Health Care

Sphynx need to be bathed. They produce oil on their skin and because there is no hair- the oil has nowhere to go. So they need to be bathed with baby soap at least once a week if not more- it depends on the cat.

They also need their ears cleaned. They get a black waxy oily substance in their ears and they need to be carefully cleaned at least once a week. You can use mineral oil, some alcohol swabs, baby wipes or Q-tips- but care must be taken so you don’t go too deep and puncture an eardrum. The sheaths of the nails need to be cleaned also as they collect blackish oily substance.

Eyes should be carefully wiped with a clean wet cloth as needed. Because there are no eyelashes the tears that are normally produced can collect in the eyes. If not cleaned- this can leave an orange or black tear stain.

Kittens can often have stained teeth. This discoloration is from the oil on their mother’s skin. Their adult teeth will come in pearly white!

The sphynx cat breed is known to be prone to Upper Respiratory Infections (URI) or Colds. They are especially susceptible under stressful situations, such as moving to their new homes or being shipped. Usually, they get over this by themselves, but sometimes they need to be put on antibiotics. Your vet will know how to take care of this.

As far as temperature goes, if you are comfortable your sphynx should be comfortable. But it is always recommended that there is a blanket or warm spot the cat/kitten can snuggle into if it is cold.

Sphynx cats have a higher metabolism than most cats because they need to work a little harder to keep their body temperature warm due to the hairless factor. It is important to keep food and water available at all times so they can eat as much as they need to. Sphynx should be an indoor cat only. Due to the hairlessness, they can freeze and sunburn very quickly.

When you choose to get your Sphynx, here are a few recommendations:

Recommended Items to have before bringing home your new Sphynx Kitten:

• Royal Canin hard and canned kitten food (recommended)
• Food and water bowls
• Litter
• Litter Box
• Cat beds/blankets
• Heated kitty house - Safe heating can be created with SnuggleSafe heating pad
• Baby Soap – (I recommend using a scrub glove to gently clean them well-be careful to not be to ruff)
• Cat nail clippers
• Antibacterial wipes
• Q-Tips
• Clothes - If your house is cooler than 78 degrees Fahrenheit then I recommend some fun examples of dresses and shirts see the Sophisticated Cat.
• Toys
• Spray bottle for discipline (Kitties don’t understand spanking)
• Scratch post – optional
• Nail covers, such as Kitty Caps, to protect your furniture and clothing (MostSphynx cats love to sit on shoulders which can damage clothing.) – optional