It is very important to understand that just because Sphynx don’t have fur that they are not low maintenance! Here is what I do to take care of my kitties. This, of course, varies from owner to owner and sometimes day to day, but it should give you a good basis to start with. If you have any questions about any of the things I do, please
email me!
Daily:
» Scoop Litter (2x). I change the litter and clean the whole box with Clorox Disinfecting Wipes or a 1:32 bleach solution once a week. When it's nice out, I hose the boxes out, bleach them, and leave them in the sun to dry. This will vastly improve the life of the litter box, and keep it clean and fresh smelling for you AND your cat.
» Feed. This will vary from cat to cat. I feed Royal Canin hairball, and I also make a homemadde raw diet for my cats. They do very well on the raw meat diet, but need some extra carbs from the dry kibble to keep their Sphynxy bellies. I have tried most of the expensive, all natural, foods and found them to be too rich for the sensitive Sphynx stomach and results in diarrhea. Royal Canin, Eukanuba, or Iams (hairball formula) and canned or raw meat added in seems to work the best for me.
» Wipe eyes. Since Sphynx don’t have eyelashes, they are prone to getting dirt in their eyes. Make sure the eyes are clean and bright, with no crusties or runnies.
Weekly:
» Bath time! This will vary from cat to cat. Basically, start with once a week, and adjust to meet your cat’s needs to keep them clean. I take mine in the shower with me, but many people use their kitchen or bathroom sinks. I use Dr. Bronners All-One Natural Soaps. You want to make sure whatever you use is gentle, or it could give you kitty little zits or dry out their skin.
» Trim nails. Since you won’t be declawing your Sphynx, it is important (especially to your furniture) to keep their nails blunt. This is easy!! Wait til your kitty is relaxed on your lap, grab a pair of nail clippers, push the claw out by squeezing the paw pad gently, and clip! Once you’ve done it a couple times, you’ll get fast and your kitten won’t even know you’re doing it. Be careful not to cut the quick (the live part of the nail). If your cat has light coloured claws, you can see inside the nail easily. You can see a darker pink part inside the claw, this is the quick. If you accidentally cut this, you will know as your cat will probably yell at you. It is harder on a dark cat, but just cut the tips of the claws until you’re at ease. I do this after the kitties baths, when they’re snuggled up in a warm towel drying off.
» Clean ears. This will also vary from cat to cat. I use Veterinarian's Best Ear Wash and Ear Dry. It works quickly and well, and their ears smell like cloves. This is a necessity! Your cat’s ears will fill up with this nasty, gross, black waxy gunk if you don’t keep them clean!
» Clean nail sheaths. Black stuff will build up around your cats claws. I use baby wipes and my nails to gently clean this away.
» Clean teeth. Sphynx can have iffy teeth. You want to keep them clean to avoid dental problems. I use Kitty Teeth Wipes and just wipe inside their mouths. Can’t hurt!
Some Random Other Stuff:
» Wipe mouth. Sphynx can be sloppy
eaters, and I have to occasionally wipe around their mouths.
»Wipe heinie. Yes, it’s not fun, but sometimes, ya just gotta help em out a little bit. Baby or Pet wipes are great for these random jobs, and also for quick wipe downs in between baths. All in all, this seems like a lot. But it takes virtually no significant time to keep your babies clean and happy. I do almost all of this stuff while I’m watching the CSIs. I also use it as an excuse to get my man to do some household chores. Example: “I have to wipe the cat’s butt, honey, can you vacuum the house, please? Unless you want to wipe…” Works EVERY time!
