Your Sphynx and his/her care!

Personality: The Sphynx cat is possibility one of the most affectionate, sociable and intelligent cat in the world. They are "In your face" 24/7 and very much "people cats".  They will greet you, snuggle up and sleep with you, You will have no say in the matter what so ever...... Sphynx will soon learn to play fetch and love to play.  They go nuts on elaborate climbing cat trees and readily will use a scratch post rather than your furniture. They love children and other animals especially small active dogs! They make a wonderful addition to any family, they thrive on attention.

Characteristics: Despite appearances, the Sphynx is not a totally naked cat. Their body is covered with  a soft down, which is  almost imperceptible to both the eye and the touch. The  texture of the skin  is like a skin on a peach, or a chamois cloth . Sphynx have some fine hair over the bridge of their nose and on their feet. Also some fine hair can be found on their tails and back of the ears and scrotum of the males.  Degree of coat depends on several factors , e.g. climate, hormones hereditary predispositions. Their bodies area warmer to the touch then other cats, but in fact their temperature is not higher then any other cat. Sphynx are very clever and they will pop under a blanket when it is getting cold, or find a warm human body or dog or cat to curl up with....They can be very demanding to get under your blankets, even scratching at you and the blankets to make room!

Kittens are very wrinkly, as they develop they grow into their skin, maintaining some of the wrinkles, especially on the head. but should not affect the Sphynx normal functions.

Sphynx are indoor cats as they can easily get burnt by the sun, and have little protection should they come across other neighborhood cats, dogs or other predators.  Sphynx can go out under supervision and weather permitting.  Ideally on a harness or in a enclosed safe garden or a purpose built run. Males are generally 25% larger then the females, and the Sphynx comes in all colors and patterns. Sphynx are not a hypoallergenic cat. If you are allergic to the proteins in cat's saliva, you will be allergic to the Sphynx as well. however some people who are allergic to cats do tolerate the Sphynx breed better. If your allergic to hair and dander, this is the species for you!

General Care: Bathing As the Sphynx is naked, they require a bath from time to time, this will depend on your individual Sphynx some get a lot more dirtier then others. From once a week to once a month they will need a bath.  In general cats do not like water, but they learn to tolerate it, and a good breeder would have been bathing a litter of Sphynx from a early age. Bathing can be easy if you are well prepared, if not your not you will end up a lot more wet then the Sphynx and feel like you have just soaked everything but the cat....A warm fluffy towel ( tumbled dried)  The kitchen sink half full of warm water with a gentle anti-microbial/anti fungal shampoo at the ready. Bath your cat when he is sleepy or played out. We fill a dish with the shampoo and warm water and a 1/2 a sink with clean water ahead of time, then bring the cat. They tolerate water well, but the sound and feel of running water can be upsetting. Set them into the dry side and bath like you would a baby using a baby sponge and gently wiping in all the creases. They can feel like an eel when soapy and wet!! After they have been thoroughly washed set them in the clean water and using a large cup rinse them...2 people can make a quick job of the whole procedure!  Once bathed wrap in towel and dry off...which will not take long. Lots of fuss so the cat feels at ease, and job done. 

Ears: These are usual huge, so cleaning on a regular basis is a must. Because there is a lack of hair around their ears, they tend to get a build up more so then a coated cat. A cotton bud moistened with baby oil, commercial ear cleaner or baby wet wipe will soon have those ears sparkling.

Eyes & Nose: Due to the lack of  eyelashes, the Sphynx eyes can result in dirt in the corners. Gentle wiping with a damp cloth. Do not use a baby wipe. The Sphynx has no hair around their nose so a wipe with a cloth is required once in awhile just to prevent particles from being trapped  around the nostril.

Paws &  Claws: The paw of the Sphynx stands high like that of a hound with a extra thick pad., giving the impression they are walking on air cushions....  Again due to the lack of fur, paws get grubby, and claws need a manicure,  by gently pressing on the toes to make the claws stick out you will then be able to wipe them with a cloth or baby wet wipe to remove any build up around the claw or between the toes. The claws need also to be clipped from time to time. Again press the paw and clip off the tip.  Notice from the image below that the pink tissue ( the quick)  on the inside of the claw, cutting into it will be cause pain and bleeding. Remove the sharp tip below the quick ( away form the toe) Clipping half way between the end of the quick and the tip of the claw. If you feel you are unable to do this, you Vet will be happy to clip claws for you.

Feeding: Because of the lack of hair their body has to work harder to keep themselves warm, this creates a higher metabolism. Which in turn Sphynx will eat more often then regular cats. Sphynx are not normally fussy eaters and as long as it is good quality food,  you will have a happy contented cat. Always feed a premium cat food. Do not feed wet foods as a rule, but only dry kibbles.

Litter Tray: From a kitten the Sphynx will have been litter trained, and in general all cats like to keep themselves clean. There is a wide range of litters for sale and individual owners can choose which type suits their cat and how they deal with disposing of it...Litter tray comes in all shapes and sizes... corner fitting, hooded, with or without cat flap. self cleaning, etc....but at the end of the day all litter trays need to be thoroughly cleaned with disinfectant and hygienically  kept at all times.