Kentuckiana Cat Show Dares To Go Bald

The Kentucky courier-journal.com deserves major head bonks and purrs for publishing a newsworthy item that cat people, especially ones that admire the Sphynx cat breed, can appreciate.

Dreamsicle, a tortie and white female Sphynx, who owns Gloria and Alan Harding, won Best of Breed and Best in Show at the 49th annual American Cat Fanciers Association Kentuckiana Cat Show - held at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, the weekend of September 5. Up to 120 magnificent felines, representing 10 different breeds, were entered in competition for this highly coveted award.

Gloria Harding, a Clearwater, Florida resident, breeds and shows her lovely cats around the country. This very busy lady is also the Sphynx breed chairman for the American Cat Fanciers Association. While initially not impressed with their appearance, she has now fallen in love with the Sphynx. She said, "They grow on you. Bald is beautiful", and humorously added, "I've got a hairless dog, I had a hairless rat and I've got a hairless husband." In describing a compelling aspect of their temperament, Gloria said "They're cats that like to hang on you."

Gloria, who lives near Clearwater, Florida, breeds and shows her lovely cats around the country. She is also the Sphynx breed chairman for the American Cat Fanciers Association.

While the Sphynx is generally described as a "hairless" breed, these kitties are in fact delightfully warm to the touch and are covered with "peach fuzz", which gives them their famous suede-like texture. Some Sphynx may also have light hair on their toes, nose, and tail.

And while this amazing breed is almost devoid of hair, people looking for a low-maintenance cat will be highly disappointed. Folks who are owned by a Sphynx will be busy bathing them on a regular basis. Since they don't have "fur" to absorb the oil on their skin, this essential part of grooming is necessary to prevent serious skin irritation resulting from blocked pores.

While some feline lovers consider the Sphynx to resemble an "alien" and their appearance as quite bizarre, I think they are completely remarkable. If our two cats wouldn't get bent out of shape with a newcomer encroaching on their territory, I would be first in line to adopt one or even two of these adorable, affectionate cats. So naturally, my hat goes off to the judge who bestowed the honor of Best Cat to Dreamsicle. Purrhaps Dreamsicle's recent lofty claim to fame will surely make her a good-will breed ambassador.

Read more about the Sphynx at Petside's cat breed page.

What do you think of the Sphynx? Leave a comment and share them.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia *Photo of celebrity Sphynx Mr. Bigglesworth - known commonly as Dr. Evil's cat.