How to Care for a Hairless Cat

Sure they look weird, but hairless cat make excellent pets. They are affectionate, loyal, and have a silly disposition that many people compare to dogs. However, caring for a hairless cat is different from taking care of a regular domestic cat.

Things You'll Need

  • Warm, soft blankets
  • Mild, no-dye, allergy-free shampoo
  • Ear cleaner
  • Cotton swabs
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remember that they are naked. Be sure to keep plenty of blankets around your house, so that your hairless cat can get warm and relax when it wants. A good rule of thumb for temperature is to think, "If I were naked right now, would I be cold?" If the answer is yes, then your hairless cat is probably cold.

    • 2

      Allow plenty of time to spend with your cat. Hairless cats are an extremely affectionate breed. They need more love and attention than most cats. If you give love to your hairless cat, it will be by your side forever.

    • 3

      Bathe your hairless cat weekly. Because the cat has no hair, its natural oils in the skin can get on fabric surfaces. (For example, if your hairless cat is grey and you haven’t given it a bath in a few weeks, it may leave a cat mark after sleeping on your white sheets.) Use a mild, no-dye, allergy-free shampoo. Lightly rub the shampoo on the cat and rinse. I know that you are probably thinking that most cats don’t like water and don’t like getting bathed. While this is also true of hairless cats, if the breeder did her job right, the hairless cat has been given a bath every week since birth, so you shouldn’t have any problem.

    • 4

      Clean out your hairless cat's ears every couple of weeks. Hairless cats tend to get a lot of guck in their ears; it is unknown why hairless cats have a greater problem with this than other cats breeds. However, this is an easy fix. You can pick up some liquid ear cleaner at you local pet store or vet's office. Drop a couple of drops of ear cleaner into your hairless cat's ear, then close the ear by taking the pointy part and draping it over the ear opening. While you have the ear closed, gently massage the ear so that the cleaning solvent gets into the ear. Then take a cotton swab and gently scoop out the guck. Don't go too deep into your hairless cat's ear.

    • 5

      Give your hairless cat has plenty of fresh water, good food and a loving lap to rest its heads on. Take it to the vet when needed. Pure-breed animals like hairless cats typically have more health problem than mixed-breed animals.