An interesting conversation popped up in Twitter with Sphynx cat owners remarking about how their Sphynxes lick them. Luna is a licker. She licks everything. She does have a preference for licking us though. I have always put it down to a peculiarity just with her, some kind of OCD type behaviour, but it seems there are more Sphynx cats like Luna out there.
Sphynx Kitten Pierre on the other hand is not a licker (yet!)
I have opened a poll below so we can see whether Luna and the other twitter Sphynxes are “normal”*
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* we all know our Sphynxes aren’t normal 
I made a post some time back in the “Sphynx Cat Myths” series about how people may mistake the shivering of a Sphynx cat or Sphynx kitten with fear or timidness. As any Sphynx cat owner will tell you, it would be the exception rather than the rule, to find a Sphynx cat who is shy by nature. So why do Sphynx cats shiver?
If you remember back to your school days in science class you may recall that when energy is expended there are the by-products – light and heat. The Sphynx (as do humans and other mammals) use this area of physics to increase body temperature.
When the skin and nerves send a message to the brain that they sense cold, the brain sends out the message to various muscle groups to start moving (shivering) to create extra heat. For the Sphynx, who has no covering to protect it from the elements, and maintains a body temperature two degrees warmer than furred cats, this is one of the ways it keeps warm (along with laying on heat sources, staying under blankets etc).
Sphynx cat Luna knows how to get close to the heater without burning
A warm Sphynx is a happy Sphynx, and keeping your Sphynx warm should always be a priority to the Sphynx owner. I have heard anecdotal stories that a cold Sphynx will also grow more body hair (not real fur) than one in a permanent warm environment. I am researching whether that is indeed the case, correlation does not always mean causation as they say in the scientific world.
So if you have patted or held a Sphynx and felt it shiver you can be assured it was not frightened of you, it was just feeling the chill.
Sphynx cat Luna displays her disdain for Sphynx kitten Pierre
I was thinking the other day about how much attitude Sphynx cats have
. This isn’t the usual cat attitude of use you when they want you and attack when they don’t. Sphynxes are really dog-like in how the love you 100% of the time, and will run to you when you get home from work. They will learn tricks for attention, and are smart enough to figure out things that they shouldn’t, like how to get into all sorts of mischief.
They are all the fun of babies without the crying and keeping you up all night. They eat and poop, but they are also cute and seem to do something new every day. They are warm and soft and so kissable. Their inquisitiveness knows no boundaries and they will always be there when you are opening a parcel, shopping bag or door.
Sphynxes really aren’t for cat lovers who just want an ornamental type of feline, these cats are energetic, demanding and have personalities that will draw you into their antics.
There is a huge difference between how Sphynx Cat Luna and Sphynx Kitten Pierre sleep.
Both choose to sleep in our bed, not unusual for Sphynxes at all (so if you are contemplating getting one, be prepared for bedmates). Luna however has always been a “top bunk” kind of gal, preferring to sleep as high as possible on one of her skin people. This usually means her perched on a shoulder or curled up close round my neck with her face buried in my hair or on my face.
Pierre is the most relaxed of sleepers. He loves to stretch out so that he is making contact along your back or the back of your legs. He also sleeps like the proverbial log. He does like to complain though when you wish to roll over in bed. He will sleepily mumble as everyone finds a comfortable spot, and he will tell you all about it as he stretches out and snuggles in.
Luna is perfectly silent in bed unless Pierre thinks a playful nip on her tale is an acceptable night time activity.
Well the moving is done, but the unpacking is still underway. Both Sphynx cat Luna and Sphynx Kitten Pierre have settled in well without too much fuss at all. Sphynxes are extremely inquisitive so every single new cupboard or drawer that is opened has to be investigated thoroughly. Even furniture that came with us that has changed needs to be checked out, such as the empty book cases that now resemble a perfect cat perch with one easy leap from the lounge.
Pierre is really enjoying the extra room to sprint around in. This house is considerably larger than the last, and has bigger areas that can be used as a run up for some of his amazing jumps. He has also been practicing jumping from the ground to our shoulders, and it is quite amusing watching him try on my 6 foot 4 partner…much more of a challenge.
We have only had one scary escape attempt with Pierre deciding to go for a stroll in the front yard. I am not sure I have mentioned before but Luna absolutely hates grass (and soft furry things like sheepskin and shag carpet) and so she won’t go any further than the available concrete or hard surface. Pierre on the other hand has no such qualms, and found the door open while boxes were coming in. We knew he had escaped immediately and found him sniffing under a large tree in the front yard…in the mud. He is such a BOY!
Sphynx People Say…