My new Sphynx kitten has Ear Mites!

Well, as some of you may know from experience if you have owned this breed for a while and have had one, two, or three of these wonderful creatures then you may remember when you first took your little cute baby Sphynx kitten home and followed your breeders contract and went to the vet within 48 hours. You may have experienced this….. EAR MITES!

What are ear mites you say? Ear mites are a tiny spider like parasite that infect the ears of dogs and cats. They usually live in the ear canals but can live on other parts of the dog or cat’s body as well. Ear mites are the most common cause of ear infections seen by vets in cats and dogs.

Ear mites thrive in the warm moist area where there isn’t much air flow. They feed on epidermal debris & ear wax. Ear mites burrow into the ear, causing inflammation and irritation which the body responds to by producing more wax.

You say to yourself, “Oh my god! How can these people sell me a Sphynx kitten infested with ear mites!” Well, although this may be the case, it generally is not with the Sphynx breed. Because of the lack of hair inside the ear like most cats they already have lots of dirt and wax build up so when seeing the vet, especially a vet who has never had experience with the Sphynx breed, this is their first diagnosis, “EAR MITES!”

Because of how quickly the build up of wax and debris your Sphynx cat will encounter on a weekly basis, you need to clean your Sphynx cat’s ears, and we recommend to clean them at bath time. Here is a great video on cleaning Sphynx kittens ears. We use Epi-Otic ear cleaning solution which can be purchased through your vet or online.

What are the symptoms? Ear mites are very uncomfortable for your Sphynx cat. Imagine how it would feel having thousands of little spider like creatures running around in one of your most sensitive areas of the body, the ear. Usually the first symptom you notice will be your Sphynx cat scratching his ears or shaking his head like a mad cat.

You may notice that your Sphynx cat’s ears are flattened or laid back like the cat from “Pet Cemetery”. His ears may be painful to touch and he may cry or hiss when you touch them or while he is scratching them. You may also notice a foul odor coming from your cat’s ears.

Cats may cause damage to their ears by scratching them. Often their ears will bleed as a result of this. They may also shake their ears with such intensity that small blood vessels are broken. So you need to see the vet if any of these symptoms persist!

If you have a look inside the ear of an infected Sphynx cat you will see dark reddish brown or black debris throughout the ear canal which has been described as looking like coffee grounds. This debris comprises of ear wax, blood and Ear mites are visible to the naked eye and can be seen as white dots among the dark debris. You may even see them moving around.

Your vet will look in your cat’s ear with an otoscope and may inspect the debris from the ear under a microscope for a definite diagnosis. Ear mite infections can be serious if left untreated resulting in damage to the ear canals.

So if you are a new Sphynx owner and the vet instantly diagnosis your cute little brand new baby Sphynx and his dirty little ears with Ear mites, be sure your vet takes a look under the microscope before phoning your breeder and telling them how filthy their animals are! And how dare they sell a kitten in this condition!

By the way, It does not hurt to treat an animal for ear mites “just in case” either.

Always see your vet when in question!

Sphynx Cat Community

Multi-Sphynx Cat homes and litter boxes

If you have a “multi-Sphynx cat home” especially if you have acquired a “newer” or “older” sphynx kitty and find that suddenly one of your companions is peeing outside the litter box you will probably stand scratching your head and wondering to your self “hmmm, he or she did not do this before, why now?”

Well, first things first, you need to see your vet and rule out a medical problem like a UTI (urinary tract infection) once it is confirmed that your sphynx kitty is healthy you need to find if the problem may be the Alpha cat issue.

First off, you should have the same number of boxes as you have Sphynx cats. It’s also very important to strategically place the litter boxes throughout the house and not have them all lined up in one room or area.
A lower-ranking sphynxcat may not feel comfortable crossing the path of an Alpha Sphynx cat. This could result in the lower-ranking cat holding his or her urine for a long period time thus causing him or her to urinate outside of the box in an area where he or she feels safer.
Some Alpha sphynx cats can intimidate lower-ranking cats by displaying an almost guarding like behavior in the litter box area, so by using this information you may stop or deter either the alpha or lower-rank sphynx cat from “peeing outside of the box” behavior which can be smelly and messy!

Sphynx Cat Community

Where did the Sphynx cat come from?

In 1966 a domestic cat gave birth to a hairless kitten in Toronto, Canada. It was discovered to be a natural mutation and the Sphynx cat, as we know it today, came into existence. This cat and a few other naturally hairless cats have been found worldwide. These have magically been produced by Mother Nature and are the foundation for this unusual breed. Cat breeders in Europe and North America have bred the Sphynx to normal coated cats and then back to hairless for more than thirty years. The purpose of these selective breedings was to create a genetically sound cat with a large gene pool and hybrid vigor. This is a very robust breed with few health or genetic problems.

The Sphynx is not always totally hairless; there can be a fine down on the body, which makes thecat feel like a warm peach. Some light hair is often present on the nose, tail and toes. The texture of the Sphynx skin has been compared to a suede covered hot water bottle or a heated chamois. All colors and patterns are possible and may be presented at any stage of maturity. The color is seen in the pigment of the skin and the few hairs that they do have. One of the questions most asked is “Don’t they get cold?” Well, of course, if it is too cold for you it will be too cold for a hairless cat too. However, these cats are smart enough to find a warm human, dog or cat to curl up with or they will get under your bed covers.

This is a substantial cat, medium sized and strong, with adult males being larger than adult females. Sphynx have sturdy boning and good muscle development and should have a bit of a belly as if they just finished dinner. They have an open-eyed, intelligent face and a friendly expression.

