Everyone knows that felines are excellent when it comes to grooming and keeping themselves clean, but if we talk about a specific type of cat, things change. Although they also take care of grooming themselves, sphynx cats or hairless cats need a series of more frequent hygienic care than other kittens since their skin is very sensitive and tends to accumulate more grease and dirt.
That is why on our site we provide you with information on how to bathe a sphynx cat or hairless cat, so you know what they have these felines and the cleaning routine they need on a regular basis to have a clean appearance and appropriate to their type of scalp.
Cleaning the sphynx cat or hairless cats
The popular belief that the sphynx cat has no hair is not entirely true, since in reality they have a layer of very short and fine hair that is almost imperceptible to us. But this does not mean that this breed of cats does not need to have a specific cleaning routine because, despite what people tend to think, sphynx cats (and hairless cats in general) are more prone than other breeds to accumulate dirt, have oily skin and sweat excessively, so they need to maintain regular hygiene and special care that we will now see.
Normally, it is recommended to bath your sphynx cat once a month (every 20 -30 days), otherwise you will begin to notice that its skin becomes oily and the fat it gives off is reddish in color. If you never bathe him, your feline will start to get dirty and, in addition to accumulating harmful microorganisms in his body, he will also start to dirty all those places and objects that he touches in his path.
Likewise, a dirty cat will end up feeling sad and discouraged, so you should never neglect his hygiene if you want him to be a he althy and happy kitty.
How to bathe a sphynx cat or hairless cat
Although bathing a Sphynx cat or another hairless breed is very similar to bathing an adult cat of any other breed, the truth is that we must make sure to clean certain areas of his body where dirt tends to accumulate more usually before he gets in the bath such as his eyes, nails and ears.
In the case of the eyes, it is important that you know that Sphynx or Egyptian cats lack eyelashes and therefore their tear fluid is much more abundant than in other breeds because it prevents pathogens from entering in the eyes and cause eye disease. So clean your cat's eyes frequently every week with the help of a clean cloth and physiological saline to remove dirt and grime that it may have.
The nails are other parts of the body of the sphynx and felines in general, where more dirt accumulates, so before bathing make sure you remove all the wax that may have accumulated on its claws and cut them every time you see that they are too long to avoid scratches and/or domestic accidents. In this article you will know how to trim a cat's nails at home.
Hairless cats also tend to accumulate more dirt than other breeds inside their ears, which are usually larger than those of other kittens, so it is advisable to clean them by introducing a few cleaning drops that are sold in stores. pet stores and that will expel accumulated wax. If you have any doubts in these cases, consult your veterinarian.
Once you have provided this care to your Sphynx or hairless cat, you can bathe it as follows:
- Use a bathtub, basin or bucket where your pet will fit and pour a little warm water without filling it so that your feline note a suitable temperature and do not be neither cold nor hot, as this could damage your sensitive skin.
- Start slowly wet all over the body without reaching the head and then lather gently with a little more emphasis on the legs and belly of your kitty.
- Then rinse his whole body with plenty of water and repeat the same operation but now focusing only on his head, being careful not to get water in his nose or eyes. If you see that he gets very nervous, instead of soaping his head, use a damp cloth and rub it carefully.
- Finally, take him out of the bath and dry him well with a soft towel to make sure his skin is completely dry.
What shampoo to use for a sphynx or hairless cat?
Before bathing your Sphynx cat or hairless cat, you should choose a shampoo that suits their specific skin needs and in this case, there are only two options you can choose from:
- The most common option is to buy a specific shampoo for sphynx or hairless cats at any pet store or veterinary center where they sell it, which will normally be a gel for cats with sensitive skin.
- But if for whatever reason you can't get that gel, you can always buy a specific shampoo for human babies that cares for their delicate skin and they have a neutral pH.
Above all, it is important that you know that you can never use a shampoo that is too strong or astringent, which could irritate the sensitive skin of your hairless pussycat.
Alternatives for bathing a sphynx or hairless cat
If your cat hates water but you know you have to bathe him because it's good for his he alth, there's an alternative you can use and that's wet wipesThere are special ones for cats but you can also buy make-up removers for sensitive human skin, and these will help you clean your sphynx cat without having to touch the water. Of course, this is not ideal, so as far as possible you have to teach your feline from a very young age that water is not its enemy by bathing it after 2 or 3 months of age, because otherwise it will be much harder to teach an adult cat to bathe.
