How to take care of Sphynx Kittens. Sphynx Care Guide
Congratulations on becoming a member of our Sphynx family! This Sphynx Care Guide was created by www.CaliforniaSphynxCattery.com in collaboration with Sphynx enthusiasts and Veterinarians from all over the world for the benefit of all Sphynx cats. If you would like to comment on our care guide please feel free to reach out to us and we will do our best to keep it updated.
In addition to the sphynx cat being nearly hairless, it is the sphynx’s intelligence, affection, and playfulness that make them unique among felines. What separates Sphynx apart from other breeds is not the unique look but the deep level of bonding they can establish with their family.
The Sphinx communicates and bonds through any skin-on-skin contact. The easiest way to bond with a kitten is to simply give him a massage. Gentle petting will not help here. Kittens love any attention they can get; Spynx will communicate by purring, gently biting, and licking your fingers. Those are good signs of a happy and healthy kitten that considers you his friend. Comfortably connecting with your Sphynx on a physical level establishes a solid foundation for a future bonding.
Sphynx cats and sphynx kittens have a fine down on their body, or some hair on the paws, nose, tail, or outer ears. The feel of their skin can be compared to that of chamois or somewhat rubbery. Some people who suffer from cat allergies can tolerate living with Sphynx cats. However, depending on the type and severity of the individual’s allergic reactions, there are still people who cannot live with sphynx cats or sphynx kittens. It all comes down to understanding what causes your allergic reaction: fur or cat saliva. It is always recommended that you spend some time with your new family member to see if you have allergies to the Sphynx cat.
Sphynx cats and Sphynx kittens get along great with other pets. They quickly adapt to other cats, dogs, or any other pets in your household.
If you have other animals in the house and decide to introduce a Sphynx kitten into your household, place him/her in a separate room and allow him to get used to other household pet’s smells before introducing the Sphynx kitten to them.
Two sphynx are always better than one! Sphynx cats and sphynx kittens require your attention and can get very lonely when left alone. When a person grows up in a big family he always has the support he needs. Sphynx kittens have no one to turn to for support other than you and your family members. Sphynx get emotionally involved with the family they are part of and if left without adequate attention you will see their overall well-being will start to diminish.
Moving to a new environment with a new family is going to be stressful, it’s best to minimize the stress where possible and be patient. Usually, our kittens join new families when they are 3 months old. At that age, they are still immature babies to some extent. When introduced to a new home they will try to fit in and become part of the family to the best of their ability. When bringing the Sphynx kitten to your home next 48 hours will be most stressful for your new family member. Kitten will try to understand what is going on, who are you, and whether it is a safe place or not. Do not overwhelm your new family member with attention, new sounds, smells, and experiences. Make yourself available during the next 48 hours; cuddle, watch a movie together, or bond in a calm manner. After 48 hours Sphynx kittens usually open up and become very alert and active, this is the time to bring all your friends and family members over for a formal introduction. If for reasons beyond your control you have to do a sharp introduction before you release your Sphynx kitten into his/her new home give every pet in your household a bath and use the same towel to dry them, that way they will share the same smell and will be less likely to have a profound reaction to each other.
A swift change in food can upset an already stressed kitty leading to diarrhea and vomiting. If the food selected in the new home is different than the old one it should be changed slowly and progressively, not abruptly. Sphynx kittens have a sensitive digestive system and over time they develop enzymes and appropriate gut biology to easily digest specific food they are used to. If you sharply introduce a new type of food to Sphynx they will have an upset stomach. If you have to, gradually over 7 days mix in the new food with the food they are already used to and you should have a smooth transition.
Under no circumstances your Sphynx kitten should be fed anything Raw (Raw Salmon), Smoked (Smoked Ham), or Dairy (Milk, Cheese). The only exception to the above rule is Fat-Free cottage cheese. Once a week, as a treat, you can give your Sphynx kitten boiled chicken breast. Kitten will get excited and fall in love with whoever will give him the chicken; a good tip for bonding. Sphynx kittens live in a fairy fantasy world where the dry cat food is the best thing that ever happened to them. When you introduce them to something new (Boiled Chicken Breast) they will think that life can be even better and will expect you to give them Boiled Chicken Breast every time you feed them. Above mentioned reaction will result in your loved one loss of interest in the dry food use/she is used to and your Sphynx kitten may not eat for a day or two. All things are good in moderation. Unfortunately, boiled chicken breast does not have the necessary vitamins and minerals for the proper growth and development of your Sphynx kitten.
When it comes to food selection, Sphynx kittens have to be fed a high-protein diet. We found two products available on the market to satisfy the above requirement: Cat & Kitten made by “Orijen” or as a budget-friendly alternative “NuLo”. Both brands produce excellent quality food and are nearly identical ingredient-wise. Sphynx kittens eat a lot to stay warm, therefore they should always have access to dry food and clean water.
If the home has 2 cats then there should be 3 litter boxes and an extra litter box for each additional cat. Make sure they are easily accessible, not off in a corner, and not in a cold place. Sphynx cats are very clean animals and will not use dirty litter boxes. When introducing a new Sphynx kitten to your home, if for some reason he/she will poop outside the litter box, scoop everything up and put it inside the litter box, that way your kitten will understand that this is my litter box. It’s all about the smell.
The best bet is always: to get a pair together.
Signs of stress and what to try:
Lack of appetite: have a high-calorie nutrient gel tube on hand before the kitty arrives, this works wonderfully on the enticing kitty to eat or at least lick up some calories, cats just can’t say no to this yummy treat. Then try some all-meat baby food jars with a little dab of gel on top. Boiled chicken breast or fat-free cottage cheese always works well and are easily available.
Getting a cold: the kitty should come with a health guarantee and it is important to see a vet within the first 48 hours to verify health; however, with the stress of moving and traveling like us Sphynx kitty can get a little under the weather especially if flying alone. Make sure the kitty is eating, and drinking water, stools are formed, and eyes are clear. Keep them warm. Use some baby nasal saline spray if need be to rinse out the little noses.
Hiding: this is a fear response. Keep Sphynx kitty in a small area, confined to feel secure in the kitty oasis/base camp.
Aggression: specifically hissing, mostly directed towards animals. This is normal in the beginning and should lessen over time. Monitor and limit interactions with animals in the beginning.
Not using the litter box: could also be fear or just preference. Some cats won’t use a covered litter box, and some will. Use the same litter the kitten was already accustomed to and slowly transition as discussed above, also the cat attracts litter can help. If the kitty just won’t use the box then the kitty will need to be confined to a very small area for 14 days with a litter box for retraining. All of our kittens leave new homes litter box trained and that should never be an issue. Your best option when it comes to litter box filler is the brand name “World’s Best Cat Litter” (how did they come up with that name…) We tried everything available on the market.
Basic care instructions:
Always provide timely veterinary care for any illness or injury acquired. Prevention is the key to a good healthy Sphynx kitten.
Throughout the life of the cat/kitten.
Providing a good and healthy environment for the Sphynx kitten/cat, toys for stimulation, a heating pad or heated pet bed to keep warm if the kitten/cat so desires, scratching posts and frequent positive human attention are the most important factors for your Sphynx kitten well being.
Provide a clean litter box to avoid inappropriate marking or defecation.
Quality food and fresh clean water. Sphynx have a higher metabolism than other breeds so they need high-quality protein food.