Congratulations on becoming a member of our Sphynx family! This Sphynx Care Guide was created by the best sphynx breeders in the world https://www.pawbuds.com/ in collaboration with Sphynx enthusiasts and Veterinarians worldwide for the benefit of all Sphynx cats. If you would like to comment on our care guide please feel free to reach out to us and we will do our best to keep it updated. In addition to the sphynx cat being nearly hairless, it is the sphynx’s intelligence, affection, and playfulness that make them unique among felines. What separates Sphynx apart from other breeds is not the unique look but the deep level of bonding they can establish with their family. Sphynx cats and sphynx kittens have a fine down on their body, or some hair on the paws, nose, tail, or outer ears. The feel of their skin can be compared to that of chamois or somewhat rubbery. Some people who suffer from cat allergies can tolerate living with Sphynx cats. However, depending on the type and severity of the individual’s allergic reactions, some people cannot live with sphynx cats or sphynx kittens. It all comes down to understanding what causes your allergic reaction: fur or cat saliva. It is always recommended that you spend some time with your new family member to see if you have allergies to the Sphynx cat. Sphynx cats and Sphynx kittens get along great with other pets. They quickly adapt to other cats, dogs, or any other pets in your household. If you have other animals in the house and decide to introduce a Sphynx kitten into your household, place him/her in a separate room and allow him to get used to other household pets smells before introducing the Sphynx kitten to them. Two sphynx are always better than one! Sphynx cats and sphynx kittens require your attention and can get very lonely when left alone. When a person grows up in a big family he always has the support he needs. Sphynx kittens have no one to turn to for support other than you and your family members. Sphynx get emotionally involved with the family they are part of and if left without adequate attention you will see their overall well-being will start to diminish. Moving to a new environment with a new family is going to be stressful, it's best to minimize the stress where possible and be patient. Usually, our kittens join new families when they are 3 months old. At that age, they are still immature babies to some extent. When introduced to a new home they will try to fit in and become part of the family to the best of their ability. When bringing the Sphynx kitten to your home next 48 hours will be most stressful for your new family member. Kitten will try to understand what is going on, who are you, and whether it is a safe place or not. Do not overwhelm your new family member with attention, new sounds, smells, and experiences. Make yourself available during the next 48 hours; cuddle, watch a movie together, or bond in a calm manner. After 48 hours Sphynx kittens usually open up and become very alert and active, this is the time to bring all your friends and family members over for a formal introduction. If for reasons beyond your control, you have to do a sharp introduction before you release your Sphynx kitten into his/her new home give every pet in your household a bath and use the same towel to dry them, that way they will share the same smell and will be less likely to have a profound reaction to each other. A swift change in food can upset an already stressed kitty leading to diarrhea and vomiting. If the food selected in the new home is different than the old one it should be changed slowly and progressively, not abruptly. Sphynx kittens have a sensitive digestive system and over time they develop enzymes and appropriate gut biology to easily digest specific food they are used to. If you sharply introduce a new type of food to Sphynx they will have an upset stomach. If you have to, gradually over 7 days mix in the new food with the food they are already used to and you should have a smooth transition. Under no circumstances your Sphynx kitten should be fed anything Raw (Raw Salmon), Smoked (Smoked Ham), or Dairy (Milk, Cheese). The only exception to the above rule is Fat-Free cottage cheese. Once a week, as a treat, you can give your Sphynx kitten boiled chicken breast. Kitten will get excited and fall in love with whoever will give him the chicken; a good tip for bonding. Sphynx kittens live in a fairy fantasy world where dry cat food is the best thing that ever happened to them. When you introduce them to something new (Boiled Chicken Breast) they will think that life can be even better and will expect you to give them Boiled Chicken Breast every time you feed them. Above mentioned reaction will result in your loved one loss of interest in the dry food use/she is used to and your Sphynx kitten may not eat for a day or two. All things are good in moderation. Unfortunately, boiled chicken breast does not have the necessary vitamins and minerals for the proper growth and development of your Sphynx kitten. When it comes to food selection, Sphynx kittens have to be fed a high-protein diet. We found two products available on the market to satisfy the above requirement: Cat & Kitten made by "Orijen" or as a budget-friendly alternative "NuLo". Both brands produce excellent quality food and are nearly identical ingredient-wise. Sphynx kittens eat a lot to stay warm, therefore they should always have access to dry food and clean water. If the home has 2 cats then there should be 3 litter boxes and an extra litter box for each additional cat. Make sure they are easily accessible, not off in a corner, and not in a cold place. Sphynx cats are very clean animals and will not use dirty litter boxes. When introducing a new Sphynx kitten to your home, if for some reason he/she will poop outside the litter box, scoop everything up and put it inside the litter box, that way your kitten will understand that this is my litter box. It's all about the smell. The best bet is always: to get a pair together. Signs of stress and what to try: • Lack of appetite: have a high-calorie nutrient gel tube on hand before the kitty arrives, this works wonderfully on the enticing kitty to eat or at least lick up some calories, cats just can't say no to this yummy treat. Then try some all-meat baby food jars with a little dab of gel on top. Boiled chicken breast or fat-free cottage cheese always works well and is easily available.

• Getting a cold: the kitty should come with a health guarantee and it is important to see a vet within the first 48 hours to verify health; however, with the stress of moving and traveling like us, Sphynx kitty can get a little under the weather especially if flying alone. Make sure the kitty is eating, and drinking water, stools are formed, and eyes are clear. Keep them warm. Use some baby nasal saline spray if need be to rinse out the little noses.

• Hiding: this is a fear response. Keep Sphynx kitty in a small area, confined to feel secure in the kitty oasis/base camp.

