Keeping Your Sphynx Cat Healthy and Happy
CARE AND GROOMING
Specialised Care for Sphynx Cats
Despite their lack of fur, Sphynx cats require more grooming than many coated breeds. Their skin naturally produces oils that would normally be absorbed by fur, making regular cleaning essential.
Grooming Recommendations:
- Warm baths using gentle cat-safe shampoo - frequency can depend on individual cats - suggest monthly bath with weekly wipe down with pet safe wipes.
- Frequent ear cleaning to remove wax buildup - Suggest every 1-2 weeks using pet safe ear cleaner
- Nail trimming and nail bed cleaning - every 2 - 3 weeks
- Skin checks for irritation or dryness
- Eye cleaning for occasional discharge - as often as required
Sphynx cats are also highly temperature-sensitive and benefit from:
- Heated blankets or warm sleeping areas / beds
- Soft clothing during colder seasons
- Protection from direct sunlight and overheating
RiviaSphynx recognises the importance of early socialisation and routine grooming from kittenhood, to help kittens become comfortable with handling and care for their new owners.
We have provided some guides below to help with ear, nail and eye care.
Understanding Your Cat’s Vital Signs
Understanding your cat’s basic vital signs can help you recognise subtle changes in their health and provide your vet with useful information. Temperature, pulse, respiratory rate, blood pressure and capillary refill time can all offer clues about circulation, hydration, breathing and overall wellbeing.
Learning what is normal for your individual cat can make it easier to spot changes early, particularly when they are combined with other signs such as lethargy, weakness, poor appetite, pale or unusual-coloured gums, difficulty breathing or changes in behaviour.
These checks are intended to complement—not replace—professional veterinary assessment, and any cat that appears unwell, is deteriorating, or has concerning vital-sign changes should be assessed by a vet promptly.
Urinary Health
At RiviaSphynx, we believe good urinary health is an important part of keeping our cats happy and well. Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) describes conditions affecting the bladder and/or urethra, with idiopathic cystitis being one of the more common urinary problems. Encouraging good hydration, providing a clean and accessible litter-tray environment, maintaining a healthy weight and minimising stress can all support urinary health.
Urine pH can also play a role, which is why any concerns should be discussed with your vet. Watch for signs such as frequent attempts to urinate, passing only small amounts, blood in the urine, inappropriate urination, excessive licking, vocalisation or straining.
If your cat is straining but producing little or no urine, this can indicate a blocked bladder and is a veterinary emergency requiring immediate attention.
Understanding FIP & Common Cat Viruses: Your Two Essential Guides
At RiviaSphynx, we believe confident, informed owners create the healthiest, happiest kittens. That’s why we provide two essential educational guides for every new family: our FIP Awareness & Early Recognition Guide and our Common Cat Viruses Health Guide. There are a couple of links below for more detailed information about FIP treatments and support.
Together, these resources offer clear, accessible information on symptoms to watch for, early intervention, treatment options, and everyday preventative care. We hope they provide new owners with knowledge, reassurance, and practical steps to support their kitten’s wellbeing from the very first day at home.
HAPPY, HEALTHY COMPANIONS
Building a Lifelong Bond:
A healthy Sphynx cat is more than physically well — they are emotionally fulfilled, mentally stimulated, and deeply connected to their family. With proper care, these unique cats become loyal companions known for their playful personalities and loving nature.
Daily Habits for a thriving Sphynx:
- Maintain consistent feeding schedules
- Provide interactive playtime every day
- Keep bedding and litter areas clean
- Offer affection and social engagement
- Watch for changes in behaviour or appetite
WELFARE AND SUPPORT
Supporting Emotional & Behavioral Well-Being:
Sphynx cats are exceptionally social and emotionally connected to their families. They crave interaction, stimulation, and companionship, often following their owners throughout the home.
Emotional Welfare Needs:
- Daily interaction and affection
- Mental stimulation through toys and puzzles
- Safe climbing and exploration spaces
- Consistent routines and companionship
- Positive reinforcement training
Creating a Happy Environment
Sphynx cats generally do best in homes where they:
- Are not left alone for long periods
- Have access to warm, cozy resting areas
- Receive regular play and enrichment
- Feel secure and socially included
Sphynx cats are highly affectionate, playful, and deeply people-oriented companions
Socialising your RiviaSphynx Kitten
The 3‑3‑3 Rule is a simple but powerful framework that helps new kittens settle into their homes in a calm, healthy, and emotionally secure way. By giving your kitten space to decompress in the first few days, gently guiding them through routine and bonding over the next few weeks, and allowing confidence to flourish over the following months, you create the foundation for a well‑adjusted, trusting, and happy companion. This gradual approach respects your kitten’s natural pace, reduces stress, and builds the strong, lifelong bond that every RiviaSphynx kitten deserves.
Raw Feeding Advantage for Sphynx Cats
A raw diet using the 80/10/10 mix (80% muscle meat, 10% bone, 10% organ) can offer meaningful benefits for Sphynx cats, who often thrive on highly digestible, nutrient‑dense food. This balanced ratio mirrors what a cat would naturally consume, supporting lean muscle, healthy skin, steady energy, and strong immunity. For Sphynx cats in particular—who have fast metabolisms and higher nutritional demands. Many people may add additional supplements to this mix such as omega 3 fish oil. Its definitely worth reading up around raw feeding! An 80/10/10 raw diet can help maintain ideal weight, reduce digestive issues, and promote overall wellbeing when prepared safely and fed correctly.
See link below for raw-feeding-cats-starter-guide for more information.
HCM Scanning
RiviaSphynx carries out annual health scanning of all our breeding cats to safeguard the long‑term wellbeing of the breed and to uphold the ethical standards at the heart of our breeding program. Regular scans allow early detection of hereditary or age‑related conditions, ensuring that every cat in our breeding program remains healthy, sound, and suitable for responsible breeding. By monitoring their heart health, organ function, and overall condition each year, RiviaSphynx can make informed, welfare‑focused decisions that protect future kittens.
This commitment reflects the RiviaSphynx’s dedication to transparency, ethical practice, and producing confident, healthy Canadian Sphynx companions. Our Cats are scanned by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist at the Small Animal Hospital in Glasgow. Our results can be found on the PAWPEDS database site linked below.
The Gold Standard is for an echocardiogram to be done annually for breeding cats which is the standard we follow. Our breeding cats also have the ALMS1-gene (HCM genetic test) done as part of their genetic testing.
RiviaSphynx Commitment:
At RiviaSphynx, we believe education, responsible ownership, and ethical breeding practices are the foundation of happy, healthy Sphynx companions. Our goal is to provide reliable information and compassionate support for both new and experienced Sphynx owners.
RIVIASPHYNX DISCLAIMER:
These guides are provided for general educational purposes only and are not a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up‑to‑date, individual kittens or cats may present differently, and owners should always consult a qualified veterinary surgeon regarding any health concerns. RiviaSphynx accepts no liability for decisions made solely on the basis of these guides; they are intended to support awareness, not replace expert care.
SPHYNX CAT ASSOCIATION
Together, Supporting Sphynx Welfare
Every RiviaSphynx kitten goes home with their first year’s membership to the Sphynx Cat Association included.
We believe that responsible breeding goes hand in hand with supporting the wider Sphynx community. The Association plays an important role in helping Sphynx cats in need through rescue, welfare and education, and we are delighted to support their work.
We hope that after your complimentary first year, you will continue your membership each year.
Together, we can help make a difference to the lives of Sphynx cats who need support, while promoting responsible ownership and the long-term welfare of the breed.
Discover more about the Sphynx Cat Association and the valuable rescue and welfare work they carry out below.