Why Color Is the Least Important Thing About a Sphynx
- Amanda Zentmyer
- Oct 19
- 3 min read
I understand why people fall in love with certain colors. A blue kitten with odd eyes, a calico with perfect patches, or a tuxedo baby with a white blaze can make your heart skip. I love those colors too. But after years of raising this breed, I can say something with complete honesty.
Color is the least important thing about a Sphynx.
It does not make them healthier. It does not make them friendlier. It does not make them better with kids, dogs, travel, or change. And in a breed where health is already fragile, color should never be the priority.
We Are Working with a Breed That Has Real Health Risks
This is not a perfectly healthy breed. We love them, but we cannot ignore the truth.
Depending on the study and bloodline, 40 to 60 percent of Sphynx cats may be affected by HCM at some point in their life. That is nearly half of the breed. On top of that, we manage immune sensitivity, digestive issues, heart murmurs in kittens, and the effects of a small gene pool.
So when someone asks for a specific color first, what breeders hear is, “I am thinking about what looks good in a photo.” Meanwhile, we are thinking about heart scans, genetic testing, family history, and which kitten is most likely to live a long, comfortable life.
In a breed where the heart can fail long before the body ages, color means nothing compared to health.
Color Is Not Even Part of the Sphynx Breed Standard
This is the part most people do not know.
The Sphynx breed standard has no color restrictions. There are no extra points for rare colors, no penalties for common colors, and no color that makes a cat more “show quality.” Every color and pattern is accepted. Judges do not award a single point based on pigment.
So if the official standard of the breed does not place value on color, why are so many buyers making it their first concern?
The Right Cat for the Right Home - Not the Right Color
Not every Sphynx is outgoing. Not every Sphynx loves kids, or dogs, or busy homes. Some are confident and social from birth. Some are gentle but easily overwhelmed. Some need one quiet person. Some want a family of five and a big dog to sleep on.
Color does not tell you any of that.
Choosing only by color might lead you to:
The shyest kitten in the litter, who hides from children
The one who cannot tolerate other pets
The runt, who is medically fragile but happens to be the color you wanted
A kitten with a heart murmur or weak immune system, but with a desirable pattern
Meanwhile, you might overlook the healthiest kitten. The most confident one. The one who would have followed you from room to room and slept in your arms every night.
Not Every Kitten Is Healthy or Suited for Every Family
Breeders know this, even when it is hard to say.
Some kittens are born struggling. Some have congenital defects. Some need oxygen, tube feeding, antibiotics, surgery, or simply time. Some grow into healthy cats. Others do not. And some, even when perfectly healthy, are not emotionally or socially suited for every home.
This is why personality, resilience, household dynamics, and health matter more than color.
What Ethical Breeders Actually Look At
When I plan a pairing or place a kitten, I focus on:
HCM scans by a board-certified cardiologist
DNA testing for known hereditary conditions
Immune strength and overall vitality in the line
Temperament - confident, social, gentle, anxious, dominant, or quiet
Stress tolerance, especially for households with kids or pets
Genetic diversity and responsible outcrossing where appropriate
And only after all of that, I look at color
Color is decoration. Health and temperament are life.
A Kitten That Fits Your Life Is Worth More Than a Color You Imagined
I have seen families come in asking for a specific color, then fall completely in love with a different kitten because the bond was undeniable. And years later, they never say, “I wish I had waited for the blue one.”
They say, “She sleeps on my chest every night.”“He follows me to the bathroom and talks the whole way.”“She lets my toddler carry her around like a baby.”“He is my best friend.”
Not one of those memories is about color.
Final Thought
Color is something you notice in the first five seconds. Health, temperament, and connection are what matter for the next fifteen years.
In a breed where nearly half may face heart disease, choosing by color alone is like choosing a book by the cover and ignoring whether the pages are intact. Choose the cat that fits your home. Choose the heart that beats strong. Choose the one who chooses you back.
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