Sphynx cats have big personalities and enjoy being involved in all family activities. They tend to be sweet tempered, active, intelligent, inquisitive, entertaining, outgoing and above all, love to be the center of attention.
Whatever you are looking for in a feline companion, you are certain to find it in the Sphynx breed.
Routine care is required; such as bathing, toenail clipping, and ear cleaning. The sphynx breed is a very robust and healthy breed. I do find they like to eat more then most breeds and I would advise you not to leave your dinner plate unattended; you may come back to your kitty eating off your plate!
Sphynx cats must live INDOORS, due to their lack of hair they freeze easily. They will also SUNBURN quickly.
BATHING
Since the Sphynx has very little hair to absorb body oils they have to be bathed more often than normal cats, at least once every 2-3 weeks. When bathing a Sphynx, you can use a mild hypoallergenic tear free cat shampoo or an Oatmeal shampoo with conditioner. To bathe you will also need a light weight scrub sponge to aid you in getting them clean. Please remember to run the sponge thru your washing machine after each bath. If your Sphynx gets dirty in between baths they can be wiped down with a mild hypoallergenic baby wipe. Kittens start having baths at 4-5 weeks of age. Although Sphynx have very little hair they still lick and groom themselves.
EARS
Your cats ears need to be cleaned periodically as they will develop wax build up if neglected. The lack of hair on their ears makes it easy for dust and oils to settle in. To begin cleaning their ears, use a few drops of ear cleaning solution and massage the base of the ear. Then, use Q-tips to remove the dirt and oils. Never go further down in to the ear than you can see. To clean around the inside of the ear use baby wipes. Cleaning your sphynxs ears should be done a few times a week. Slow and easy is the best approach.
EYES
The Sphynx also lack eyelashes, which can result in dirt in the corners of their eyes. This can cause their eyes to look red and irritated. Use a clean soft washcloth with warm water to gently wipe the cats’ eyes and face. It is always a good idea to ask your Veterinarian for a tub of Terramycin Ophthalmic Ointment or Tobramycin Ophthalmic solution to keep on hand if you notice your cats’ eye’s seem to be irritated.
NAILS
The nails need to be kept clipped and clean. Always make sure the clippers you are using are sharp to prevent the nail from crushing or cracking which can be very painful to your cat. Keep styptic powder on hand to stop bleeding in case you accidentally cut too close to the quick. Having a good scratching post will also help eliminate them from sharpening their claws on your furniture.
FEEDING
Sphynx breed eats more food then a haired cat in order to help to maintain their body temperature and keep up with their high metabolism rate. Always feed a premium dry and wet cat food that promotes a healthy immune system and digestive care. Keep their water bowl filled with fresh water at all the times. If possible purchase a fresh water running fountain. It is important to clean their water and food bowls once a week to prevent bacteria build up.
When your kitten goes home, he or she will be eating Merrick wet and dry food. Growing kittens need to eat a lot, having access to dry food 24 hours a day is ideal. Cats and kittens eating wet food have increased fluid intake which keeps their kidneys and bladder healthy. Canned foods are higher in proteins and lower in carbohydrates, so wet food is recommended for at least the first year. At one year they will be ready for adult cat formula.
LITTER BOX
Your kitten is used to many different kinds of litter boxes so feel free to pick one that works best for your home as well as any kind of scoop-able litter. Every two weeks your cats litter box will need to be emptied and cleaned with an enzymatic pet cleaner such as Natures Miracle. Make sure the litter box is rinsed completely and if possible put out in the sun to dry. This will help eliminate any viruses, fungus and protozoa living in the their box.
TOYS
Sphynx cats are extremely active and intelligent as a result it is important to have a lot of toys to prevent them from getting board and using your home as their playground. Remember when buying toys for your kitten they love anything that makes a sound. Sphynx are very strong and can break plastic toys very easily. They love interactive toys such as cat trees, crackling tunnels, feather teaser feather wand, meow mite cat toy glove, crinkle ball, spool toy, light ball toys, nature latice ball and mylar ball. These are just a few toys your kitten will like.
TOXIC FOOD AND PLANTS
The Sphynx breed love human food, as a result it is very important to know which foods can be toxic to them. These are a few of the POISONOUS foods to watch out for: Raisins, grapes, onions, tomatoes and chocolate. The internet has many resources to help you become familiar with, not just foods, but plants as well that may cause problems for your cat. Here is a list of common house plants toxic to cats;
Amaryllis (Amaryllis sp.)
Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale)
Azaleas and Rhododendrons (Rhododendron sp.)
Castor Bean (Ricinus communis)
Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum sp.)
Cyclamen (Cyclamen sp.)
English Ivy (Hedera helix)
Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe sp.)
Lilies (Lilium sp.)
Marijuana (Cannabis sativa)
Oleander (Nerium oleander)
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum sp.)
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta)
Spanish thyme (Coleus ampoinicus)
Tulip and Narcissus bulbs (Tulipa and Narcissus sp.)
Yew (Taxus sp.)