Sphynx cat personality?

[danischi24]

I'm considering one & am wondering what they are like personality wise.

 

[dewey]

They are very sweet and require special care and consideration for their needs.

They are my dream companion cat, special needs and all. I had saved up and had a special $1500 fund set aside that I was continually adding to to purchase my dream kitty when a wild, very ill 3oz starved and disease ridden kitten found it's way into my backyard. So much for my dream cat. I ended up spending my dream cat fund + some on vet care for that wild baby who has been the sweetest/rottenest/lovable companion for years ever since, lol. I still want my dream cat and I think if the household is very calm and can take special care for their needs involved, their personality generally is precious.

 

[OtterCreekRanch]

They are not for everyone. I have owned three now (only 1 at the moment) and they have all been VERY demanding. They need a lot of attention. They are much more clingy and bonded to their owners than most other cats I have had experience with. Mine is so attached to us it can be very difficult to leave her at home or under someone else's care any time we got out of town. I personally like the fact that she is so bonded to us. They are more dog like in that respect. She definintly does not understand personal space. She is going to be up in your face no matter what you are doing. It is to the point that I sometimes have to hold her when I am using the bathroom because she gets upset if you won't pick her up. All three I have had have been that way. If you aren't ready to devote a LOT of time to giving them attention and well as their special needs they might not be the cat for you. On the plus side she is fun to take places and does great with a harness and leash because she is so clingy.

This is our girl.

I have been involved in quiet a bit of breed rescue because a lot of people buy them and really under estimate not only their care requirements but the amount of time they need as well. They are definitely not for people who are not home bodies. Of course there are always exceptions to the norm in any breed, but all of them I have been around have been this way.

My Cornish Rex on the other hand is the exact opposite. He could care less if we were ever around as long as he gets his food and water. He is my first and probably last Rex. Not really a great personality at all. But he was a rescue and our Sphynx girl loves him, so he is part of the family.

 

[danischi24]

What are all of these special needs? I have hairless animals so I'm aware of cold & sun problems.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

A lady that goes to our cats' vet has sphynx. From what I've seen, they are prone to skin problems. The vet equated it with having a bulldog and the skin problems that are often associated with those animals. This lady has to give these cats special baths to help with the skin issues. The vet also said she is not a fan of the cats because the ones she has taken on as patients smell due to their lack of fur. Since Sphynx cats don't have fur, they produce a lot of oils. Bathing them too much can increase these oils, so you have to find a good balance. Some people bath them every other week. Other people have had good luck bathing them every couple of months. Talking to some owners, I've come to understand that they wipe their cats down with wet wipes in between baths. Each cat is different though, so you would just have to try different schedules and see what works best.

It is best to buy your sphynx from a good breeder. Breeders will usually acclimate their kittens to baths early on and these cats will often really enjoy bath time. Cats that are not acclimated can truly be a hassle!

 

[dewey]

That's the link to the AACE breed standard... http://www.aaceinc.org/index.php?op...rd&catid=17:breed-standards&Itemid=13&lang=en I think there's an international club.

Mine is so attached to us it can be very difficult to leave her at home or under someone else's care any time we got out of town. I personally like the fact that she is so bonded to us. They are more dog like in that respect. She definintly does not understand personal space. She is going to be up in your face no matter what you are doing. It is to the point that I sometimes have to hold her when I am using the bathroom because she gets upset if you won't pick her up.

She's a cutie pie. And the above describes my rescue cat to a T, who had to be carried most of the time for about 6 months while he recovered. 16-18 pounds now and still loves (and begs) to be carried around flopped over a shoulder like a limp bag of flour, and gives me no sleep because he's such a cuddler 24/7. My work allows me to have my pets with me all the time in my office and when vacationing briefly my dog and cat would be boarded together in the cattery at the vet's. I do still hope to have a sphynx someday to dote over. Glad yours found a great home with you.​

 

[danischi24]

I have hairless animals & they don't smell due to a lack of hair. My chosen breed is the same genetics as the sphynx. It's a recessive gene & the animal has vellus hair.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Quote:
From what I've heard from owners of these cats, it is not always an offensive smell. They said the only time they can really notice it is right before the cat is due for a bath. However, people who do not own these cats notice it more because they are not used to it. Apparently the oils produced by hairy cats are absorbed into the hair. That's why you can't really feel the oils on your hand when you pet a furry cat. The biggest problem spot for these cats seems to be between the toes.

However, the personality of these cats remind me a lot of siamese. Very clingy, as another poster said, which I don't really think is a negative thing. They just want to be with you ALL the time. The few that used to come into the vet office while I worked there were very sweet. There was a lady who used to bring her sphynx to the store with her and he gained lots of attention! He loved being on the leash and would sit in the shopping cart while she went around the store.

 

[gaited horse]

I have a Sphynx his name is Fabio. Theya re very sweet cats abd loved/need to be held, they love to sleep under blankets and love heat. They do need baths and they have to have their ears cleaned out they also need their nails clipped often. Be careful of the breeder. Mine was a rescue and has terrible teeth, digestive problems and was not interdouced to baths at an early age.

 

[Thegrayeyedgirl]

I've thought about getting a sphynx someday....I'll have to see what my lifestyle is like though and if I can dedicate myself to a clingier type cat with special needs like the bathing. We have furry kitties and the only time we need to bathe them is when the long haired get poo poo stuck to her butt