With big eyes, big ears, short nubs of whiskers, the feel "of a warm peach" and a price tag of more than $1,000, Kibbi is not an ordinary house cat.

Edith Dougherty's 9-month-old pet is a sphynx.

Sphynxes are a relatively new breed of cat seen since the 1960s, and they are known for their genetic mutation of hairlessness. (Think Mr. Bigglesworth in the Austin Powers movies.)

Mrs. Dougherty did not adopt Kibbi because she favored the sphynx's unique appearance, however.

Having grown up with cats, Mrs. Dougherty missed her feline companions after she married her husband because he is allergic. Determined to be a cat owner again, Mrs. Dougherty pestered her husband until he agreed that if he did not exhibit any allergy symptoms at a visit to a breeder, she could take one home. And she did.

Some sphynx bloodlines are hypo-allergenic and some are not. Luckily for Mrs. Dougherty, Kibbi and her husband are completely compatible.

Besides Kibbi's somewhat unusual appearance, the most noticeable difference between Kibbi and Mrs. Dougherty's past whiskered pets is that Kibbi is "real sweet, real loving," Mrs. Dougherty said.

Being affectionate is a common characteristic in this breed, along with the slim body, big belly and a wedge-shaped head.

Sphynxes also require a little more maintenance than the average cat.

They eat more because they have higher metabolisms to keep them warm. Vets and breeders discourage letting them outside because of their sensitivity to sunburns.

Mrs. Dougherty also has to wash Kibbi once a week because Kibbi lacks hair that would normally absorb natural oils in her skin. Mrs. Dougherty must pay attention to the temperature, too. If she is cold, then she assumes Kibbi is, too. Kibbi has a small sweater to keep her warm on colder days.

So, who wouldn't want to trade a little fur and sneezing for more affection?