Getting a sphynx kitten

[allisonsingalveston]

Off to see a sphynx kitten next week with the hopes of bringing home when ready in a couple of weeks

What essentials do other sphynx owners recommend?

Jumper 😆

I’d really investigate the problems with the breed , life expectancy and care needs - bathing etc

Blankets and cozy bed. And something very gentle to wash them with. Ear cleaning buds and nail clippers.
Also, they will almost certainly want to sleep with you so prepare for that! They leave grease stains everywhere so covers for anything non washable.
They are the moat amazing little creatures, I'm so excited for you!

I suggest you get very good pet insurance.

I 'd also suggest that you reconsider getting a Sphynx.
Let's not pretend. Sphynx cats have been bred deliberately to maintain a genetic abnormality to make them look 'cute' hideous with no regard for the actual animal's health. They have the shortest average lifespan of any domestic cat (6.7 years according to a recent UK study).

Also worth noting that the Netherlands has recognised that the breeding of these animals is animal cruelty and has taken steps to ban then.
Buying them from a breeder just encourages this production line of unhealthy 'designer' cats. If you are happy with that go ahead.

The breeder would be able to give you the details of what they need and quite rightly expect you to have it in place before you take him/her home .

Not quite the same but I kept guinea-pigs for years and there is a hairless breed . I don;t know if it is to appeal to people who are allergic to fur ( might be the same with hairless cats ) but they never appealed to me .

I liked my rodents as plain as possible , we had a couple of fancier breeds ( with fur) but the health problems stack up . Hairless needed more heat , more food , different bedding , cannot live outside , have to bathe their scurfy little skins And yes they are pretty ugly .
Even though they are "I;m a piggy cuddle me" they would be like hugging a scrotum .

My cats are Bog Standard DSH (moggie) black CPL ex garden cats . Hopefully (cross fingers ) no hidden issues . But even with them the Insurance increases each year , more for the Male

I agree with Grumpy.

Our neighbour has a sphinx and it got into my house. I think I'm permanently mentally scarred from carrying a naked greasy cat back outside!

Why?

As it's an unusual and expensive breed are you going to let it outside where it may be stolen or are you going to confine the poor creature to living indoors?

Or are you going to invest in a Catio?

"Like hugging a scrotum" 😂

Please don't @allisonsingalveston for the reasons mentioned above.

I don't think this thread went the way OP anticipated!

Poor little things

Its like the pug thing isnt it, very unhealthy, grotesque animals which are fashionable for some reason. So lets breed more and more extreme versions which are even more unhealthy

@70isaLimitNotaTarget those naked guinea pigs were bred by scientists so that it was easier to test cosmetics on them. They also have serious health issues and don't love as long as guinea pigs with fur.

Wouldn't you rather have a cat that can follow its natural instincts? Sphinx cats are very vulnerable to sunburn, scratches/damage to their skin when playing in the garden, and hypothermia in the cold.

They also don't usually have whiskers, which affects their sense of balance and their spatial awareness (eg if they can fit through a gap).

I don't understand why breeders deliberately create a cat that is so disadvantaged. Sorry OP, but I think it's cruel to support this trend.

If you are going to do it make sure you opt for a good reputable, recommended breeder who tests for HCM and genetic issues. There are some excellent breeders,but there are many charlatans out there. You also want good insurance.

I have a rescue Sphynx. They are lovely cats and fantastic with children.

With a breeder, make sure you go to a good TICA registered breeder who tests the parents for HCM. A good breeder will show proof of this. Kittens shouldn't be leaving before 16 weeks. A good breeder should also be fully vaxxing and spaying/neutering.

1. They eat a lot more than an average cat (due to needing more energy to maintain heat) and have sensitive tummies. It can take some time to figure out a good food, but be prepared to spend on good quality cat food. They tend to do best on raw food diets, it makes their poop less stinky.

2. They like to be warm. Like they literally enjoy skin to skin contact like a newborn baby lol. They sleep under duvets. Get a radiator bed. Not all cats will tolerate a jumper, though a kitten you should be able to get used to whatever.

