Mr and Mrs F.J. Shinick, an American couple who were living in New Mexico in 1902 were given a pair of hairless cats by the local Pueblo Indians. They were told that these cats were the last survivors of an ancient Aztec breed. The cats were named Dick and Nellie. Dick was reported to be a very powerful cat who could see-off most dogs, but one night his courage was to be his downfall...After getting out he was attacked and killed by a pack of dogs.

Because Dick was not sexually mature the pair were never able to breed. The Shinicks searched all over New Mexico for another hairless mate for Nellie, but to no avail, and were forced to except that the breed was now extinct.

Mutations

Occasionally a natural mutation will occur giving rise to a cat being born with little or no hair, and there have been reports to this effect from all over the globe, dating from 1830. In 1966 a hairless kitten was born in Canada and the line continued, this is now officially recognized as a breed under the name of the Canadian Sphynx Cat.

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