Kitten or alien? The unique beauty of hairless sphinxes is captured in stunning photographs

For some they are the most beautiful and majestic creatures, for others they look like kittens that survived a nuclear apocalypse.

These photos show the unique beauty of Sphynx cats, a breed known for its complete lack of fur.

They were shot by Alicia Rius, a Catalan photographer based in Los Angeles, California.

Ms Rius says she immediately fell in love with Sphynx cats the first time she saw them and has so far photographed 14 different cats for her project.

She said: “When I started making these series, I wanted the audience to experience the same mixture of feelings that I felt when I photographed them.

“I hope to inspire admiration for such a rare breed, arouse curiosity and a desire to learn more about these hairless cats, and leave the viewer in amazement.” The reaction was quite interesting.

"People who didn't like them approached me and said they could now appreciate their unique beauty, while there were others who had always been fascinated by them, like me."

“I think this breed falls into two separate categories of love and hate without much of a middle ground, which I hope to change as I go along.”

Since she first photographed a Sphynx cat in San Francisco in 2013, the photographer has gradually built up her body of work, hoping to one day turn her collection into a book, The Disturbing Beauty of the Sphynx Cat.

For this series, Alicia strives to photograph animals using plenty of natural light and only a few backdrops.

Perhaps the most important factor when photographing cats is time, Ms. Rius said, because by allowing the cats to become familiar, the equipment and environment make for better photos.

Ms Rius, 34, said: “Having a cat without that typical protective coat allowed me to recognize and experience every emotion and sensation that a Sphynx cat felt when she was exposed to her bare flesh.

“Open-minded people who think outside the traditional cat box are intrigued by this unique feline appearance.

"They may not have fur, but when you pet them, it's like petting velvet."

“These cats may appear irritable, aggressive or a little strange on the outside, but in fact their personalities are bright, joyful, very affectionate and quite sociable.

“This breed is a great example of the famous cliché: “Appearances can be deceiving.”