3. They are very social and clingy. They would do best with another playful cat or dog. Especially a kitten. They have a very high amount of energy. A kitten will play for hours every day, so it's better for them to have a same age companion. Mine also likes to be where I am. If you're doing 12 hour shifts and you're only in on the weekend, they're not for you. If you're out all day every weekend and leaving them for long periods, consider a different breed. A lonely Sphynx will be a destructive Sphynx. Mine also bores easily so you need a wide variety of toys, and a good cat tree. Cat wheels are great for this breed if you have space. I'd caution against catios and it going out due to sensitivity to the sun.

4. Less is more with bathing. A bit like human hair, the more you wash it, the oilier it gets. Mine gets a bath once a month, but I do ears and paws once a week to stop gunk and wax building up. The oils will balance out, just be prepared for oil stains initially lol, and obviously they all vary so some may need slightly more or less frequent baths.

They are a fabulous cat and they're excellent with children. Enjoy your Sphynx, OP. Mine is the most loving boy ever. If you want an absolute cuddly baby, who will also play and keep you entertained, they're the cat for you.

Edit: the lifespan of these cats will be to do with HCM, which is a significant problem with other pure breeds as well. Imo there's no such thing as a completey ethical pure bred. However a good breeder will breed for health, temperament, and longevity.

Other than HCM and being prone to skin issues, I wouldn't say this cat is riddled with issues in the same way flat faced dogs are. My cat personally cats very well. He's certainly pampered and very happy. His lack of fur doesn't hinder him other than eating more and needing blankets.

Like hugging a scrotum fabulous mental image 😁

I looked after one for a friend when they went travelling for 3 weeks. I was quite fond of the little idiot, but delighted to hand him back when they came home.

He was cute and affectionate. But soooo clingy. I couldn't wear anything white because he was filthy and stank like a sweaty mushroom. He liked to sleep wrapped round my head like Voldemort/a fleshy turban.

Bath time was necessary. But traumatic.

I have two. Ones 6 and one is a kitten.

Be prepared for everything you own to have brown grease on. Never wear white.

As everyone has said they crave warmth and humans. Mine gets inside my clothes.... Sleeps in my bed... They are like babies! They eat a lot too.

Personally, I’d be getting a kitten that has fur.

Eugh, sounds like it had a skin problem. Mine don’t need washing regularly (every three months) and don’t smell. Could be a food issue.

Are you over washing? Shouldn’t be greasy like that. The more you wash the more greasy, also check whether the food you are giving is creating skin issues.

I don't think anyone should be encouraging the breeding of cats like this - they've been purposefully bred to be the way they are and have multiple health conditions as a result.

It's not uncommon for Sphynx kittens to die young as a result of respiratory infections caused by the lack of hair, and they're also prone to skin cancer, heart problems and muscular dystrophy.

Personally, I don't understand how someone could go out and buy a cat who has been bred to have no hair and who has a large number of health issues as a direct result of that breeding.

Nope, bathe them very rarely.

I disagree. There are no good reputable breeders of Sphynx cats - every single one of them deliberately breeds animals with genetic problems for profit.

As someone upthread said - this is like pugs in the dog world - if these breeders really cared for animals they wouldn't behave like Doctor Moreau and deliberately breed unhealthy freaks for money.
See attached for the latest product of a sick mind that I'm sure some people will be stupid enough to want. Sure it will look good on instagram...
www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1964453/xl-bully-cat-cat-breed

While Sphynx are not my sort of cat , I can see the appeal of their faces , they look intelligent and almost regal.

Not so the monstrosity that is the XL Bully Cat. They look like they are bred to be feared . You wouldn;t want that in your garden, near your child or your ankles .
Like the XLBully dog they have broad chests and legs offset almost at 90 degree angle . Many cats will get some form of arthritis in a joint , though I used to marvel at our old girl who was late teens (17) but could reach every part of her coat to groom.
XL Bully cats look predisposed to joint problems , skin problems, eye problems . A cat in pain who can only tell you by reacting .... hopefully common sense will prevail and they won;t be popular in the UK