AS UNIQUE AS SPHYNX ARE IN APPEARANCE, NOVELTIES THEY ARE NOT.

Sharing your life with a Sphynx is a definite commitment, as all pets are. However, with their exceptional nature come VERY SPECIFIC NEEDS that owners of furry cats may take for granted.  Unless you are able to commit the time and maintenance these little creatures require, they truly may not be the right pet for you; they are very much like children. With the proper care and respect that these little angels truly need, they will continue to enhance your life for many years...

THEY NEED YOU TO PROVIDE COMPANIONSHIP. We thought it important express our opinion that if you are unable to spend a lot of time playing, cuddling and loving your Sphynx, or if your Sphynx would be left alone for long periods of time throughout the day, you should consider purchasing another pet to keep him or her company.  As with most cats, they are most happy, and at their best, when they have a companion. They crave - and thrive on - attention and affection, and we found that they are truly much happier with a little friend to keep them company when we're at work or away for a weekend.  To be honest, once you've had one Sphynx, you'll only want more!

THEY NEED YOU TO PROVIDE WARMTH. They love to cuddle close and burrow deeply into fleece blankets or soft sweatshirts we provide in their bed or toss where they want to settle in for awhile.  Watch your basket of clean, warm laundry! If you are not allergic to cats, you can let them crawl into your sweater while you are sitting on the couch -- they WILL try. If your home is drafty in winter, you may want to consider a little ”shirty” if you want to allow them to remain as active as they are when it is warm outside.  Mickey loves wearing his shirties, as they activate his super powers.  Lupi doesn't do well in them (although she's the least active of the two and needs them most often) - the sensation of the fabric touching her backside transforms her into LowButt, and she scuttles around uncomfortably, with complete lack of confidence for jumping to even the lowest of perches.  Most of the time they're just fine completely naked; you'll know it's too chilly for them when they begin retreating to their beds and perches high off the floor a lot more than usual. TIP: We've tried little cat sweaters with sleeves, but have found that, because they curl up so tightly when they are sleeping (and because their skin gets quite tacky when they are warm), one or both of their legs occasionally make their way out of the sleeves, rendering the cats tripods, or worse, front legless.  The most simple solution is to visit your closet (or your local Goodwill Store) and come up with some sweatshirts with loose wrist bands (now deemed Sphynx neckholes). Cut off the sleeves to a length appropriate for your cat's body, and cut an oblong hole along the width of the bottom, large enough to comfortably accomodate both front legs. It's also helpful to cut the end of the bottomside of the shirty a little shorter than the top, so their hind legs don't catch in their waistband when they walk.

THEY NEED YOU TO PROVIDE WEEKLY BATHS. Sphynx skin is oily, make no bones about it.  Because they have no fur to absorb their natural oil, it remains on their skin and attracts dust and grime in short order. Their natural oils is brownish in color, so even if your household is immaculate, you'll start to notice a peculiar ”browning,” of your cat, his bedding, and your clothing when you hold him.  TIP: We bathe them in the kitchen sink or bathtub, using tearless baby shampoo and those handy loofah gloves. We speak to them softly and reassuringly. The first month or two of baths are a bit of a struggle -- they are cats, after all -- but after that, we've found that they actually enjoy the warm water, invigorating massage and ”total body stimulation” -- they actually purr, and go into a relaxed, sleepy state while we bathe them, as long as we don't splash water in their faces or ears.

THEY NEED YOU TO CLEAN THEIR EARS WEEKLY. Sphynx lack the protective ”guard hairs” that furry cats have, which help provent dust and other foreign materials (cat litter, cat treats, catnip) from falling into their ears. Therefore, their ears produce plenty of wax to carry any impurities out of the ear canals. If left unattended, this can lead to bacterial or yeast infections in the ears, not to mention stubborn, irritating ear mites.  TIP:   We use Anitra Frazier's suggestion of a mixture of 3/4 Teaspoon Almond Oil, 1/4 Teaspoon Olive Oil, and 500 mg Vitamin E Oil, a natural, soothing mixture that is also pleasing to the palate when they clean up after we're done.   Cleaning their ears is invariably a tremendous, infuriating struggle for both of our kids, but even more so for Lupi - and in her case, it hasn't gotten any easier in the five years we've been doing it - but we have to do it.  Place a soft towel over your buddy and kneel on the floor with him between your thighs, facing away from you.  Wrap a baby wipe around your index finger and then dip it into the cleaning solution, dab off the excess so it doesn't run into the ear canal, gently place your finger in the ear and twist gently until it's sufficiently clean. Expect to go through several baby wipes, as well as a handful of Q-Tips, which can be used to gently wipe away only the external folds in the ear (never insert anything into the ear canal).  Talk lovingly and and reassuringly, REMAIN CALM AND BE PATIENT with your little angel, who doesn't understand why you're poking around in his highly sensitive ears. Provide a loving rub-down and a fabulous snack when you are done (or at break time). If, during the process, your sphynx begins turning red or purple with anger, finish later.

THEY NEED YOU TO KEEP THEIR TEETH CLEAN. Along with the blessings the Sphynx has received, we've learned that their dental health is one big exception, and we've heard this from many sphynx parents. They develop tartar and gingivitis very quickly, and, unless you want to have their teeth cleaned professionally once a year (requiring them to be anesthetised, and, we've found, an extraction or two), you NEED to brush their teeth, with toothpaste designed specifically for cats - they come in malt, chicken and tuna flavors, and are usually packaged with a tiny, soft toothbrush. If you do it every few days, it's much less difficult each time. Brushing clean, healthy teeth isn't half as unpleasant as brushing stained teeth with red, sensitive gums.

SPHYNX CATS GET SUNBURNED EASILY, AND ARE STRICTLY INDOOR CATS. While you can feel free to bring them outdoors with you in warm weather, they must be kept in the shade, or their skin will redden, develop painful blisters, and peel a few days later. We learned the hard way that they can get sunburned through a sunny window as well, so if you’ve got one they love to lounge in, we recommend applying a UV protectant film to the window.  We’ve done this in their bedroom and they lie in the filtered sun all afternoon without a problem.   Sunscreen can not be used, as it will sicken them when it is absorbed into their skin or licked off during grooming. They can handle a few minutes out in the sun, however, and Mickey simply adores it when we get out his harness and a leash, and we can walk him just like a dog.  Lupi, however, never learned to appreciate walking on a leash, and would prefer to nibble on grass when we take her out and about. She truly prefers being inside.

LIPSTICK ON A SPHYNX WILL CAUSE AN ALLERGIC REACTION. As funny as this sounds, I felt it very important to mention.  These cats are so kissable - especially atop their wrinkly, warm heads and on their soft necks and cheeks.  Ladies, do your Sphynx a big favor and wipe your lipstick off before kissing them, and be sure to mention this to your visitors, who will find it hard not to kiss your babies.  We’ve found that a lipsticked kiss on the head will produce a red, puffy, kiss-shaped inflammation of the skin, which is then followed by a thin brown scab that takes several days to disappear.  Light scarring may be noticed on darker-colored Sphynx skin.  This picture of Mickey with soothing oatmeal on his head was taken the day after I planted a big one on his cappy.