In the early spring of 2023, I got a message from a good friend telling me that two young sphynx cats needed a new home. They had a tragic back story that I won’t go into here, but it tugged at my heartstrings. She contacted me first because I had a sphynx cat for 17 years, and they’re fancy cats that need lots of extra care and attention. After a few attempts at working with their temporary family, I took them home with me and found them a forever home. I managed to graduate my time as a foster without becoming what’s commonly called a “foster fail.” It was an incredible experience, so I thought I would share.
A Brief Introduction to Sphynx Cats
Our experience with Sphynx runs deep. In 2001, we brought home a two-pound hairless calico kitten we named Piglet. She was so intelligent and sweet but also had a significant attitude. We learned they’re very high-maintenance cats worth every hour and penny.
Sphynxes are often cast in TV and movies to play the weird cats like Mr. Bigglesworth from Austin Powers and the cat Rachel brings home in an episode of Friends. Sphynx cats are known as hairless cats, but there is more to them than just that trait.
Sphynxes are a relatively new breed. They were developed in Canada in the 1960s after an average house cat gave birth to a litter of hairless babies. It’s a natural mutation, but it became a cultivated breed. Early breeders introduced other lines to strengthen the breed’s health, including the Devon Rex, which is what our current cat, Toast, is.
Sphynxes aren’t entirely hairless. They appear to be just skin, but you discover a fine coat of soft fuzz when you touch them. They feel like a warm peach or a chamois cloth. But Sphynxes can also have significant health problems, including a terminal heart condition called HCM. Piglet may have had this condition as well, but she lived to be 17 and fought two cancers before old age finally got her.
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Networking
When the babies, then known as Ziggy and Zhuzhu, came into our lives, we were sure we didn’t want to have three cats. But I also knew that the boys needed to find a home that was aware of what it took to care for a sphynx, especially with their health concerns. So they couldn’t just be handed to anyone. So I took them and started looking for a forever home.
Luckily, from having a sphynx for so long, I was part of several sphynx-specific communities and could reach out to find a home. Through a series of connections, I found a couple just a few hours away who already had a Devon Rex, like Toast, who wanted to add a sphynx or two to their family. Since the boys were bonded, they had to go together, which would be a perfect fit.
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Letting Go
We only had the babies for about two weeks. And they made me miss having a hairless cat. They stayed in our guest room because our cat made it clear they weren’t welcome. So Matt and I would take turns going into the guest room to spend time with them. We’d play or cuddle. Sometimes, I even took my laptop with me to work. They were so cuddly and purred constantly. And even though we knew three cats would be too many and that Toast did not like these intruders, it would be hard to let them go.
Their new family shared what they learned about caring for unique breeds. At only two, their cat was more likely to accept the babies rather than fight them. So they drove the three hours to our house, and we popped the boys into a carrier with a self-warming bed, and off they went to their new home. The house was very quiet after that.
I do get updates from them now and then. The boys and their new sister get along great and often cuddle together. They are happy and healthy, and that’s what matters.
My Future in Rescue
I learned from this that Toast, now almost five, is set in her ways and disinterested in any company other than ours. She is extremely spoiled, and since we work from home, she is rarely alone. But that doesn’t mean I can’t help in other ways. I am connected to a few cat-specific rescues and do what I can when I can. I’m part of the transport team for Specialty Purebred Cat Rescue, but since they’re headquartered in the Midwest, cats seldom go through Asheville. But I’m here when they do.
And I support the local community Asheville Cat Weirdos whenever I can. It’s a singular organization that connects cat lovers and raises money for people in our area who can’t afford emergency veterinary care. The all-volunteer staff does fantastic work, and I wish more communities had resources like ACW.
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