Care of Sphynx Cats

The first Sphynx cat was a genetic anomaly, born hairless in 1966. Since then, breeders have expanded the line by breeding hairless cats with regular cats, then back again, making for a stable breed of cat that the Cat Fanciers' Association says has few genetic or health problems. There are special considerations in caring for a Sphynx, though, because of its hairlessness. These are, of course, in addition to the typical duties involved in cat ownership -- cleaning the litterbox, keeping fresh water available, visiting the veterinarian regularly, and the like.

Things You'll Need

  • Ear-cleaning solution for cats
  • Cotton swabs
  • Baby wipes
  • Cat shampoo
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Instructions

    • 1

      Keep your Sphynx indoors. They are not meant to be outside cats.

    • 2

      Keep the temperature of your house between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Consider the Sphynx to be a "naked" cat -- if you're cold naked, your cat will be, too.

    • 3

      Feed your Sphynx high-quality food with the right balance of protein and fat. Sphynx cats have a higher metabolism than other cats to help keep them warm, so they eat a lot. Keep dry food out all the time, and add a serving of wet food once or twice a day.

    • 4

      Clean your Sphynx's ears once a week. Since they have little or no hair on their ears, it's easier for dirt to get in. Put a few drops of a specially formulated ear solution for cats in the ear and rub the outer base of the ear to massage the solution in. Use a cotton swab to clean out any visible wax, oil or dirt -- "visible" being the key word. Don't stick the swab into parts of the ear you cannot see. If you need to wipe off the part of the ear that sticks up from the head, you can use regular baby wipes.

    • 5

      Bathe your cat regularly. The fur on other cats helps absorb their body oil, but the Sphynx has no such mechanism. Use a gentle shampoo specially formulated for cats.

    • 6

      Spay or neuter your cat if you're not a breeder. Besides preventing cat overpopulation and unwanted kittens, it makes for a more pleasant household. Female Sphynxes can get very loud and annoying when they're in heat; intact males mark their territory by spraying.