Help with possible Sphynx purchase

[miamileos]

Hey everyone. I have possibly found a sphynx near me that a breeder is willing to let go of. He is a 2 year old male and she is asking $350 for him. He will be neutered and vaccinated. I have a few questions about him though. First, is that a reasonable adoption fee? Second, she described him as a flame point with blue eyes, but from the picture it looks like he has green eyes and I cant tell if he is a flame point (obviously he would have blue eyes if he is but I cant tell). And third, does his tail look okay? To me, it looks oddly colored and looks like it is kinked or injured? What do you guys think? I appreciate your help soooo much!

 

[Alimoore]

For the first question, that is a really cheap price so you need to be careful. On the other hand I adopted my sphynx for 400 and she is perfectly ok. I cant really answer 2 but for 3 it looks like it might be kinked but thats not much of a problem. My cat has a little kink at the end of her tail and it doesnt effect her and its not a big deal. If I were you, I would go see it and make sure it looks healthy. Then get his vet records and then later get in contact with the vet and ask him questions about the cat. The vet wouldnt lie and would know all of the cats health problems, if any. Other than that just going to see him and asking as many questions as possible is best. Good luck!

 

[bthomas]

As far as the price, it could be legit. I am getting a seven month old neutered sphynx for 400 so I could see that for a retired breeder, maybe. Just be cautious, and if you can go out and meet her and the cat do it. Otherwise take all the precautions you can to make sure it is legit.
Have her take photos with something you specify, like a piece of paper with your name on it or something.

As far as the color goes, his eyes do look green to me in that picture- but it could just be because of the lighting or something.
His tail looks fine to me. If he is two years old and hasn't been neutered yet I would imagine his tail would be covered in blackheads- studtail. And the kink may just be the way his tail is curled, but even if it is kinked he should be fine. Just ask her if he has any problems using the litterbox or anything.

Good luck, hope everything works out!!

 

[miamileos]

Thank you for the fast responses! The breeder is very legit and quite reputable, has good references, and been in practice for quite some time. I would also go pick him up so its not like I would pay before and ask him to be shipped or something. I was thinking his tail color was stud tail as well because he is not neutered yet. I have another question about him though, do you think he looks over weight? Reason I'm asking is because being over weight has been linked with urinary blockages in males... something I want to avoid at all costs.

P.S. is it just me or does he have really nice whisker pads!?

 

[bthomas]

You are welcome!
I don't think he looks overweight, but I could be wrong.
His whisker pads are great!!!
He has an awesome face

If the breeder is legit, has good references and such, and you can pick him up then I say go for it!
Have you asked if he has been scanned for HCm?

 

[admin]

Thank you for the fast responses! The breeder is very legit and quite reputable, has good references, and been in practice for quite some time. I would also go pick him up so its not like I would pay before and ask him to be shipped or something. I was thinking his tail color was stud tail as well because he is not neutered yet. I have another question about him though, do you think he looks over weight? Reason I'm asking is because being over weight has been linked with urinary blockages in males... something I want to avoid at all costs.

P.S. is it just me or does he have really nice whisker pads!?

I think he looks great, a little chunky, that can easily be adjusted with diet, if it all seems well and the breeder is local with a good reputation i would jump in! good luck keep us posted!

 

[Boonecat]

What a beautiful face on him. The stud tail is no big deal, nothing that can't be corrected once neutered. His tail looks ok. Can't really make out the eye color, but as long as you know the breeder is ligit... I'd adopt this cat. Go pay him a visit & bring your wallet just in case

ps: Yes, his whisker pads are gorgeous!

 

[zinchik]

he is gorgeous ) face is very cute and fascinating

regarding the tail color -- I believe that what they call "black heads" on the tail. My Kika has the same -- I just give it a little scrubbing every time she is having a bath and those things starting to fade slowly

good luck with this boy

 

[Hairless Blessing]

He is a handsome guy, I wish you the best.

