The Sphynx cat breed was developed in Toronto from hairless kittens in the 1970s.
Modern Sphynx development followed the birth of hairless kittens in Toronto, Ontario, including kittens produced by domestic cats. Breeders used these naturally occurring hairless cats in structured programs to establish a healthy, recognizable breed.
Sphynx cats are not completely hairless in the biological sense. Their skin is usually covered by a fine layer of down, and individuals may have whiskers or whisker pads of varying prominence. The lack of a conventional coat comes from a recessive genetic mutation.
The breed is often confused with the Peterbald or the Donskoy, which are separate hairless breeds with different development histories. Sphynx cats also still require skin care because oil that would normally collect on fur remains on the skin.