Why a Sphynx?

About 14 years ago or so Matt and I decided we wanted a pet. I had grown up with cats and Matt had grown up with a dog. Just one dog - her name was Ginger.

We didn't think we were in a position to get a dog because of the "responsibility" so a cat seemed like the best option. One major problem - I was incredibly allergic to cats.

I have asthma and at one time it was wildly out of control. Cats were a major trigger for me. (Now, a decade and a half later I can tell you that my asthma is well controlled with medication and I have very little problem around cats. And I live on a mountain that I climb every day - which I also wouldn't have been able to do at one time.)

We did a little research. We were looking for hypoallergenic cats. Well, here is something you should know. I hate the way people use the term "hypoallergenic" for animals. I think it is misleading and the truth is no animal is 100% allergen free. Now, what I will say is that some animals - certain breeds of cats and dogs - are easier to live with for those of us with animal allergies. One of those breeds is the Sphynx cat.

As you have probably gathered from reading Piglet's blog here, Sphynx cats are hairless. This means that while I am still allergic to her it is much easier to control my exposure. Piglet gets a bath once a week which helps cut down on the allergens in the house. On top of that she doesn't shed which would have spread the allergens around the house.

And even though most allergy and asthma specialists cringe when I say it, Piglet sleeps with me and I have no problems. In fact, I have trouble sleeping if Piglet isn't on me. 

While we were wondering if this was the right move for us we visited a breeder in Windsor, Ontario (Canada). We lived in Detroit at the time and she was the closest Sphynx breeder we could find. We went to her house and sat in the living room while she brought a little boy kitten and his mama out to meet us.

We were immediately in love.

We would have walked out of that house that day with a kitten...but they were so expensive. Sphynxes are a pretty rare breed and breeders can make a lot of money on them.

Instead, we put the idea on hold but we never stopped wanting a cat.

We continued to learn about Sphynxes and about responsible breeders and finally, a couple of years later, we couldn't resist the urge to get a kitten.

Sometimes I think we should have rescued a Sphynx but at the same time I wouldn't trade Piglet for the world so even though I support sphynx rescue I'm glad we have our Piglet.

Baby Piglet is the mischievous one in the middle.

When our kitten was 13 weeks old, Matt and I rented a Winnebago and drove out to central Pennsylvania where she lived with her breeder and her two sphynxie siblings. It was absolutely love at first sight. The Winnebago thing was a little excessive but we figured we would make an adventure out of it. We also went to Six Flags World of Adventure (which is no longer open) and Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater on our way out.

Matt, who was still unsure he really wanted a cat, was smitten. He and Piglet bonded immediately - and he is still her favorite human today.

It was only after we bought Piglet home that we realized all of the other reasons to get a sphynx. Sure, she was easier on my allergies but she was also incredibly affectionate, insatiably curious, and remarkably smart. Piglet was perfect. Correction, Piglet is perfect.

In just a month and half she will be celebrating her 12th birthday. Now that I have a sphynx cat I couldn't imagine anything else.

Piglet is Demanding

Piglet is smarter than I ever hope to be. In last week's post I shared about how she has figured out light switches and how to be comfortable and warm at the same time.

This week, Piglet continues to prove that she is the smartest member of this household.

We just got a new couch in the city house. It is a really nice brown microfiber sofa that we find quite comfortable. In ever living room we've ever had there has been a blanket available for Piglet. However, when not in use we don't like to have it out. So, when there is no cat in the blanket we put it in one of those ottoman cubes that we have. We own two of them and use them for foot stools and a coffee table while lounging on the sofa.

Piglet not only knows that the blanket is in one of the cubes - she knows WHICH cube. Often, when one of us is on the sofa Piglet will jump up on to the cube containing the blanket and paw at the edge where it opens to ask us to get it for her. When you ask her what she wants she will meow. Then once the blanket is removed she expects the humans to help her get under it.

The other day Matt and I were both in the office. I heard meowing from another part of the house so went to investigate. Piglet will often tell us when something is wrong. I found her sitting on a cube in the living room. I asked her what she wanted and she meowed again. I checked her all over to make sure she wasn't injured or sick but I was way too dense to get it at first. I kept asking her what was going on and she just stood on the cube and meowed.

Then I realized what cube she was standing on.

I moved the cat, removed the blanket, and offered it to her on the sofa. She curled right up and stayed there the rest of the afternoon.

Close up of a Pig in a Blanket

The long view