Adopting a cute and cuddly kitten is something everyone has thought of doing, but adopting any animal is serious and much thought should go into seeing if your home is a fit home for any animal. Perhaps never has that been truer than when looking to adopt the adorable yet peculiar breed of cat known as the Sphynx cat.
Yes, we all remember that episode of Friends when Rachel adopts the kitten in question and for a lot of money, too. The Friends cast of character had fun making fun of her and the kitten because of its distinct lack of well…fur, but Sphynx cats are sought after the world over and are actually quite adorable and friendly kittens, but before adopting one for yourself, there’s a few things you should know.
They were first introduced a little over six decades ago, which in terms of animal history isn’t all that long. They are the result of genetic mutation and that result was one that many in the animal loving community appreciated immensely.
Here are some facts you should know before considering to add one of these cute Sphynx kittens to your family…
They’re so sociable they’re practically like puppies, according to petmd.com. A veterinary oncologist at Upstate Veterinary Specialties in Latham, New York, named Dr. Ariana Verrilli, has quite a few of these particular cats in her home and states that they are indeed quite sociable.
"“My hairless cats run to the door to greet me when I get home. I can’t sit down without having at least one of them on my lap… At night, they want to be under the covers…If you’re looking for a cat that’s going to sit in the window and sleep on the bed but is overall kind of aloof, don’t get a Sphynx…If they want something, they’ll let you know…”"
Now they don’t have any fur of course, and that’s what makes them stand out so much, but taking care of that skin is perhaps even more difficult than it is for an aging human…. What with applying face creams and using beauty hydrating bars the older we get.
For these cats, like so many other animals, it’s all about good nutrition. (Maybe that’s what it comes down to for us humans as well—we’re just too stubborn to get with the program however. Ah the things our animals can teach us.
Anyways…the food is important, the aforementioned source suggests, because the quality of food is what determines the amount of oil produced by the skin.
"“You want a high-quality food, because food affects the amount of oil that a Sphynx’s skin produces. The better the food, the less oil. If you don’t feed them a high-quality diet, oils accumulate more quickly and can lead to not just ongoing skin problems but also issues with ear wax and infections…”-Via Kirsten Kranz, the founder and executive director of the Wisconsin-based Specialty Purebred Cat Rescue"
They also need to be protected from the sun and the cold weather. Keep them warm essentially but not in direct sunlight. And this last bit is just horrible to state, but good to mention here: They are susceptible to issues of the heart, but regular visits to the vet will alert you of issues so proper meds can be administered.
So before you adopt, please do your research, dear readers, and make sure you can take care of these adorable critters that’ll want to cuddle up with you under a warm blanket and yeah…perhaps as you watch that old episode of Friends when that zany Rachel adopts the cat for no apparent reason at all. (It’s funny because it isn’t real.)
Are there any proud owners of Sphynx cats out there in our treasured Dog O’ Day readership community? Any tips you want to add for those that are thinking of adopting a cat such as yours?