• Aggression: specifically hissing, mostly directed towards animals. This is normal in the beginning and should lessen over time. Monitor and limit interactions with animals in the beginning.

• Not using the litter box: could also be fear or just preference. Some cats won't use a covered litter box and some will. Use the same litter the kitten was already accustomed to and slowly transition as discussed above, also the cat attracts litter can help. If the kitty just won't use the box then the kitty will need to be confined to a very small area for 14 days with a litter box for retraining. All of our kittens leave new homes litter box trained and that should never be an issue. Your best option when it comes to litter box filler is the brand name "World's Best Cat Litter" (how did they come up with that name...) We tried everything available on the market. Basic care instructions: •

Always provide timely veterinary care for any illness or injury acquired. Prevention is the key to a good healthy Sphynx kitten. Throughout the life of the cat/kitten.

• Providing a good and healthy environment for the Sphynx kitten/cat, toys for stimulation, a heating pad or heated pet bed to keep warm if the kitten/cat so desires, scratching posts and frequent positive human attention are the most important factors for your Sphynx kitten well being.

• Provide a clean litter box to avoid inappropriate marking or defecation.

• Quality food and fresh clean water. Sphynx have a higher metabolism than other breeds so they need high-quality protein food. Bathtime Both hairy and hairless cats produce natural sebum all over their bodies. Hairy cats have the fur to collect the sebum and oils, which are later removed as the cat sheds. Even though Sphynx grooms they cannot remove all of the build-ups; hence, bathing is necessary. The amount of sebum Sphynx kittens produce is proportionate to the quality of food and the environmental stress they are exposed to. I recommend bathing every 2-3 weeks depending on the cat. Use your best judgment, if you pick up your Sphynx kitten and your hands have a residue left over - it is time for a bath. Bathing Sphynx too frequently can also be damaging to their sensitive skin. You do not have to go out and buy super rare and fancy cat products to keep your new family member happy. Usually, as a rule of thumb, any baby products should be safe for your Sphynx kitten. We suggest buying any soap with Antibacterial properties and using that product. Alcohol-free baby wipes touchups or wet cloth wipe-downs in between baths as needed. Washing food and water bowl with antibacterial soap is a good hygiene practice as well. Eyes Sphynx do not have eyelashes, thus they secrete more frequently to keep their eyes clean from dirt and debris. We call these "eye boogies". Just wipe them away gently using a cotton swab or tissue or a wet cloth and go ahead and wash their face too. Ears Sphynx also lacks ear hairs to protect them; therefore, their ears constantly produce a black waxy film. It can resemble ear mites. Veterinarians unfamiliar with the breed may want to treat for ear mites; please insist that they look at the wax under the microscope to verify the presence of an infestation to not unnecessarily treat. Clean ears often to avoid yeast infections. Use cotton swabs or baby wipes to clean your Sphynx kitten ears. Do not try to clean everything in one go, if you scoop up a bit of ear wax - get a new cotton swab. Our kittens are used to regular ear cleaning and will not freak out when you do it properly. Use your common sense and do not try to go deeper than necessary. Do not force-lock your Sphynx kitten's head and start cleaning his/her ears, if you have to control your kitten - wrap him in a soft bath towel. Allow your kitten to communicate with you and define his comfort zone, do not force the procedure on him/her. Ear cleaning should be a bonding moment and if done properly your Sphynx kitten will enjoy it. Nails will need to be trimmed every couple of weeks. The Sphynx kitten collects the waxy build-up in their cuticles as well. After bath time seems to be the easiest time to clean the cuticles, as your kitty will have wet toes. Simply hold your kitty's paw and gently squeeze the pad, this should cause the claws to protrude and make the cuticle visible. Use a warm wet washcloth to gently rub away the build-up on the cuticle. Baby wipes could also be useful to clean the cuticles. Teeth Kitten teeth may look stained and vets that are not familiar with the Sphynx breed may be concerned; however, it is nothing to be concerned over. Sphynx kittens are exposed to oils during nursing unlike hairy cats, which discolor the baby teeth. Their adult teeth should be perfectly fine, but they could get oil buildup again from grooming themselves. How do I keep my Sphynx kitten warm? A general rule of thumb is to consider your comfort level. If you are comfortable enough in your home to walk around naked then they are usually comfortable too. If you are bundled up in a sweater or under the blankets to keep warm, a Sphynx would probably appreciate the same treatment. If they do get chill a Sphynx will seek out a place to get warm such as on top of the TV or computer monitor, under the covers on a bed, in a sunbeam, or a covered pet bed. Many people keep heating blankets or pads, wrapped with a blanket, turned on low so their Sphynx can find a warm spot if needed. You can also find heated pet beds which most Sphynx love. Some people love to sleep with open windows, at night temperatures drop and your house might get colder than usual, so keep that in mind. As an option, you can always buy a cute outfit online for your Sphynx kitten, but be careful since outfit buying gets very addictive. Picking a Sphynx veterinarian Based on our experience and communications we ad with other families, not all veterinarians suggest treatment in the best interest of your Sphynx kitten. The moment you say the magic word "Sphynx" your veterinarian bill will increase six times. The way you can approach this is simple: call around in advance before you are in an emergency and communicate with your local veterinarians over the phone. Use your best judgment, and see if they are open, friendly, and willing to educate you. If you get a good vibe from a place then chances are they are genuine people and will be a good choice for your Sphynx kitten's well-being. Most importantly, your veterinarian should be able to educate you and justify a procedure he/she is suggesting for your Sphynx kitten. When in doubt, we always advise you to get a second opinion or reach out to us for advise.