Sphynx Cat Care

It is a common belief that because the Sphynx is a hairless breed, that they are low-maintenance. This is not true!

Bodies

Because a Sphynx's skin gets oily and dirty, they need to be bathed more often than other cats. Our kitties are used to Dove Extra Moisturizing Shampoo, or Johnson's Baby Shampoo. Some kitties will enjoy baths, while others do not. If your cat does not enjoy baths, you may use baby wipes. We use Huggies Extra Care with Lanolin (Fragrance Free).

Ears

Being a hairless breed, Sphynx lack hair in their ears to trap dirt and other particles. As a result, Sphynx's ears need to be cleaned at least once a week. You can obtain an ear cleansing solution from your vet. Sphynx are also prone to yeast infections of the ear. We recommend Tresaderm Opthalmic ointment which can be obtained from your veterinarian. You can clean the ears with solution and Q Tips (but don't let them eat the Q Tips- most cats think these are toys!) 

Nose and Eyes

The Sphynx do not have hairs around their noses and eyes which prevent particles from being trapped in the eyes and nose. You may want to just simply wipe the corners of their eyes and check for small mucus buildup in and around the nose weekly.

Feet

Again, because Sphynx do not have hair, dirt gets trapped in and around paws and claws. We recommend baby wipes with lanolin, as they help remove the dirt and buildup. Do this once a week, also.

Outside

Don't let your Sphynx go outside! Going outside exposes Sphynx to a variety of risks, including poisonous plants, and diseases. Because Sphynx do not have hair, they are at risk for sunburn.

Diet

We feed and recommend Blue Buffalo Wilderness (Grain Free) as a dry food formula. Because cats also need a high protein source, we also supplement twice daily with a raw meat diet. It is easy and healthy, and helps your Sphynx maintain an ideal weight. Here is a recipe we recommend:

Per each cup of raw meat (the coarsest grind you can manage) add:

One heaping tablespoon of whole milk yogurt. You may also add one can of cat food (I use Friskies, but any kind will do). This is especially useful when "switching" cats to fresh food. This amount will easily feed three or four cats one meal (because there is not lots of "filler," your cats will not each as much).

Meat - Ground beef, lamb, chicken, turkey - NO pork - (the coarser the ground, the better). You can also add some organ meats of the same animal (for example, beef liver with beef, etc). Beef heart is great - but it is not an organ meat (you can use beef heart as the main meat).

Optional - use grapefruit seed extract (citricide), especially with poultry meats. For each pound take 6 oz of spring water (or low salt broth) add 4 drops grapefruit seed extract and mix into meat. Add water and/or broth until you get the consistency of thick chili.

Feed at least twice per day. You may freeze or keep in the refridgerator for up to 3 days (I freeze single portions, packed in the deli containers available from Smart and Final, and let defrost in refridgerator for 24 hours before feeding). DO NOT DEFROST IN MICROWAVE.

The following are options/substitutions/special needs ingredients: 
1. One tablespoon of canned pumpkin (the pumpkin ONLY - not the pumpkin pie mix). This is not really necessary, but good for cats who may need a bit of extra fiber, like long-hairs who have fur-ball problems.

2. If you DO NOT use yoghurt - Kitty Bloom brand calcium supplement per package directions (including adding the salt - for more tasty meals, substitute chicken or beef stock mix for part of the salt) and Kitty Bloom brand vitamin supplement per package directions. You can substitute bone meal, or other calcium per various authors, but I currently use the Kitty Bloom as it is designed specifically for a raw meat feline diet. You can order Kitty Bloom from Double S.

3. Two or three times a week add some coat supplement if your cat has dry skin or coat problems. If stools get too loose, cut back on oil.

4. 1 teaspoon aloe vera juice (be sure that it does not contain sodium benzoate and do not use during pregnancy). This is very helpful for any digestive problems and/or allergies.

5. Sprinkle acidophilus over food at mealtime. Especially helpful for cats who have been recently on antibiotics or have had any sort of digestive problem. (Not really necessary at all with the yoghurt)

6. Sprinkle some Florzayme or Prozyme over meal just before serving.. Especially helpful when changing a cat over to fresh food from commercial food. Some oriental-type breeds seems to require more enzymes.

Consult your holistic veterinarian before making changes to your cat's diet.

Copyright 2007 Laurie Schiff www.fatpet.com

 

Sphynx FAQ

What food do you feed your cats?

Our cats are free fed grain free dry food (Blue Buffalo Wilderness Duck Formula) and meat twice daily (see above recipe)

Which litter do you use?

We use only silica gel (crystal) litter.

Do they get cold?

A general rule of thumb is if you are comfortable, they are comfortable. If they are cold, Sphynx will find a warm place: under a blanket, in your bed, under each other, etc. I put baby blankets over all of my cat beds for them to bury under.

Can I use a topical flea treatment on my Sphynx?

Yes. When obtained from your veterinarian, these products are safe for cats, but bear in mind that the risk comes from the cat ingesting the product, so you will need to wait for it to soak into the skin before applying the entire tube.

How often do you bathe your cats, what do you bathe them with, and how do you bathe them?

From a very early age, my cats get bathed on a regular basis. I never bathe in a sink, always the bathtub. Note that they generally prefer bathing at first if YOU are in the bath with them. Especially with kittens, I like to make it enjoyable for them by putting rubber duckies or other toys in the tub to distract them. My cats generally love bath time. This is not true for all Sphynx, however.
My cats are bathed according to an individual basis. Some need baths every week, while some need baths every few weeks.
I use Johnson's Creamy Baby Oil Baby Wash, as it cleans while adding moisture. I apply a small amount of product to a soft microfiber cloth to wash them.

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