There are countless opinions for the care of a Sphynx. Despite being hairless, they still need special attention for grooming and hygiene. Below is what we do and what has worked for us. Rest assured - you will find what works for you and your cat.

I get the question all the time: "Don't you have to bathe them?"

Yes, Sphynx cats need regular baths. Sphynx skin, like ours, creates sebum, a waxy/oily substance made by the sebaceous glands. Without hair to whisk it away and off the skin, over time (and between baths), this can build up on their skin, making it easy for dirt and dust to stick to them. You may see evidence of this build-up under their nails (their nails can look brown or black) and even on their teeth (after licking/grooming themselves so often). Even some of our kittens will get a spot on their noses and around their mouths because they nurse from their mom so often that they pick up her oils.

With a lighter-colored Sphynx, you can clearly tell when its bath time. For a darker Sphynx, the safest bet is to just give them regular baths anyway. If your cat is great at cleaning itself, you may be able to go longer between baths. The usual tricky spot for our cats is under their chin on their neck, where they can't quite reach to clean.

I give my kittens a quick bath once a week in a large bowl with warm water to get them accustomed to it (say, after one month of age). It is important that they get dry and warm quickly. In between, I gently wipe them with a wet rag and then dry them so they don't get too cold. I give my adult cats a bath at least three times a month. Some people do at least once a week. You will learn your cat's needs and adjust accordingly.

Helpful tips:

• You can use coconut oil as a "shampoo" or cleaning product, and as a moisturizer (comes in a glass jar usually, and is white/solid. It can be found at grocery stores and places like Target. Look for organic versions). Rub it on your Sphynx and then wipe all the excess off with a warm rag. Coconut oil has anti-bacterial qualities and can act as a sunblock. Please don't use so much that your cat is just seeping it. Some of them love to taste it and lick it off of them as well, which is fine.
• Find a shampoo that is right for you and your cat. A lot of people use Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo. It's inexpensive and gentle on their skin. Some people prefer "Aloe and Oatmeal Pet Shampoo" made by Nootie for bath time. I use a mild baby shampoo more often than anything. I find that this doesn't dry my cats' skin out, is all natural, and doesn't have a strong fragrance. You will get a feel for what works based on how much it does or does not dry out the skin.
• Start bathing regularly when your Sphynx is still a kitten so that it becomes more accustomed to it. I will give the kittens baths when they are with me before going to their new homes; please continue this. Latifa loves baths. She'll sit in there until I take her out. Gandalf can be a bit tricky depending on his mood. I sometimes put him in a small, mesh cat harness to hold onto him if he tries to escape. If your cat hates baths, please try a mesh harness or he/she will slip right out of your hands.
• Make sure you get in between the webs of their toes.
• You can extend time between baths if you need to by "spot cleaning" your Sphynx with a wet rag or fragrance-free wipe.
• Avoid giving your cat a bed, tree, box, etc., that is light in color because over time, that oily substance will tinge it.  Its collar will be tinged over time as well. For most items, cleaning with soap and water does the trick, though never back to like-new. that exceed their expectations.

Sphynx lack eye lashes. They will get dirt and dust build-up in the corner of their eyes. You can gently wipe it out with a wet rag , paper towel, or a fragrance-free wipe.

Be on the lookout for eye discharge. They can easily get things like litter in their eyes. 

Because a Sphynx mostly has no hair in or around its ears, a dark, waxy substance can build up inside the ear. It may alarm some new Sphynx owners, as it sometimes can look like evidence of ear mites (if you let it get bad enough). You can see examples of this in some pictures of our cats and kittens. It happens all the time. We simply use Q-tips to get it out, sometimes with coconut oil as well, being careful not to go too deep. 

It is best to clean their ears after bath time; the steam and moisture may have helped loosen it up. You can research different ear cleaning products and find one that works for you and your cat. As always, please ask for a recommendation of what to use from your veterinarian

For moisturizers or lotions, there are some recommendations online about natural products. Be sure to use a mild organic baby sunscreen if you're outdoors in direct sunlight for any period of time. 

A Sphynx can get acne - it's true! In my experience. These have to be treated or you will risk inflammation in the area and this will cause discomfort for your cat. Please contact your veterinarian if acne or black heads look inflamed and you are not sure what to do.

Your Sphynx CANNOT be an outdoor cat. They cannot regulate body temperature as well as cats with hair, so they are at risk of hypothermia. They will also get sunburned! Please keep an eye on them when they are sunbathing in windows as well.

