How to care for a sphynx cat and other hairless cat breeds - tested and approved tips.
Sphynx cats and other hairless cats breed are almost always a double-take for most people.
With their lack of fur, big eyes and beautiful colors, they can be mesmerizing.
Even those who might not consider themselves “cat people” may be captivated by the odd look and interesting breed characteristics.
For people with allergies to pet dander and fur who are considering owning a pet, a Sphynx cat or some other hairless cat breed may have come up on your search for hypoallergenic cats.
But are sphynx cats actually hypoallergenic? What is involved in taking care of them and how easy is it? Do they have more health concerns than other feline companions?
Let’s examine all this and the proper way to care for a Sphynx cat or kitten.
Sphynx cats require special care
While certain aspects involved in caring for a Sphynx or hairless cats may be pretty simple, they require specialized care in other areas than normal cats.
Primarily, sphynx or other hairless breeds require extremely diligent hygiene upkeep.
While cats are avid groomers, your Sphynx will need a little extra help.
Since there is no hair to distribute the oils produced by the skin, oils and debris build up on the skin and around their nail beds.
Let’s take a look at the first part of Sphynx Care, Grooming.
Grooming and hygiene of a Sphynx cat
Bathing your kitten
Sphynx need to be bathed at least once a month in a hypoallergenic bath shampoo.
You should try not to bath a kitten/cat more than once a month unless they get visibly dirty because they need their natural oils; if you over bath your cat, they will have excess oils, which will disturb their natural pH.
We recommend using hypoallergenic wipes to dry them off of excess oils rather than full baths.
We use Hepper pet wipes.
For new Sphynx owners, Sphynx cats will be “oily” as kittens, but once they meet maturity, their pH will balance out and your cat will not have excess oil or smell.
Get your cat used to bathing as a kitten and this will make this second nature when they’re older.
Nail Care
Cut the nails of your Sphynx weekly.
Use kitten or cat nail clippers.
Clean between their nail beds and in between their toes weekly.
NEVER declaw your cats!
Declawing your cat will cause unbearable pain to your cat and life long issues for them.
Ear Care
Sphynx cats can be prone to earwax buildup, so it’s important to clean their ears regularly.
Use a soft, damp cloth or a cotton ball to gently wipe the inside of the ear.
Avoid using cotton swabs or going too deep into the ear canal, as this can cause injury.
Teeth cleaning
Dental hygiene is important for cats, including sphynx cats.
Brush their teeth regularly with a cat-specific toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush.
You can also provide dental chews or toys to help keep their teeth clean.
Litter Training
I recommend a non-dust forming, clumping litter.
Your Sphynx will be litter trained when they come home. We put in a lot of effort to ensure that our Kittens are litter trained.
Our cats are trained to use both covered and non-covered litter boxes.
Sphynx Enrichment and Playtime
Toys
Sphynx love playing with toys. Buy balls or toys that move as they love chasing things and playing.
It is very important to play with your kitten daily as this helps socialize them.
Avoid toys that have small parts that could be swallowed or toys that could choke your cats and always make sure to supervise playtime.
Cat trees, scratch posts and shelves
You should buy a cat tree or build cat shelves. Sphynx love to jump, and play. You will not need one until they are at least 6-9 months old. You can make wall shelves if it suits you or window seats for cats.
Get scratch posts for your cats as well.
Are you interested in adopting a Sphynx kitten? Then learn more about our adoption process or see our available kittens.