CARE AND MAINTENANCE       

Cats, regardless of all the myths, do require some care.  Sphynx require 'different' care than their haired cousins.

1. Weekly bathing           
2. Ear Cleaning
3. Nail Clipping
4. Food
5. Water
6. Vitamin Supplements

Weekly Bathing

Sphynx lack hair, therefore their skin tends to get oily and they usually require weekly baths. Some cats require less bathing and some more. These baths only take a short amount of time because they are hairless.  Another positive is that they dry in minutes - and no hair dryer is needed!

Most Sphynx kittens are acclimated to baths from the time they are very small so MOST are not going to be quite as difficult as other cats that are not used to getting baths.  Although, some can still be difficult!

Please inquire with the breeder about the degree of oiliness in the parent's lines. This will often indicate how much bathing your Sphynx will need.

Another tip - overbathing can actually cause your Sphynx to produce more oil and actually make them dirtier than before... please try not to overbathe too.

I use Neutrogena body wash on my Sphynx and have had good success with it. On the ones that tend to be oiler, I use the Malaseb shampoo which can be ordered on the internet. Many other breeders use Baby Shampoo and enjoy it as it does not harm the eyes. Each breeder has his/her own shampoo/body wash she likes best. You just need to find what works best for your cat.

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Ear Cleaning

The Sphynx require more frequent ear cleanings than other cats because they do not have hair in their ears.  The usual is about a once a week.  Some Sphynx require more frequent cleanings and some less.

To clean the ears, you can use a baby-wipe on the outside and a cotton swab to clean the harder to reach areas. I also use ear cleansing solution from my vet to loosen up the wax and this makes the ears easier to clean.

A mixture of vinegar and water (1 part vinegar to 3 parts water) can help reduce the waxy build-up.

Tip for when take your new Sphynx kitten to the vet for the health check: Some vets will insist that your new kitten has ear mites because they do have more wax than many other breeds of cats. Please make sure you get a slide done to confirm that is the case. A lot of times it is not ear mites, just a lot of wax.

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Nail Clipping

This should be done bi-weekly.  Their nails can become quite sharp if not tended to. Clipping nails will protect your furniture, yourself and your other animals.  You should buy a good pair of cat nail clippers and ensure that you are cutting above the vein in their nails.  (Cutting the vein in the cat's nails is quite painful for the cat.) If you are unsure how to do this, ask your vet or a professional groomer for a demonstration of instructions. I have never used them, but some cat owners recommend a product called Softpaws.

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Food                       

Ensure that your cat is getting quality food.  The first ingredient should be chicken or chicken meal. The first ingredient should NOT be corn meal. Remember that cats are carnivores... so it is important that they eat MEAT.  A lot of the 'cheaper' products contain ONLY the minimum requirements to meet the standards... there has been a lot of research done this and some research indicates that the minimum may not be enough for all cats.  The first ingredient should be "Chicken" NOT Chicken by-product or anything corn.

Another item that is essential is getting a CERAMIC or a STAINLESS STEEL BOWL. Do not  use plastic bowls- it is hard to properly remove all the bacteria from plastic and use of plastic bowls is known to be the culprit of infections and diseases.

Sphynx generally eat more than other cats because they lack fur and they have to burn more energy to keep themselves warm.

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Water

Water is not just water...

hard water can be tough on your cat's system so you should give your cats purified water.  Water from a Brita or Pur system is economical and should do the trick.  Cats do not need the nutrients or minerals from the water - they get their nutrients from their food.  According to many scientific studies untreated water can be hard on cats' kidneys and other parts of their system. It is better to be safe than sorry!

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Supplements and Vitamins

There have been few scientific studies done on vitamin supplements given to cats.  So please read this information with that in mind, research and consult your vet.

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