How to properly groom a Sphynx cat
So, you have a Sphynx cat and you quickly realize that they need a lot of grooming. Here are my tried and true tips to keeping your kitty clean. Sphynx cats do not have hair to wisk away their natural body oils and they can get very dirty.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Quality Shampoo
- Q-tips
- A&D Ointment
- Ayr Saline Gel
- Fingernail Clippers
- Cotton rounds
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1
The first thing I do before running a bath for our Sphynx cat is moisturize her nose. Our poor little girl always has a brown and crusty nose. To keep it clean takes moisture. When it is really crusty I wipe a small dab of A&D Ointment on there before I start bathing her to loosen up the dirt.
For daily use, try Ayr saline gel to moisturize their nose without worrying about them licking and ingesting it.Handy links to these products are available in the Resources section below this article!
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2
Next, I get a towel handy. If you really love your kitty, throw the towel in the dyer to warm it up.
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3
Run warm bathwater in a sink or tub. Remember that their skin is sensitive, so not too hot! Sometimes I'll put our Sphynx girl in the shower with me, but I'm pretty sure that she doesn't like that at all.
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4
Add a bit of shampoo to the water before you put them in so their feet & nails can soak.
I use Neutrogena® Anti-Residue Shampoo. It's a bit more expensive than other shampoos, but I don't have to use a lot of it. If you buy it on Amazon or Costco in a 3-pack it is less expensive.
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5
Put kitty in the tub or sink and wet them down. I use a large plastic cup to rinse her off between washes. It will take several washes to get all of the oil residue off your Sphynx. I've noticed that the smoother & more hairless your Sphynx is, the oilier their skin gets. Our girl is very smooth, so I wash her with shampoo two or three times. The water gets very dirty!
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6
Make a point to wash their butt (if you have a Sphynx, you probably know what I am talking about) and wash their feet & toes. It makes it easier to clean out their nails later.
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7
Do a final rinse, take them out of the bath and swaddle them in the towel.
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8
I use moistened cotton rounds to wipe down her face and gently wipe the accumulated oils out of her wrinkles. Try to be gentle, as their skin is sensitive and you can cause sores.
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9
Then I use Q-tips to clean the brown gunky oil out of her ears. I buy Q-tips in bulk sizes, and the cheapy store q-tips aren't a good idea because they shred easily. I start by cleaning the upper area of the inside ear, then work my way down. The majority of build-up is found at the exterior of the ear canal. Don't put a q-tip too far into your cat's ear! You could really do some damage, so make sure your cat is well-swaddled and take care. Check for wisps of cotton that the q-tip may have left behind and wipe them out with a fingertip.
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10
After cleaning her ears, I move on to her nails. I take out one paw at a time from her swaddling and re-swaddle her as I go.
Not only do their nails get dirty, but an amazing amount of gunk builds up in the skin fold above their nail. I usually moisten a q-tip with a dab of water before I use them. It helps get that area cleaner and faster.
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11
After cleaning all of the skin folds above her nails I clean the toenails themselves with moist cotton rounds. I trim nails with a human fingernail trimmer and I find there is less splintering of the nail.
Also: I used to try a mild cleanser to attempt getting the nails completely clean, but I didn't think I wanted to expose her to chemicals on a regular basis so I stopped. As long as the nail doesn't have a build up, which probably hurts when they retract their nails, I am happy and I think she is too.
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12
That's it! Enjoy your smooth and clean Sphynx!
I always put out tuna fish after her bath to make it a positive experience she can look forward to. It seems to help, and she'll sit by her dish to remind me after every bathtime. :)
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Tips & Warnings
The first rule of Sphynx grooming is that any product you would use on a baby's skin is alright to use on your Sphynx.
Be careful grooming, Sphynx cats have very sensitive skin!