The Sphynx are extremely inquisitive and love to be the center of attention. They perform silly antics for your entertainment and are sometimes downright clumsy.. .on purpose it seems. They make great show cats because of this ”look at me” attitude and they are easy for judges to handle. They prefer human attention but enjoy the company of dogs and other cats. They have an abundance of energy and mischief and are always with you, on you or showing off for you. “Love Mooch” is the perfect term for these amazing cats.

Because of the lack of hair that would normally absorb body oils, the Sphynx needs periodic bathing and ear cleaning. This is not a difficult task with a cat that has been acclimated from kittenhood with bathing and grooming proper for the Sphynx.

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, there are still people who cannot live with this breed.

The Sphynx was accepted for competition in the Championship Class by The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) in February of 2002. Sphynx lovers feel this is one of the most rare and unusual breeds in the cat fancy today…Sphynx are pure enchantment.

Sphynx are rare and most breeders have a waiting list for their kittens.

Pricing on Sphynx usually depends on type, applicable markings and bloodlines distinguished by Grand Champion (GC), National, National Breed and/or Regional winning parentage (NW, BW, RW) or of Distinguished Merit parentage (DM). The DM title is achieved by the dam (mother) having produced five CFA grand champion/premier (alter) or DM offspring, or sire (father) having produced fifteen CFA grand champion/premier or DM offspring. Usually breeders make kittens available between twelve and sixteen weeks of age. After twelve weeks, kittens have had their basic inoculations and developed the physical and social stability needed for a new environment, showing, or being transported by air. Keeping such a rare treasure indoors, neutering or spaying and providing acceptable surfaces (e.g. scratching posts) for the natural behavior of scratching (CFA disapproves of declawing or tendonectomy surgery) are essential elements for maintaining a healthy, long and joyful life.

How to stop my Sphynx kitten from biting!

I don’t recommend water spraying unless all else fails and this would be a last resort. Kittens will play aggressively because that’s what comes naturally to them from birth all the way up to when they become those long slanky funny looking teenagers. Many people get a sphynx kitten believing that they are sweet cuddly little pets until the little gremlins sink their teeth and claws into your hand or arm (ouch)! You have to remember that sphynx kittens have an instinct to play rough, you would see this if you watched them with their siblings from birth. They are aggressive little devils when they are a mere week into this world! It is part of a normal kitten’s development to play aggressively because they are learning the predatory skills that a cat in the wild would need to know for survival. Most sphynx kittens grow out of the aggressive stage and grow into adorable, sweet little Sphynx kitty cats who would never hurt a fly, never mind hurt you! Also kittens can become biters if you play rough with them or in some cases they were taken from mommy too early. First I must say what ever route of disciplinary action you take, don’t give up and be persistent. A kitten craves you, the owners attention and wants to play with you but you should try diverting his attention away from him biting your hands or arms or even feet by having a toy that is about his own size, like a teddy bear or something. Shake the toy or move it in an enticing manner. Encourage your kitten to wrestle with the toy that you are holding and not your arms or hands.

Withdraw from playing if things get really rough and the kitten begins to bite or scratch you. Just as a kitten learns from his siblings and mother he will also learn from you. If he bites or scratches and becomes overly aggressive you simply end the game. Tell him in a stern voice ‘NO’ and with a loud clap of your hands walk away from the situation and ignore him.

If the kitten catches you unaware and latches on to your arm or leg you might not have a toy ready for diversion. Try not to move too much, (this can be difficult when you are in acute agony and pain) because if you do, this will give him the impression you are participating in the game and it may instigate him to continue on biting and scratching you. As gently as possible unlatch the kittens teeth or claws from your body (easier said then done). Then tell him NO, scold him and walk away. Make it clear to the kitten that you will not be a party to these rough-house games. Remember generally these little Sphynx monsters will grow out of this, so be patient!

Sphynx Cat Community

How to prepare for a trip with your Sphynx cat

Here are some helpful tips on what to bring on a trip or outing with your Sphynx cat to assure their comfortable and safe:

1. The first thing before even leaving the house is to always be sure to have a good quality leash and harness which fits your Sphynx properly. It’s best to put on the harness and leash before leaving the house so you always have something to hold the cat securely if needed.

2. Bring a pet carrier that is the proper size for your Sphynx cat to be comfortable in if he or she needs to remain in the carrier for short or long periods of time. There will be times that you will want to put your Sphynx in the carrier to enjoy yourself without having to worry about your Sphynx being in danger or stressed out.

3. We all know our Sphynx cats drink lots of water so be sure to purchase a pair of pet travel bowls for water and food. Always bring a couple of spring water bottles with you on your outing, there is no such thing as too much water.

4. A must have for travel is a disposable litter box, which can be found at most local pet stores. Your cat can use
these litter boxes for the day and then dispose of them after your trip.

5. Be sure that where ever you bring your Sphynx cat, whether to a park or another home with pets, that these animals your Sphynx cat comes in contact with are healthy pets. There may be other pets or outside cats that
may not be healthy or up to date with their shots. Be sure that your Sphynx cat is also up to date with all shots and has had his or her vet check up before traveling to be sure he or she is healthy as well.

A few other items you should bring are:

1. A few blankets. (just incase it gets chilly.)
2. sunscreen (we all know Sphynx can become sunburn.)
3. treats
4. Your Sphynx favorite toys.
5. baggies (good for disposing your Sphynx poops and pees.)
6. baby wipes (to clean up any mess or your Sphynx kitty.)

Sphynxlair-the Sphynx Cat Community