To some, they are the most beautiful and majestic creatures, to others, they look like the kittens that survived a nuclear apocalypse.
These photographs show the unique beauty of the Sphynx cat, a breed known for its complete lack of fur.
They have been shot by Alicia Rius, a Catalonian photographer based in Los Angeles, California.
Captivating kitten: A Sphynx cat hisses at the camera, appearing to be ready to pounce
There be dragons: A close-up of the Sphynx’s face makes it look more like a fantasy beast than a household pet
Reach for the stars: Two cats, one of them seemingly missing as limb, are caught mid-leap as they play up for the camera
Ms Rius says she immediately fell in love with Sphynxes the first time she saw one, and so far, she has photographed 14 different cats for her project.
She said: ‘When I started to do these series, I wanted the viewers to experience the same mixture of feelings I was feeling at the time I was photographing them.
‘I hope to spark a fascination of such a rare breed, awaken a curiosity to want to know more about these hairless cats, and to also leave the viewer in amazement. The reaction has been quite interesting.
‘People who had disliked them have reached out and told me that they can now appreciate their unique beauty, while there have been others who have always been fascinated with them, like myself.
‘I think this breed falls into two distinct love-hate categories without much in the middle, which I hope to change along the way.’
Unique: The Sphynxes have been shot by Alicia Rius, a Catalonian photographer based in Los Angeles, California.
Howling: One cat can be seen seemingly caught in a a loud miaow or a yawn
New angle: Two friendly cats are photographed from underneath a pane of glass
Project: To date: Ms Rius has photographed 14 different Sphynxes, who she identifies through casting calls on her website and social media
Since she first photographed a Sphynx, in San Francisco, in 2013, the photographer has slowly been building a solid body of work, hoping one day to turn her collection into a book, ‘The Disturbing Beauty of the Sphynx Cat.’
For the series, Alicia looks to photograph the animals using an abundance of natural light and only a few backdrops.
Arguably the most important factor in shooting the felines, Ms Rius said, is time – as allowing the cats to familiarize themselves with her, the equipment and environment makes for better shots.
Ms Rius, 34, said: ‘A cat without that protective, typical coat allowed me to recognize and experience each emotion and sensation the Sphynx cat was experiencing, as it was exposed on its raw, naked flesh.
Mythical: The Sphynx is born essentially furless, but its skin is covered in tiny, fine hairs, making its skin feel like velvet
Dance of the cat: The Sphynx’s movements are particularly fascinating as its skin wrinkles and its muscle definition is clear
No hair, don’t care: As it does not have a coat, the Sphynx struggles to retain heat
‘Open-minded people, who think outside of the traditional cat box, are intrigued with this unique cat’s exterior.
‘They may not have fur, but when you pet one, it’s like you’re caressing velvet.
‘These cats may outwardly look edgy, aggressive, or a bit odd – however, their personalities are actually in fact bright, joyful, very affectionate and quite social.
‘This breed is a great example of the notable cliche: ‘Looks can be deceiving.’
Project: Ms Ruis hopes to one day to turn her collection into a book; ‘The Disturbing Beauty of the Sphynx Cat’