 

[KitCatty]

Wow! What a stunner!!!! His eyes look blue to me up close. One of my boys has grn eyes and they look different in pictures.... Also his tail looks fine and as for the drk coloring as others said stud tail. I wouldnt be worried about weight you can fix that easily. I say go for it!!!

 

[miamileos]

Oh my gosh you guys are so helpful! Thanks everyone soooo much for helping me feel at ease about this handsome young man! Just one more question about his tail though. Does the tip look kinked/broken? Or could it just be the way he's holding it

You guys are the BEST!!!

 

[toasty]

It looks kinked to me, but I'm n expert.
He's beautiful!

 

[Cathie]

It looks kinked or broken/healed to me, but unless you were planning on showing, I would not hesitate to go get him. His weight is something that can be changed. But really does not look to bad to be either.

 

[miamileos]

I feel like I am being suck a PAIN for this breeder lol. I am asking SOOO many questions

 

[kimmyhm]

He's a stunner, everyone has offered you great advice, pay him a visit see were you go from there, I wouldn't pass up the opportunity

 

[susi794]

I think he has a stunning face. His eyes look blue to me. His tail--well, I can't tell. But if you aren't planning on showing him, the tail won't matter if it is kinked. As for the color--I agree with everyone else that it's most likely stud tail. The price is good as far as I'm concerned. I would say if you want a sphynx, this is a great find.

 

[miamileos]

You all have been so great to me! I asked the breeder via email if his tail was kinked.. she didnt exactly say no, she said he was shown and is a champion so his tail is fine. Only reason I'm concerned about a possible kink is because while working as a vet tech I have seen cats with broken tails develop nerve damage leading to other issues with their hind legs and sometimes problems going to the bathroom. Wouldnt want that for my baby!

 

[susi794]

If he is a champion and only two, why is she getting rid of him? Is he sterile?

 

[miamileos]

She told me because he is too closely related to the line and she still uses his father

 

[Cathie]

That would be a good reason to sell him.

 

[NYYoda]

I feel sorry for him, he is so adorable!

 

[miamileos]

There is another breeder close to me who will soon have three girls coming up for adoption. Their fee is only $200, but every two years they will contractually have to be HCM scanned and when they perish, there is a mandatory autopsy. I am torn!!! Male?? Female?? Small fee now but more later?? Bigger fee now but no contractual obligations??? AHHHH

 

[Alimoore]

mmmmh In my opinion I would go with the boy. It kinda sounds like that breeder is using those kittens as test subjects. Also my dog passed away recently and it was hard enough handling that that I dont think I would want to handle having him cut up as well.

 

[miamileos]

Yea, I've always given my babies proper burials, but I can see why she would want to know whats up with her lines. Agh! This is hard! Is it normal for Sphynx to be continually scanned for HCM? I was under the impression it was maybe only a few times throughout the cats life..

 

[Beloverly]

I am not a expert. I paid $90 for my Sphynx. He came fully vetted. Archie came from a Sphynx breeder, but she happened to have rescued him from somebody so he was only so "cheap" because he was a rescue. However I have seen quite a few Sphynx breeders, rescues, and owners around sell there Sphynx for even less than $300. So because he is a adult that sounds reasonable to me

His eyes look very blue to me, and he also looks like a flame point to me? but again I don't know that much. My boy is either a cream and white or cream point and they look very similar except that male appears to have more reddish points.

His tail does not look kinked, just curled up. My Sphynx curls his tail in weird ways all the time. However his tail does look oddly discolored. It could just be dirty, or his color could be showing on his tail where he has a little more fuzz so it looks dark and weird.

For some reason it seems weird to me that the breeder would keep him so long then decide to let him go. I read the reasoning's and such but I would think the breeder would have decided not to keep him for those exact reasons and had sold him as a kitten for a lot more than waiting for so long. Or at least sold him earlier. I would go meet him and try to make as sure as possible he has no behavioral issues, with the litter box, other cats, people.... ect