Fluffy kittens melt our hearts when looking like small furry fireballs - especially the more exotic-looking ones like the Maine Coon. However, humans have proven to adore all types of cats, like the cute hairless Sphynx kittens.
Sphynx cats prove less is more, even in terms of fur in the animal kingdom. According to the Cat Fanciers’ Association, sphynx cats were ranked as the 16th best cat and best breed internationally for 2018 and the 7th best cat in the China Championship for 2022-2023. Shane Co.’s study for 2023 says the final words about this breed’s popularity. The Javanese and Sphynx are two of the most popular breeds in the US.
Cute Sphynx cats come in various colors, patterns, and wrinkles. Technically speaking, they aren't as “naked” as they look. If you look close enough or touch Sphynx kittens, you’ll see or feel a thin layer of fuzz. Scroll down below to check out some photos of this adorable cat breed, and don't forget to upvote your favorite ones.
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Adorable Little Hairless Girl
What Are Hairless Cats Called?
Cute hairless cats are commonly referred to as the Sphynx cats. Sometimes, a popular term is also Spinks cats. They are known for their distinctive lack of fur, which sets them apart from most other cat breeds. The key traits of a no-fur cat:
1. Muscular Body: Medium-sized. Warm, hairless skin with a thin layer of fuzz.
2. Head: Modified wedge shape, prominent cheekbones, distinctive whisker break.
3. Furless Ears: Large, broad at the base, upright, and aligned with the eyes.
4. Large Eyes: lemon-shaped, wide-open center, set at a slight upward angle.
Taking Care For a Cute Sphynx Cat - The Loveseekers
We see their odd beauty and hairless body; all we can think about is how to have one. It’s essential to do your research before investing in one of these beautiful cats with no hair. Lacking fur may mean less shedding, but it doesn't necessarily mean less grooming.
Sphynx kittens are cats of high maintenance in terms of weekly baths and daily attention. Owners of cute furless cats should be prepared to wash their pets once a week and regularly wipe down their bodies with a washcloth. Their skin attracts dust particles, pollen, dirt, and dead skin. They are susceptible to sunburns, overheating, and getting too cold without a protective coat. 10 Tips to keep in mind before purchasing Sphynx kittens:
1. Sphynx cats need weekly baths with warm water & hypo-allergenic shampoo.
2. Regular bathing and ear and nail cleaning are essential.
3. Trimming nails is important, but avoid cutting too close to the wick.
4. Dental care, brushing with cat-friendly toothpaste is crucial.
5. Provide specific food and monitor their weight.
6. Keep track of the Sphynx’s weight to not become obese due to its big appetite.
7. Feed Sphynx cats on a regular schedule of two to three times per day.
8. They need daily playtime to stay mentally and physically healthy.
9. A Sphynx cat is sensitive to temperature changes, so keep it indoors.
10. Vaccination and deworming are crucial for all indoor cats.
This Super Cute Sphynx Kitten
Baby Blue - Cute Sphynx Cat
Sphynx Kittens Are The Best Pets If You Keep Up With Their Energy
While a bald cat may seem like the perfect pet for people who are allergic but still want a feline, sadly, Sphynx cats aren't hypoallergenic. They produce the allergenic protein in cat saliva and skin secretions that cause the itchy, red-eye allergic reaction. According to cat geneticists, no cat is without this protein. However, as they have no fur, some people with allergies may find them easier to live with. It depends on your allergy level.
Sphynx kittens can make excellent pets due to their lively and affectionate nature, but they come with unique care requirements. These cats are notably social, seeking attention and companionship. At first, they might look like angry or aggressive cats due to their wrinkled face, but they have proven to be absolute sweethearts.
If you can't pay them daily attention, you should opt for a more independent feline companion. Sphynx kittens tend to be vocal in expressing their needs, so it might not be the smartest choice if you want a quiet cat.
"Oh, Hello Ladies"
Sphynx Cats Are Not Ok on Their Own and Here’s Why
Sphinxes may look as cold and royal as their namesake in Egypt. Still, this breed has the most social, loving, and playful personality. A Journal of Veterinary Behavior study ranked Sphynx cats as the most affectionate cat breed. Why? They need you to keep them warm!
Sphynx cats have unique cat characters because they get along with everyone in the house and even with other pets. Their big personalities make them thrive on companionship and social interaction. Therefore, they are different from independent felines that love solitary living. Their affectionate and attention-seeking nature means they crave human interaction and the company of other pets.
Leaving a Sphynx alone for extended periods can lead to feelings of loneliness and boredom, potentially resulting in behavioral issues and health problems. Regular playtime, cuddles, and engagement are crucial for their mental and emotional well-being. Therefore, having a companion or spending quality time with them is highly recommended to ensure they lead happy and fulfilling lives.
Good Morning From a Furless Cat
I am crying. And I have no clue why. Probably because everyone thinks that Sphynx cats are ugly but they aren't and also I am a cat person
How Much is a Sphynx Kitten?
People love cute kittens because they are little and fluffy - but what’s hiding underneath a hairless kitten? It is a cute, if not slightly odd-looking cat, with many positive traits that people are willing to pay thousands of dollars to have.
The price of a Sphynx kitten can vary widely depending on factors like the breeder's reputation, and location. On an average range, owners pay from $2000 to $3,000 for a Sphynx kitten. However, some rare color-patterned kittens can cost more.
Remember that there will be ongoing food and veterinary care expenses in addition to the initial cost. It’s important to research and choose a reputable breeder.