I brush their teeth regularly using the Fresh Breath Oral Care Kit for Cats.  Do not use the finger-cover scrub brush that comes in the kit. Your cat will bite down right through that thing!

If your cat has particularly bad breath, brushing daily and using a water additive may help. I find that fish foods, like salmon and tuna, make their breath worse.

Sphynx cats, and especially Sphynx kittens, may get the waxy substance from their skin on their teeth. This is due to them grooming themselves. You can brush it off. If you're not used to it, you might think your kitten's teeth look worrisome or rotten. If you take your fingernail, you will find that it scrapes off.

Sphynx are not completely hairless. They can and often will grow a fine fuzz on their bodies. It differs from cat to cat.

You may find that this hair comes out easily if you rub it. It is much like a peach fuzz.

Spaying or neutering your Sphynx may help keep it more hairless, as some cats grow it specifically during hormonal changes. However, some Sphynx cats  just have a certain amount of fuzz all year long. Kittens that have fuzz may end up with very little in adulthood, and kittens who appear completely bald may get fuzz in adulthood. There's simply no telling until they're fully grown.

Trim their nails like you would a normal cat. PetSmart sells a nail trimmer designed for small claws, like a kittens'. I use these trimmers on our kittens' nails. We have at times wrapped them in a towel and pull out one foot at a time to trim.

Offer adequate scratching posts/items to help keep their nails from getting too long or sharp. If you give them plenty of scratching options, the likelihood that they scratch your furniture will decrease. I have yet to own a Sphynx that had a scratching problem

That waxy build-up can get onto and under their nails. You can rub it off with a rag during bath time, or scrape out any that is up under the nail with a toothpick. I use a rubber-tipped dental tool that is a bit pointy.

There is a wide array of recommendations out there for a cat's diet, especially a Sphynx. We prefer to free feed our cats and kittens.

Some people strictly feed with raw foods. Raw has its benefits and challenges, but there is a huge push for feeding raw to dogs and cats right now; I haven't yet approached it. I suggest consulting your veterinarian if in doubt of what to feed.

Sphynx cats need a bit more calories than a normal/haired cat because their metabolism is typically higher due to their hairless nature and its relation to regulating body temperature.

I feed my cats a high protein diet. I use Purina kitten chow, which has the highest protein count against everything else I've seen in your local grocery store. It is a pretty good brand and the prices are not unreasonable for what you get. I have tried brands that I understood to be better, but even after a slow food change plan, they still had loose stools. Purina just worked for all of my cats combined, so I settled on that. There's even a sensitive stomach option for the adults. Generally, if feeding hard or canned food, try to get one that has meat as the first ingredient. 

If you would like to switch their food, I strongly recommend a strict and gradual change. Decent cat food change plans can be found online. Your kitten may get diarrhea from this or that food, and it can take multiple brand attempts to figure out what works.

There is no question that your Sphynx will seek out a warm spot to snuggle on or in. You will find them near anything that generates some sort of heat, like your cable box, gaming console, near your central air vents, or on top of your dryer... 

If you keep your house cool, offer a cat hide with a nice, warm blanket for them to ball up in. Some Sphynx owners keep a heated blanket on for their Sphynx. Be careful if you do this, as it can easily get too hot. Try finding one with a digital thermostat as opposed to low-high settings.

 I keep a small heater in the cat room. It does not heat up the whole room, it is just a spot for them to go to so they can warm up if needed. 

Keep an eye on your Sphynx when they sunbathe in a window. They can easily fall asleep and get some sunburn.

 I highly recommend investing in some sort of litter robot. It is a game changer. I find I only have to change out the bags once/ twice a week depending and I stick to the Clean Step multi cat litter for low tracking. I put arm and hammer deodorizer and it keeps the room smelling fresh. Once a month I break down the whole box and give it a good cleaning. I'll let it sit outside for a few hours to dry and air out.

I recommend spaying or neutering around 4 months of age and no later than 6 months. I do offer breeding rights, but it is a contractual obligation when buying from me that you must fix your cat, unless purchasing breeding rights. Please make sure your kitten has been well-established and comfortable in your household before adding a surgery to the mix of stressors. Fixing your cat can help with a lot of things, including spraying, attitude, and unwanted pregnancy. Please also ask your veterinarian for when he or she recommends fixing your cat. You will find the recommended age is all over the place if you research online only.