Do all cats look like sphynx cats under their fur?
May 16, 2012 9:14 PM Subscribe
Do all cats look like sphynx cats under their fur?
Are all cats naturally wrinkly, gremlin like beasts under their fur or are sphynxes just weird?
Are all cats naturally wrinkly, gremlin like beasts under their fur or are sphynxes just weird?
Best answer: I think that it depends a lot on the cat. Last summer I had to shave one of mine, and while he had the odd wrinkle, it wasn't as dramatic as what I'd associate with a sphynx.
It's worth mentioning that even among sphynxes, there's some variance in wrinkle styles--look at this page, for example. The first and third photos are very wrinkly animals; the second and fourth less so.
On the page that Joe's Spleen linked, you're looking at the side of a turning cat. When you lean to the side, you get wrinkles in your side, right? (Or, at least, people with an average-ish level of body fat do, in my experience.) So do cats--in the shot labeled shaved cat 2, the cat seems to be both in motion and turning towards the camera. Clicking the picture in the lower right, which comes up as just shaved cat, you get much more "normal" looking cat--fewer wrinkles, and more like what you'd sort of expect a cat to look like. In my experience, that's a pretty accurate picture--sleek body, occasional wrinkles, lots more wrinkles when turning or bending. Lots and lots of wrinkles when doubling over to lick their own butts. Best to turn away at that one, really.
posted by MeghanC at 9:48 PM on May 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
It's worth mentioning that even among sphynxes, there's some variance in wrinkle styles--look at this page, for example. The first and third photos are very wrinkly animals; the second and fourth less so.
On the page that Joe's Spleen linked, you're looking at the side of a turning cat. When you lean to the side, you get wrinkles in your side, right? (Or, at least, people with an average-ish level of body fat do, in my experience.) So do cats--in the shot labeled shaved cat 2, the cat seems to be both in motion and turning towards the camera. Clicking the picture in the lower right, which comes up as just shaved cat, you get much more "normal" looking cat--fewer wrinkles, and more like what you'd sort of expect a cat to look like. In my experience, that's a pretty accurate picture--sleek body, occasional wrinkles, lots more wrinkles when turning or bending. Lots and lots of wrinkles when doubling over to lick their own butts. Best to turn away at that one, really.
posted by MeghanC at 9:48 PM on May 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
According to the Cat Fancier's association, cats have what are called "body types." Sphynxes have what is called an "Oriental" body type. (Yikes, that's loaded.) On the other side of the spectrum are the "Stocky" and "Cobby" types, with moderates in between all of these. So your answer is, sort of. Oriental body-type cats, when shaved, will look more or less just like sphynxes. Stockies and cobbies will look different, still wrinkly, but not quite as Gremlin-like.
To compare body types, here's:
Oriental Body
Stocky Body
Cobby Body
Here's more on cat body types, with a few visuals: Cat Body Types
posted by juniperesque at 6:07 AM on May 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
To compare body types, here's:
Oriental Body
Stocky Body
Cobby Body
Here's more on cat body types, with a few visuals: Cat Body Types
posted by juniperesque at 6:07 AM on May 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 9:25 PM on May 16, 2012