Meet Sidney

Photo by Adam Baron

Here’s a look at one of our most unusual residents in the Woodlands; meet Sidney Baxter Toro. Sidney, a Sphynx cat, is owned by Woodlands residents Eddie and Debbie Toro who purchased her from a breeder in Midlothian, Virginia back in 2003. According to Petinfospot.com, Sphynx cats are a rare breed of cat with extremely little fur, or at most short fuzz over its body, and no whiskers. They are very affectionate and extroverted and like to cuddle with their humans, other humans, and each other.

Sphynxes are also prone to sunburn and sunstroke because they lack the normal protection of fur. According to Debbie, Sidney needs to wear sunscreen for babies because of this sensitivity. In the winter, he needs to wear sweaters because he gets cold. They also tend to get dirty and greasy, since their skin produces the same oils as a fully-furred cat, but the oil is not spread over fur as usual. Sidney gets bathed on a weekly basis and also gets wiped down in between baths with an unscented baby wipe. As pets they are notably more social than “normal” cats and Sidney is no exception to this. He is very vocal and lets his owners know what he wants. Sidney also gets along well with the Toro’s two greyhounds Jane and Gary. Occasionally, he will hiss at them for no reason, but they’ve learned to just ignore him. He also enjoys going for walks in the Woodlands while being pushed in his stroller by Debbie.

Sidney loves all kinds of food and according to Debbie, he will fight her for butter, cheese and shrimp. He also begs like a dog and eats next to them at dinnertime. If Debbie has food or milk on the counter and turns her back for a moment, she will find him eating and drinking it.

You may think that cats like Sidney are hypoallergenic, but they can actually be even worse for severely allergic people than furred cats. While photographing Sidney, my husband was under the impression that his allergies to cats would be no problem with a hairless cat like Sidney, but his allergies started kicking in after a few minutes with him.

The Sphynx is a healthy robust breed however if you are interested in one, make sure you find a reputable breeder. Lack of hair can cause health issues with kittens in the first weeks of life due to susceptibility to respiratory infections. Reputable breeders will not let their kittens go to new homes without being at least 12 weeks of age to ensure the kitten is mature enough to cope in a new environment.