Is this degrading to Sphynxes?

[Desley (booktigger)]

While we are cat lovers Hels, we are all entitled to our own opinion, it is nothing to do wtih 'cat racism' and there aren't that many pedigrees I would choose to own, and I'm sorry if I offend anyone who owns one of those breeds, but that is my opinion - I still wouldnt choose to own a tortie either. I do have to say it is the looks for me, as I  haven't met one in the flesh.

[hels]

i've got to just say that by saying "hope i dont offend anyone but..." doesn't stop people being offended. i have an adorable sphynx cat, who isn't ugly or uncuddly because of her lack of fur. regardless of her "genetic mutation" she is still a lovely cat. i dont ever see people getting up in arms about bengals (a cross between Asian leopard cat and American Shorthair tabby), bombays (Burmese and black American Shorthair), tonkineses (cross between Siamese and Burmese), balineses (mutation of Siamese; tail sways when walking, resembling Balinese dancers) all of which you can see have been created by breeding as with the sphynx, or is because they have fur and therefore are more cute?

i feel really sad about this thread, on a community of cat lovers, is it ok to love cats only if they have fur? my sphynx knows no different to normal cats, she doesn't need a blanket in summer, in fact she goes outside in winter. it's kinda like cat racism going on here.

i've been really offended by this thread, if i started a thread saying i found tabbies were disgusting because they were a little too stripey then i'm sure you'd all disagree with me

[unseeliechylde]

Are sphinxes the result of a double-rex gene? (near-bald rats are, don't know if cats are the same..?)

[Desley (booktigger)]

I dont like the thought of them, but we do have to remember that they were a natural mutation. And as for needing blankets in teh summer, Molly looks at me in disgust if I dont have the quilt in summer for her to come under, the sheet isn't good enough apparently, and she has fur!! One year I had to leave the duvet on the spare half of the bed to stop the girls grumbling at losing it in summer.

[Millys Mum]

I feel the same for the poor persians who are being created with flatter and flatter faces 
Poor butter struggle to breathe. 

What's really disturbing me is the thought of what my Jumpster would look like minus his fleece... what with his 'middle aged spread'. 

 

[Pinkbear (Julie)]

I have to agree with the general tone of this thread. And I like the way Rosella said "I'd give him a hug if he wanted one" and I feel the same. The poor mite! 

We have seen first hand on this board, the results of poor and over breeding. At some point the pedigree breeders need to take a step back and think about the reasons why they do what they do. I can't see any point in bald (or nearly bald) cats other than for human amusement, and I can't see any benefit for the cat in being born like that. 

What's really disturbing me is the thought of what my Jumpster would look like minus his fleece... what with his 'middle aged spread'. 

[Rosella moggy]

I might be weird but I think he is gorgeous   

Bless you Dawn, you would think he's gorgeous.   Have you ever actually seen an "ugly" cat amongst the tens of thousands you've probably come across?  

He ain't my cuppa tea but I'd still give him a hug if he wanted one and, whilst I wouldn't dream of dressing up our lads, I don't think I could stop myself from dressing this chap, if he didn't mind, esp some pants. Hopefully he'd be intelligent enough to tell me when he wanted to use the loo  

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

I met the sphynx at the Supreme that Sam refers to - there was a woman there who had the cat out of it's pen and was holding little 'talks' aobut them to groups of people who inevitably gathered around.  She said they don't need clothes.  They do in fact have a covering of downy hair so aren't totally naked, and while they might feel the cold more than other cats if they're kept in a normally heated house they don't need to have clothes.  The sphynx in this thread is obviously dressed up for reasons other than need - if it was just a case of needing a jumper a simple plain one would suffice - not a fancy jumper and hat combo!

[blackcat]

at the risk of offending some readers, I think being a sphynx is degrading to sphynxes - one animal breeding experiment too far in my book ...

[unseeliechylde]

I'm never sure about sphynxes  - in some respects they are quite sweet, in an ugly-cute kind of way  , but I do feel sorry for them. It seems so unfair to breed a cat that is so affected by the cold, to the point where it needs heating / blankets etc even in summer I can understand the need to put something on the poor things to keep them warm...not sure if the lad in the pic exemplifies my personal ide of good ktty-fashion, though! I can see the benefit of a cat having minimal fur in very hot countries, but no fur means they could get sunburn....
I've nothing against the cats themselves, and to each their own, but I can't help but feel that its a little unfair to breed such a sensitive and vulnerable animal.

[fluffybunny]

This is going to make me unpopular, but...

Well count me in to the unpopularity contest because I agree with you 

[Sam (Fussy_Furball)]

HP I used to be like you and thought Sphynxes were "weird"  and cats should have fur however after I actually got to meet and touch one at a cat show I was surprised at how cuddly and soft they really are.

