SKIN
Due to having no hair, Sphynx cats have oils and dirt build up on their skin over time and as such need help keeping themselves clean. They will naturally clean themselves like any cat but there are things such as their necks, ears and back they’ll need help with. We bathe all of our kittens from the age of 3 weeks old to introduce them to water early & attempt to get them comfortable around it… cats are still naturally wary of water and so bathing them should be calm, slow & as patiently as possible. We recommend bathing your cat every 4-5 weeks depending on how dirty they get, you will notice when it is time. If they are especially dirty, we use natural coconut oil to rub over the skin while dry to break down the dirt build up. We then place them in a warm bath up to their legs, using a recommended pet shampoo or dermatologically approved wash (our vets recommend Fido’s Coconut shampoo) lather them up and give them a good scrub. Rinse them off using cupped hands or a cup, careful to avoid getting it in their eyes or ears. Use a damp washer to wipe down their face & the outside of their ears.
CLAWS
The frequency of clipping your cats nail is really dependent on their daily habits such as whether they use a scratcher, go for walks and sit on your shoulders. But once they’re feeling sharp again, go ahead and take the tips off. If you haven’t clipped a cats claws before, it’s not hard but it is important that you don’t go too close to the base. We recommend on your next vet visit to ask the vet to show you but as an easy guide you will only need to take about 5mm off, keeping within the clear section of the nail. We would recommend only using scissor type clippers like these from Petstock
EARS
Sphynx need their ears cleaned because they do not have fur to keep the grime out. Lucky you will be able to clearly see when your cats ears need attention and quickly attend to it. It is as simple as wiping out the visible dirt gently with a wipe or cloth. You can use products such as ear ointment which will help to breakdown the dirt build up and make it easier to wipe. You can also use cotton buds to gently clean the inside of their ears, but it is important not to go down too far or push anything further into the ears.
EYES
Sometimes, your cat can get a bit of grub in their eyes. This can be because of allergies, dust or an irritation and this will need to be wiped away. We recommend using either plain water, colloidal silver or a fragrance free wipe to softly pat the dirt away from the eye.