Caring For Your Sphynx Cat or Kitten

Sphynx cat's, while hairless, do require more grooming than a normally coated cat. 

When bathing a Sphynx, the main goal is to keep from stripping the skin of it's natural oils. Too much bathing will over-stimulate their skin and stripping the oils will only cause the skin to create more oil which gives the cat a dirty appearance. Every kitten is different just as every person's skin is, so you will need to find a routine. Sphynx generally need a bath every ten days to one month depending on the cat.

For bath time I use Sami's Sphynx Soap available here or Espree Natural Kitten Shampoo, available at any Petco and coconut oil. Any non-soap based shampoo will work and coconut based cleansers work particularly well. Start by massaging coconut oil into the skin, this helps moisturize and loosen any dirt. Fill the tub or sink with a couple inches of water, as hot as you can stand, remember cat’s temps average 100 to 102 degrees, so they like their bath water warmer then you would. Make sure to keep a hand on your cat during the whole bath to help support and keep calm. You can also put a washcloth under their feet so that the bottom of the tub isn’t as slippery. I use a micro-fiber washcloth to scrub the extra dirty bits, like their butts and between their toes. Make sure not to get water or soap on their heads or in their ears, wiping with a wrung out washcloth is fine. Be sure to rinse thoroughly.

Use hypoallergenic/fragrance free baby wipes between bath times for spot cleaning. Oil accumulates around the nose, toenails and inside the ears. These should be cleaned once a week. Use ear cleaner (available from your vet) and cotton balls or baby wipes to clean the ears. It is important to clean the ears at least once a week to prevent wax build up and possible infection. Be careful not to go deeply, cleaning only what you see. Toenails should be extended and wiped off with a warm washcloth or baby wipe. Be sure to remove dirt from claw sheathes as well. Use pet nail clippers to clip the tips of the nails at the same time. If left untrimmed, the toenails can curl under and puncture their soft paw pads or they can scratch themselves and cause infections.

Be gentle and patient -- listening to your kitten's mood is important and it is best not to frustrate your kitty with fussing too much over getting him or her clean. So be patient and again, let your kitty tell you when enough is enough, give a treat, then go back to cleaning later. This generally works and gets them trained to your style of cleaning very well!!!

Salem, Oregon Sphynx Cats