I must admit I'm not sure I'd want a male though ... it's bad enough having to look at Zephyrs furry bits most of the time ... I don't think I could get on with seeing those nudey bits all the time 

[Kittybabe (Ruth)]

My cousin has a Sphynx and he has blankets all over the house, even in summer he gets cold and likes to snuggle under blankets to keep warm.  Have to say I find the whole dressing up of dogs/cats etc silly, but to each their own.

[LeighK]

That's "Yoda-cat" , hmmmmmmmmm the force is strong in this one!

What you can't see is that he's using his powers of telekinesis to levitate a very large spaceship.

Cheers

Leigh

[Dawn (DiddyDawn)]

I just cannot imagine waking up to that sight on the pillow next to me. 

I might be weird but I think he is gorgeous   

[Hippykitty]

This is going to make me unpopular, but...

I think this is taking breeding too far. Okay, it may be a 'natural' mutation, but that's no excuse for propagating the mutation into a breed.

In my opinion, this is tantamount to cruelty: creating a breed which is so vulnerable to cold that it has to be humiliated by being dressed!

I'm not a big fan of breeds anyway, but some, like the sphinx, are putting the cat at a gross disadvantage. I feel a mix of pity and revulsion towards them.

Sorry if this offends anyone, but cats should have fur, not wrinkly skin.

[madkittyrescue]

I think its probably quite common for folks to put these kinds of clothes on sphyinx.  There is a friend of mine who has little wollen jumpers made for hers .... they are basically like huge socks with holes cut for the front legs.  Looks kinda odd...

Although I have to admit I'm not a fan of the spyinx.... sorry to say.  I prefer my cats hairy for good cuddles! 

[Pinkbear (Julie)]

  I just cannot imagine waking up to that sight on the pillow next to me. 

[ccmacey]

How could it be degrading to Sphynxes when it is only 1 Sphynx? I suppose it could be like saying its degrading to say your cat looks like Hitler, what do you think of it Mark. Thats not a jibe about Clapton Kitler cos I think its all purely for fun, no one is being hurt.

If I were to say anything about the clothes would be that he seems a little hard up   

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

Poor babe.  He doesnt look terribly happy, does he? 

[ccmacey]

Could we have this member banned for posting pornography 

Ted said he doesn't approve of his mummy lookling at other men on the net, especially naked ones.

I suppose it's just like putting clothes on a baby, Not doing any harm if it's just to keep him warm. I do agree with Dawn though, he could of put some pants on 

[hels]

Connie, my sphynx, has a few small size dog coats that she wears sometimes, she doesn't wear them all the time and they're certainly not essential!

[Gail Bengal Slave]

Yes it  is degrading for him - poor little man    - dressing  a cat up in clothes is not big and not clever.

DD  FooFoo's cardi was to keep her warm she was used to having fur then had it all shaved off. So needed the warmth.

Spynxes don't have any fur either though Gail so would feel the cold 

What I meant was FooFoo was used to having fur then had none. Sphynx's never have fur. I couldn't dress him/ her up an parade them, they have feeling too.  That is cruel, the look on his little face bless. If he got hold of your throat you wouldn't live 

[Sam (Fussy_Furball)]

Ahhh the poor little soul ... I suppose putting a little coat on him is OK to keep him warm but surly it would be better to supply him with a nice fluffly blanket and a snuggly.

Of course we don't know where the poor little lamb lives and if he is somewhere where it gets really cold then it's better than have him getting a chill.

Not sure about the silly though.

[Dawn (DiddyDawn)]

Yes it  is degrading for him - poor little man    - dressing  a cat up in clothes is not big and not clever.

DD  FooFoo's cardi was to keep her warm she was used to having fur then had it all shaved off. So needed the warmth.

Spynxes don't have any fur either though Gail so would feel the cold 

[Gail Bengal Slave]

Yes it  is degrading for him - poor little man    - dressing  a cat up in clothes is not big and not clever.

DD  FooFoo's cardi was to keep her warm she was used to having fur then had it all shaved off. So needed the warmth.

[Team Svartalfheims]

This is why I have pawrental controls on the computer as I don't want Bilbo and Boopy looking at naked cats  

Just my opinion but I think it's horrible to have cats that can't keep themselves warm and have to have clothes put on them.

[Dawn (DiddyDawn)]

Awww bless him, he looks very grumpy but is still sat there without being held      I don't normally go for dressing cats up but Spynxes would feel the cold I would think so as long as he's happy, it won't do any harm.  When I had FooFoo shaved, I did have a little cardi for her to keep her warm and she seemed quite happy in it      He could do with some pants on though   

[Mark]

 

Please don't tell me it's pornographic 

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