Conference misery::feline_v1

    Gee, maybe he is a Sphynx !! 

    I agree with .1 maybe it is a sphynx, a rare and valued breed.
    B
    

Re: .0

I have never personally seen this or known anyone whose cat had this
problem, but when I read your note it reminded me of something I'd seen
in one of the Bosler Humane Society (Barre, Mass.) newsletters.

It was a picture of a dog named Thor. He was a Brittany Spaniel and was
hairless and wrinkled-looking. It seems this was a thyroid problem and
was apparently treatable as the "after" picture, taken two months later,
shows him as a normal-looking dog with a full coat.

I don't know if this could be the kitten's problem but it might be
worth asking about.

Linda

    Both parents are siamese.

    RE: 3
    
    Now that sounds interesting, I'm going to call and see if thats a
    possibility!                    

    Re: .4
    
    Genetics is far more complicated than that.  All of the Sphynxes that
    I've seen have the typical Exotic build, similar to the Siamese. A
    reasonable speculation is that a Sphynx is a Siamese with a single
    mutation for hairlessness.  In this case, it could be that both parents
    carry a recessive gene for hairlessness, implying that on the average,
    1 out of every 4 offspring will be hairless.
    
    This is just guesswork on my part.  My point is that with the little
    knowledge presented here, it's entirely plausible that two Siamese
    parents could have Sphynx offspring (or even a new, different hairless
    breed).  One suggestion is to hunt for someone for knowledgeable
    in feline genetics, perhaps at Tufts.
    
    I hope that this is the explanation, and that it isn't caused by
    some health-related problem.  Even so, the owner of the kitten should
    remember to keep it warm.
    
       Gary 

    I have some friends that have a sphinx and have spent some time
    talking with them about it.  The sphinx was a gene mutation. It
    probably could have occured in this litter.
    
    One thing that I do know about the sphinx is that their body
    temperature is above that of other cats.  Their skin stays nice
    and warm, they even sweat!  If this kitten was sphinx, you wouldn't
    have to worry about it staying warm.
    
    Jo
    

    His body is VERY warm to the touch, but the breeder said the he
    doesn't have a fever?  
    
    Boy I'm really confused now! And I certainly don't have the money
    to bring him to Tuffs'
    
    

    Is the Sphinx the totally hairless cat?  Because the first thing
    I thought of was a Rex (Cornish or Devon), which have very little
    hair and as kittens look pretty bald.  Both of these breeds were
    developed from an individual mutant cat, from seperate litters.
    In other words, on two seperate occasions, with unrelated cats,
    a kitten was born with little fur.  This could be the case here.
    If this is a similar situation it could grow to be really neat!
    You should probably keep in touch with the breeder so they can
    follow his progress.  If you like the idea, go ahead and get him.
    On the other hand, if it's thought that he could be the start of
    another hairless breed, the breeder might be interested.  Just think
    of it, a unique cat (maybe).  Also, the "hairless" breeds tend not
    to be allergenic, so if you know anyone with allergies they should
    be able to be around him.
    
    On the other hand, if you're short on money, you might want to hold
    out for a "normal" kitten.  I would think that this cat deserves
    some study and veterinary advice that could possibly cost a bit...
    
    After all this rambling...my advice is to follow your gut instinct.
    If you love the kitten, and think he's cute, get him.  If you think
    he's ugly bald, or that you can't afford to check out possible medical
    causes, then you might want to consider another kitten.
    
    Good luck, in whatever you decide.
    Karen, Tristan and Tenzing.

    
    	Re: .9
    
    	You said it perfectly!
    

    Re: 9
    
    Karen, I wish it was that simple.
    
    It's not that I'm really lacking in funds, but already have a cat
    and a puppy which as you know create lots of well care vet bills,
    which would still not stop me, if it were just me deciding.  I think
    he's adorable also, he not really bald (btw sorry about the type-o!)
    his coat is sparse and you can see his skin very strong at the bend
    of his joints and the curve of his skull.  And he has tons of wrinkles
    like a little old man or a starving person.  BUT he is a sweetheart,
    when I went to visit him he just sat on my lap and purred.  My heart
    melted for him.
    
    The problem is my husband, I had to tell him since they would be
    living together.  He said "NO WAY", that he was sick and he didn't
    want all those bill or the cat to die!
    
    I guess I was hoping for a cure.
    
    Corine