Grucci's Sphynx Cattery

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L-Lysine diet supplement

Lysine is an amino acid that has been found to be beneficial in treatment of URI's and the herpes virus.  This vitamin is used as treatment of the "cold" symptoms in cats and has shown to reduce the severity of the symptoms and provide a "boos" for recovery.  The usual maintenance dose for a cat is 250mg once a day, but check with your vet.  l-Lysine is available at heath food stores, in pill, capsule or paste (called Ensyl) form, and at you vets office.  Be sure you buy a brand which does not contain propylene glycol, this can cause anemia in cats.  You can either give L-Lysine separately or mix it with your cat food.

Bathing Your Sphynx:

      As you know, a Sphynx is not your ordinary cat.  Since they have no hair to absorb their natural oils released from their body, they need to be bathed once a week.  They will become very dirty especially around the eyes and ears.  I found the best way to bathe our Sphynx is to fill up the tub with enough water to just about cover their body.  To this will make it more difficult for them to jump up fast.  You do need to hold them constantly though!  I use Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo with natural oatmeal.  Massage them for around three minutes, get in between each foot and around ears.  I use a washcloth with just warm water to wash their face.   For their ears,  I put ear drops in during the week to help loosen the wax build up and then try to clean them better in the bath with Q-tips or the washcloth/wipes.  Wrap them in a towel and dry well.  You may need to spot clean during the week around the eyes.   I use a warm washcloth or wipes.

Claws

      It is not recommended to de-claw your cat.  You can trim their claws very easily with a nail trimmer or can purchase a nail trimmer at your local pet store.  Just hold the paw and squeeze your fingers gently to extend each nail.  In good lighting you can see where the vein is in the nail, make sure to cut below the vein.  Provide a scratching post for them to use.

Comfort:

    Since Sphynx have no hair, please keep your cats warm.  If you are cold naked, they are too.  My Sphynx like to hide under the covers to keep warm.  Provide a bed for them or their own blanket where they can cuddle up.  If you have more than one cat, they will cuddle together.  They will most definitely sleep on your bed with you if allowed. 

Food:

   Feed your Sphynx premium quality foods with a high protein to maintain proper nutrition.   I use Blue Wilderness kitten food.  They have a high metabolism and will eat often.  I mostly stick to dry food, but on occasion will give them canned food for a treat or just enough to adminster the Lysine if using a powdered form.  Just be ready for softer stools and those stools will smell more.  I give my cats treats to help aid in cleaning their teeth and breath.  It is hard to clean their teeth but should be done. 

Litter Box:

   I currently use ceder bedding as litter.   I feel for the amount of litter pans I clean on a daily basis, this is cleaner, less dusty and easy to just dump every day.  Please buy a small bag of cedar bedding and transition your kitty to the litter you would like to use. The kitten may not use litter pan if it does not have the cedar bedding available.  Keep their litter box clean.  I clean them a couple times a day.  Which one you choose to use is up to you.  I recommend getting a mat or old rug for under the litter box so they can wipe their paws off when done.  You can even buy self cleaning litter boxes!!!

Going Outside:    

   This is not recommended by most Sphynx owners.  Because they are hairless, they are not protected from bugs bites and other forms of nature that can lead to disease and infections.  If you decide to let them venture outside keep in mind they can jump up on a 6' fence.  Also, make sure it is at least 70 degrees and use sunscreen because they can get sunburned.

Vaccinations:

  Vaccinatons are the new owners responsibility.  No kitten will be vaccinated before going to their new home.  New studies show vaccinations can be harmful to kittens.