1. Can Sphynx Cats be trained?
2. How do I care for Sphynx Cats?
3. What should you feed Sphynx Cats?
4. What litter should you use for Sphynx Cats?
5. Are Sphynx Cats hypo-allergenic?
6. How do I find more information about Sphynx Cats?
Sphynx cats can be easily trained to walk on a lead and to fetch objects. As they are very intelligent, they can be trained to respond to voice commands, such as come, fetch and 'bed time'. Many of our friends and family are astonished at how our Sphynx cats obey commands, and have said on occasions "they are so intelligent, better trained than some dogs".
2. How do I care for Sphynx Cats?
Sphynx cats do require special care due to their hairlessness, and have some unique needs.
Check out our pet store for a listing of products we use and recommend.
Skin - Sphynx cats should be bathed once a week. Generally cats don't like water, but can learn to tolerate it if you start from an early age. All our sphynx cats and kittens are bathed from an early age so they are used to their bath when they go to their new home. We recommend you wash Sphynx cats ith Natural Shampoo in combination with Malaseb once a month, these products are extremely good for Sphynx cat skin as it contains an anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and aids in the treatment of most skin conditions such as dermatitis.
Ears - Sphynx cat ears should be gently cleaned with ear cleaning solution and a cotton tip once a week. Sphynx cats develop 'sphynx gunk' in their ears (as we call it), which is a mixture of ear wax, skin oils and dirt. It is best to clean Sphynx cat ears whilst the Sphynx are wrapped up in a warm towel. This should be completed on a regular basis, and like our Sphynx cats they have come to learn that it is just part of the weekly routine.
Eyes - The Sphynx cats also lacks eyelashes, which results in a build-up of dirt and eye irritation. Sphynx cat eyes should be gently cleaned with a damp tissue. NEVER use baby wipes or anything containing alcohol or emollients as this will irritate the eyes of a Sphynx cat.
Nails - Sphynx cat nails need to be trimmed once a week to prevent your furniture / carpet possibly becoming a scratching post! It is best to trim their nails once they are sleepy or wrap them up in a warm towel. You will also need to clean their nails after bath time. We have found a scratching post is essential to maintain good nail health, and prevents other furniture issues.
3. What should you feed Sphynx Cats?
Sphynx cats have a high metabolism to regulate their body temperature. Therefore to maintain this Sphynx cats consume more than the average 'cat' and require a premium pet food. We feed our Sphynx cats the following:
Premium biscuits - we recommend Eukanubra. The biscuits should be provided at all times.
Always supply fresh water that is changed at least daily.
A variety of fresh kangaroo meat and Dine Gold canned food.
Fresh fish (broiled) from the local fish market.
We also like to give our Sphynx cats variety by providing them some premium beef mince, roasted chicken (without bones) and cooked fish (without bones). A list of products will be provided to you when you receive your Sphynx Cat.
4. What litter should you use for Sphynx cats?
We currently use compressed wood pellets for all our Sphynx cats. We do not use or recommend clumping cat litter as anecdotal evidence suggests that the use of clumping cat litter (ie sodium betonite) causes many possible health concerns. It is suspected that cats ingest the litter which can cause bowel blockages and dehydration. The dust from this can also cause many lung problems as you can imagine.
If you live in Western Australia, please contact us to find out more information.
5. Are Sphynx cats hypo-allergenic?
People may be allergic to Sphynx cats. If they are allergic to the hair, then Sphynx cats may be suitable as Sphynx cats have minimal hair on their body resulting in less allergens. If the person is allergic to the saliva then they are still likely to be allergic to Sphynx cats.
6. How do I find more information about Sphynx cats?
When we started looking at purchasing a Sphynx cat we found that there was very limited written information to guide us in the initial purchase and care of Sphynx cats.
With this knowledge we have jointly authored Australia's first and only book dedicated to Sphynx cats titled "Sphynx - The Australian Experience". The book has been composed from 15 years of combined experience with the Sphynx breed. The book is very comprehensive having over 60 pages of must know information about Sphynx cats. It covers everything you need to know about Sphynx cats. This book makes the perfect reference guide / gift for people thinking about purchasing a Sphynx cat.