People love using labels to describe and mark things, events or even each other. It’s easier to stick a tag on something than to understand it. The same thing happens with genes. If a gene creates an unusual look, then it gets labeled as “designer”, which by the way, is still a very elegant way of naming things. This is nothing new in the breeding world, it was always like that. Let's start with a little history lesson and go back to the 1920s. The chocolate and lilac genes.

You’ve probably seen them — those dreamy white-and-colour cats with just a splash of black on the head, or a tail like it was dipped in paint. They’re called van or harlequin, and their colouring comes from a gene called white spotting — or ws for short. But here’s the twist: Not every cat with this gene looks the same. Some have just cute little socks or a white belly…Others are almost completely white — and yet they don’t carry the gene for dominant white (w) at all. So wha

Imagine this: You’ve got a full painting underneath — rich colours, perfect patterns, a story written in genes. Black, blue, tortie…maybe even a classic tabby. But then? Someone pulls a pure white curtain over the whole canvas. And just like that — poof. It’s all gone. That’s what the white gene (symbol: W) does. It’s not really a colour gene in the traditional sense. It’s more like a genetic blackout. Let’s talk about it. What does it do? Just one copy (w/W) is enough to tur

Every cat has two stories, although most people only notice one of them. The first story is simple because it is written on the surface: the colour of the coat, the shade of the eyes, the length of the body or the shape of the head, the kind of things you notice immediately when you look at a photograph. The second story is harder to read because it is hidden in the genetic code, and even when it does not show on the cat itself it can still be passed on to the kittens, often

A kitten doesn’t come into the world with a ready immune system — it builds one, piece by piece, starting with something as tiny as bacteria. When a kitten is born, it’s a blank slate — sterile, untouched by the outside world. But almost immediately, something beautiful happens. As it nurses, is licked clean, and nestles up against its mother, she shares with it a whole invisible world of microbes. Researchers like Chan et al. (2013) and Zakošek Pipan et al. (2020) have descr

People often like to say, ‘Wow, kittens are so fearless! They watch them darting across the room, leaping on siblings, swatting at a flicker of light on the wall, and they figure — this kitten’s ready for anything. But here’s the truth: what you see on the outside doesn’t tell the whole story. Underneath that playful energy, there’s a brain that’s still working hard to finish wiring itself. It’s busy building the roads, the bridges, the connections that will shape how the ki

We are beyond excited to share some incredible news with all of you! IconicSX Cattery has officially been awarded the prestigious TICA Outstanding Cattery Certificate , a recognition that highlights our dedication to providing a safe, clean, and well-maintained environment for our cats. A Milestone Achievement On 9th January , our cattery underwent a comprehensive inspection by a licensed veterinarian as part of the TICA Outstanding Cattery Program. This process involved an

We are proud to announce that IconicSX Cattery is home to the first Sphynx cat with a genetically confirmed DBE Celestial gene. O ur Queen Sofia is genetically confirmed  heterozygous N/ DBECEL, one of the safest Dominant Blue Eye (DBE) genes recognised today. This line is the best studied and well known for its genetic health*, making it a cornerstone of our breeding program. The DBE-CEL gene , previously classified under the DBE-Altai group, was officially identified and d

There has been growing discussion among breeders about the ALMS1 gene and its connection to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in Sphynx cats. However, some misunderstandings have arisen, particularly in interpreting the clinical data from a recent study. The study focused on a relatively small sample of 55 Sphynx cats. While the data offers valuable insights, it’s important to note that conclusions drawn from such a limited sample should be viewed cautiously. Additionally, si

Recently, I learned that some discussions in a local Facebook group involved mockery of my choice to test my cats for a wide range of genetic markers—beyond those typically associated with the Sphynx breed. It’s ironic, really, how some people seem more focused on exposing their own ignorance than on improving their breeding practices. So, let me set the record straight and focus on what really matters: the health and future of the breed. Exposing Ignorance Let’s start with t