Personality The Sphynx cat is possibility one of the most affectionate, sociable and intelligent cat in the world. They are "In you face" 24/7 and very much "people cats".  They will greet you, snuggle up and sleep with you, You will have no say in the matter what so ever......Very vocal, almost to the point where you find yourselves having a two way conversation. Sphynx hate being alone. Sphynx will soon learn to play fetch and love to play.  They love children and other animal, and make a wonderful addition to any family, they thrive on attention...The Sphynx is very outgoing, and can at times be very child like in personality.

Characteristics Despite appearances. the Sphynx is not a totally naked cat. Their body is covered with  a soft down, which is  almost imperceptible to both the eye and the touch. The  texture of the skin  is like a skin on a peach, or a chamois cloth .Sphynx have some fine hair over the bridge of their nose and on their feet. Also some fine hair can be found on their tails and back of the ears and scrotum of the males.  Degree of coat depends on several factors , e.g. climate, hormones hereditary predispositions. Their bodies area warmer to the touch then other cats, but in fact their temperature is not higher then any other cat. Sphynx are very clever and they will pop under a blanket when it is getting cold or find a warm human body or dog or cat to curl up with....

Kittens are very wrinkly, as they develop they grow into their skin, maintaining some of the wrinkles, especially on the head. but should not affect the Sphynx normal functions.

Sphynx are indoor cats as they can easily get burnt by the sun, and have little protection should they come across other neighbourhood cats.  Sphynx can go out under supervision and weather permitting.  Ideally on a harness or in a enclosed safe garden or a purpose built run. Males are generally 25% larger then the females, and the Sphynx comes in all colours and patterns. Sphynx are not a hypoallergenic cat. If you are allergic to the proteins in cat's saliva, you will be allergic to the Sphynx as well. however some people who are allergic to cats do tolerate the Sphynx breed better.

General Care - Bathing As the Sphynx is naked, they require a bath from time to time, this will depend on your individual Sphynx some get a lot more dirtier then others. but general once a week. In general cats do not like water, but they learn to tolerate it, and a breeder would have been bathing a litter of Sphynx from a early age. Bathing can be easy if you are well prepared, if not you will end up a lot more wet then the Sphynx and feel like you have just soaked everything but the cat....A warm fluffy towel ( tumbled dried)  The kitchen sink half full of warm water with a anti-microbial/anti fungal shampoo at the ready. Bath like you would a baby using a baby sponge and gently wiping in all the creases. A pair of washing gloves also help to grip they Sphynx as once wet it is trying to hold a eel...  Once bathed wrap in towel and dry off...which will not take many minutes. Lots of fuss so the cat feels at ease, and job done.

Ears These are usual huge, so cleaning on a regular basis is a must. Because there is a lack of hair around their ears, they tend to get a build up more so then a coated cat. A cotton bud moistened with baby oil or commercial ear cleaner will soon have those ears sparkling.

Eyes & Nose Due to the lack of  eyelashes, the Sphynx eyes can result in dirt in the corners. Gentle wiping with a damp cloth.(Do not use baby wipe). Again because the Sphynx has no hair around their nose a wipe with a cloth is required just to prevent particles from being trapped around the nostril.

Paws &  Claws The paws of the Sphynx stands high like that of a hound with a extra thick pad., giving the impression they are walking on air cushions....  Again due to the lack of fur, paws get grubby, and claws need a manicure,  by gently pressing on the toes to make the claws visible, so you will then be able to rub a little baby oil over each claws then wipe with a cloth will remove the build up that attaches itself to the claw. The claws need also to be clipped from time to time. Again press the paw and clip off the tip.  Notice from the image below that the pink tissue ( the quick)  on the inside of the claw, cutting into it will be cause pain and bleeding. Remove the sharp tip below the quick ( away form the toe) Clipping half way between the end of the quick and the tip of the claw. If you feel you are unable to do this, you Vet will be happy to clip claws for you.

Feeding Because of the lack of hair their body has to work harder to keep themselves warm, this creates a higher metabolism. Which in turn Sphynx will eat more often then regular cats. Sphynx are not normally fussy eaters and as long as it is good quality food,  you will have a happy contented cat.

Litter Tray From a kitten, a Sphynx will have been litter trained, and in general all cats like to keep themselves clean. There is a wide range of litters for sale and individual owners can choose which type suits their cat and how they deal with disposing of it...Litter tray comes in all shape and sizes, corner fitting, hooded, with or without cat flap. self cleaning/collection....but at the end of the day all litter trays need to be thoroughly cleaned with disinfectant and hygienically kept at all times.

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