Sphynx — questions to ask before paying a deposit
A responsible breeder will have these readily available. Deflection is a red flag.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)can shorten life or cause chronic pain
A thickening of the heart muscle that can cause heart failure, blood clots or sudden death. One New Zealand study found HCM in 40% of Sphynx examined at a median age under six years, making this a serious, breed-documented risk rather than a generic cat concern.
Ask to see: A recent echocardiogram report from a veterinary cardiologist for both parents. No DNA test exists for HCM in this breed
Prevalence of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and ALMS1 Variant in Sphynx Cats in New Zealand (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11428990/) · EveryCat Health Foundation (Winn) — SNP analysis in Siberian cats with HCM (names Sphynx among affected breeds) (https://everycat.org/grant/mt08-001-snp-analysis-in-siberian-cats-with-hcm/) · Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in the Sphynx cat: a retrospective evaluation — PubMed (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22412161/)
Congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS)can shorten life or cause chronic pain
An inherited muscle-weakness disorder causing a characteristic 'dog-begging' or 'chipmunk' posture, worsened by exertion, stress or excitement. Affected cats generally die by two years old from choking or aspiration pneumonia. A validated DNA test exists, shared with Devon Rex.
Ask to see: Sphynx and Devon Rex CMS (COLQ) DNA test on both parents, showing an N/N (clear) result
UC Davis VGL — Sphynx and Devon Rex CMS test (https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/test/sphynx-and-devon-rex-cms) · A COLQ Missense Mutation in Sphynx and Devon Rex Cats with Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome — PLOS ONE (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0137019)
Hairlessness — skin, temperature and ear care
The trait that defines the breed also removes the normal protection fur gives against sunburn, cold and skin-oil build-up, leaving Sphynx prone to sunburn, acne, fungal skin infections and waxy ear build-up, and needing regular bathing and a warm, draft-free home. This is inseparable from the breed itself, not a fault a test can screen away.
Ask to see: Not a genetic test — ask the breeder about their bathing and ear-cleaning routine and whether any of their cats have had recurring skin or ear infections
International Cat Care — Inherited disorders in cats (lists hairlessness among welfare-relevant bred-for traits) (https://icatcare.org/articles/inherited-disorders-in-cats)