skin ground color, including lips and chin, very pale cream. Markings buff or cream sufficiently darker than the ground color to afford good contrast but remaining within the dilute color range. Nose leather and paw pads: pink. CHOCOLATE (Chestnut) TABBY: skin ground color is warm fawn, markings are rich chestnut brown. Nose leather: chestnut, or pink rimmed with chestnut. Paw pads: cinnamon. CHOCOLATE-SILVER TABBY: skin ground color, including lips and chin, is silver. Markings rich chestnut. Nose leather: chestnut or pink rimmed with chestnut. Paw pads: cinnamon. CINNAMON TABBY: skin ground color, including lips and chin, a pale, warm honey, markings a dense cinnamon, affording a good contrast with skin ground color. Nose leather: cinnamon or coral rimmed with cinnamon. Paw pads: cinnamon. CINNAMON-SILVER TABBY: skin ground color, including lips and chin, a pale glistening silver. Markings dense cinnamon. Nose leather: cinnamon. Paw pads: coral. LAVENDER TABBY: skin ground color is pale lavender. Markings are a rich lavender, affording a good contrast with skin ground color. Nose leather: lavender, or pink rimmed with lavender. Paw pads: lavender-pink. LAVENDER-SILVER TABBY: skin ground color, including lips and chin, a cold clear silver. Markings lavender. Nose leather: lavender or pink rimmed with lavender. Paw pads: lavender-pink. FAWN TABBY: skin ground color, including lips and chin, pale ivory, markings dense fawn, affording good contrast with skin ground color. Nose leather and paw pads: pale fawn. TORTOISESHELL: black mottled or patched with red and/or cream. Blaze on face desirable. BLUE-CREAM: blue mottled or patched with cream. Blaze on face desirable. CHOCOLATE (Chestnut) TORTOISESHELL: rich chestnut brown mottled or patched with red and/or cream. Blaze on face desirable. CINNAMON TORTOISESHELL: cinnamon mottled or patched with red and/or cream. Blaze on face desirable. LAVENDER-CREAM: lavender mottled or patched with cream. Blaze on face desirable. FAWN-CREAM: fawn mottled or patched with cream. Blaze on face desirable. CALICO: white with unbrindled patches of black and red. White predominant on underparts. VAN CALICO: white with unbrindled patches of black and red confined to the extremities; head, tail, legs. One or two small patches of color on body allowable. DILUTE CALICO: white with unbrindled patches of blue and cream. White predominant on underparts. DILUTE VAN CALICO: white with unbrindled patches of blue and cream confined to the extremities; head, tail, legs. One or two small patches of color on body allowable. BI-COLOR: solid color and white, tabby and white, tortoiseshell and white, pointed and white, any color and white, etc. VAN BI-COLOR: solid color and white, tabby and white, tortoiseshell and white, etc., with color confined to the extremities; head, tail, and legs. One or two small patches on body allowable. FAWN CALICO, LAVENDER CALICO, CINNAMON CALICO, CHOCOLATE CALICO: as for calico above, with appropriate marking color. FAWN VAN CALICO, LAVENDER VAN CALICO, CINNAMON VAN CALICO, CHOCOLATE VAN CALICO: as for van calico above, with appropriate marking color. POINTED PATTERN: point restricted colors show little or no color contrast between body and points in the mature Sphynx. Although born very light in color, the pointed Sphynx will darken and appear solid in color as an adult. Eye color: vivid blue. Nose leather and paw pads: appropriate to coat color. The pointed pattern may be combined with ANY other pattern (except mink) and ANY colors, e.g. lilac-silver lynx point and seal-tortie point with white (shown in the Bi-Color Class). MINK PATTERN: point restricted colors show little or no color differentiation between body and points in the mature Sphynx. Although born very light in color, the mink Sphynx will darken and appear solid in color as an adult. Eye color: aqua. Nose leather and paw pads: appropriate to coat color. The mink pattern may be combined with ANY other pattern (except pointed) and ANY colors, e.g. natural mink, blue mink, champagne mink, platinum mink, natural tabby mink, blue-cream, tortie mink and white (shown in Bi-Color Class). SABLE: the mature specimen is a rich, warm, sable brown without shadings, barring, or markings of any kind. (Kittens are often lighter in color.) Nose leather and paw pads: brown. CHAMPAGNE: the mature specimen should be a warm honey beige without shadings, barring, or markings of any kind. Nose leather: light, warm brown. Paw pads: warm, pinkish tan. PLATINUM: the mature specimen should be a pale, silvery gray without shadings, barring or markings of any kind. Nose leather and paw pads: lavender-pink. OSC (Other Sphynx Colors): any other color or pattern. Cats with no more than a locket and/or button do not qualify for this class, such cats shall be judged in the color class of their basic color with no penalty for such locket and/or button. Examples: any color with one, two, three, or four white feet. All point restricted colors such as seal point, chocolate point, natural mink, blue mink, sable, champagne, platinum, etc. The following information is for reference purposes only and not an official part of the CFA Show Standard. Sphynx Color Class Numbers Solid = 5000 5001 (Black, Blue, Red, Cream, Chocolate, Lavender, Cinnamon, Fawn, White) Bi-Color = 5060 5061 (Any color or pattern with White) Other Sphynx Colors = 5090 5091 (Any other color or pattern) AOV = None None Sphynx Allowable Outcross Breeds: American Shorthair, Domestic Shorthair/ Domestic Sphynx Outcross. Sphynx born on or after December 31, 2015 may have only Sphynx parents.