Consider the breed of bald cats

According to scientists, the history of these amazing creatures began in ancient times. Breeds of bald cats were known even in ancient Egypt. They were revered, treated them with awe and respect. According to ancient legends, these animals gave their wool to a man to save him from ravages.

Representatives of the breed of bald cats are called sphinxes. So in Egypt in ancient centuries called the mythical creature, which had the body of a lion, the head of a woman and the wings of an eagle. It was the product of evil, the embodiment of destructive power. Why are also called innocent "God's messengers," bald cats, it is not known. Presumably, the reason was a striking similarity of the animal in a sitting position with mythical heroes.

It can be argued that by the beginning of the twentieth century, bald cats did not exist. The rare species almost disappeared. Although it was noted the appearance in some litters of absolutely bald kittens, but officially the breed was revived in 1978.

Till now people often argue, how to name these representatives of breed of bald cats. In ancient times they received a proud name - the Sphinx. But now three varieties of this breed are known: St. Petersburg, Canadian and Don Sphinx. Today, the most common are Canadian sphinxes, they became the ancestors of other species.

In 1975, in Canada, the most common cat was born a kitten, who was called Epidermis. This cat became the founder of all breeds and elite lines, known for today.

Later, to maintain the breed of bald cats, unique Canadian sphinxes, both in Europe and in America, animals were knitted with Don sphinxes and Devon-Rex, their closest relatives - these felids in appearance are most similar.

Today, with great regret, we can state that most of the modern sphinxes are more reminiscent of the bald Devonian rather mediocre type. They have thin skin, too short for the sphinx head and uncharacteristic for the sphinx round eyes. Their body is too light and bony. All this speaks of the apparent degeneration of the breed. The wrinkled skin, which made these animals look like little old men, became a rarity in adult sphinxes.

Many modern sphinxes resemble a porcelain figurine rather than such attractive wrinkled gnomes as they were before. The most "folded" today are Canadian sphinxes, originating from the legendary Epidermis, although to their data they clearly do not hold out.

In 1987, Elena Kovaleva picked up on the street Rostov-on-Don a bluish-cream cat, which she called Varvara. As a result of the mating of Barbara with the cat Basil appeared Chita, which was taken by Irina Nemykina, who founded the kennel "Myth". It was there that from the mating of Chita and Hannibal the first Don Sphynx appeared, which were first presented at the exhibition in 1993, and officially the breed was recognized only in 1998.

One of the first kittens that were put up for sale - Afinogen Myth - moved to his permanent residence in St. Petersburg. There from him and Radma von Jager-Hof, oriental cat, who had the title of world champion, the first St. Petersburg sphinxes appeared.