Do Sphynx Cats Smell?
Sphynx cats don't naturally have a very strong odor, but they may require more frequent bathing than other breeds due to their lack of fur and the accumulation of body oils. Regular hygiene maintenance helps keep them clean and odor-free.
Just like babies, Sphynx kittens have sensitive skin. Because they don't have thick coats to protect them, it is up to their owners to be extra mindful. Sphynx cats can develop a distinctive odor, especially if they haven’t been bathed regularly, as bacteria, yeast, and oils can accumulate on their skin. However, regular cleaning and baths can quickly fix this odor.
While these cats should stay indoors, a few owners also let them play outside. However, remember that Sphynx cats can get sunburnt, overheat, or sick. But most importantly, they can get very dirty due to their endless playful energy.
Sphynx cats naturally attract dust particles, pollen, dirt, and dead skin cells. In addition to these outside factors, their bodies produce a greasy film. Owners of this breed need to wipe their kitties down with a washcloth daily and bathe them weekly with warm water & hypo-allergenic shampoo.
Look At That Cute Nose
Beautiful Inky
Her Name's Andromeda Crazy Daisy
Deep Ocean Blue Eyes of Sphynx Kittens
Like the stubble instead of full whiskers but wonder if they bump into things at night?
The Teeniest of the Teeny Tiny
Another Day With Same Friend
Meet My Handsome Hairless Boy
Look At Him, Isn’t He Precious
Best Wishes From This Pretty Girl
!["Karen Complains To HR About My Body, I Uno-Reverse Her Complaint, [And Now] Everyone Hates Her"](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/coworker-complains-to-hr-about-womans-body-revenge-latest.jpg "\"Karen Complains To HR About My Body, I Uno-Reverse Her Complaint, [And Now] Everyone Hates Her\"")
One thing which I got painfully aware of, looking at these photos: They are not just missing the hair inside their ears to keep them clean, as Lios mentioned - they also have no whiskers. That is almost worse than the fact that you have to constantly keep them warm, because whiskers are mire than just "a cats beard". They rely on them to get around. Imagine driving a car not being able to see the road clearly ... This breed by its nature is a special needs breed - in my opinion it belongs in the same category like (for example) pug and french bulldog: "Please don't breed them." They are dependent of human care (a lot of) and wouldn't be able to survive on their own. Why would you want to have a cat which can't "cat" properly?
You need about a million more upvotes. All I see here is animal cruelty.
Agreed! I'm a cat lover but whoever perpetrated this breed should be exiled to Antarctica. Naked. They managed to take a beautiful creature and make it helpless, and admit it, ugly.
No need for violence ;) A little more common sense in ALL breeders would be enough. (Also: Please excuse the "mire" - it was, of course, supposed to be a "more".)
They are kind of ugly, but you have to admit it’s in a cute way. If you didn’t think “aww” once you have a heart of stone.
I also wondered about the lack of whiskers, how do they judge their surroundings? Or are they just stay indoors cats?
They use their front paws as hands to check openings etc. Like little monkeys. They also seem to have longer toes than other cats and are certainly a lot more dexterous - I’ve had one hold a bowl in her “arms” to pull it down safely off a shelf. One of mine rubs the back of her paw over things to fully investigate them. The other one is so dexterous as to learn how to push buttons to interact with electronics, and so intelligent as to have learned that swiping my iPad will throw away whatever I’m trying to look at. My “normal” cat doesn’t use his paws anything like as much. I don’t even think this is an adaptation they necessarily individually learn. The gene for hairlessness has existed in cats for centuries and there is some evidence that it is a throwback gene - a random occurring cat in the wild with the gene will have similar bone structure to the purebred form which arguably differs from a “regular” cat - eyes are set further apart for one. Look at vintage photos in newspapers.
My cat has normal fur (he's a bengal mix) and he uses his paws like that. Very dexterous. I think it's probably just your cat, not a breed trait. One of your cats could have learned it from the other as well. Sphynx cats are bred from random cats that had a gene mutations which caused them to be hairless, so the fact that your cat looks like it has longer toes I think is just a product of there being no fur there to make it look wider.
Hi! My Donskoy Sphynx 100% has whiskers - she even has a light winter coat right now that you can also see in the photo. https://www.instagram.com/p/BuHPugQFzTA/ Additionally, I can see whiskers in MOST of these photos, they're just tiny kitten whiskers that aren't being captured well in the photos.
Donskoys have a different gene for hairlessness
I have exactly the same opinion. Poor animals.
As a person who has owned sphynx my whole life (mom was allergic so I grew up with them) there is nothing cruel about it. Yea, they require extra work, and you can't let them go outside, but you shouldn't really let ANY cat be an indoor outdoor cat - it shortens their lifespan significantly and puts them in danger of disease, animal attacks, grabby little kids, and even worse. Whiskers help them tell what they can and cannot fit in as far as small spaces go. Its not an issue if you don't let them go outside. the pair I have now go for walks in their stroller and sometimes on a leash, but only supervised, and they wear their clothing if its not really warm outside. to say that these animals shouldn't be bred is shortsighted and doesn't take into account the fact that they serve a huge portion of people who are cat allergic. While not completely hypoallergenic, they are great for some people. My pair are happy as can be.
After having read your comment again, I'd also like to point out that the answer to "can't have cats for reason X" shouldn't be "remove reason X at the cats' detriment". The most loving way to deal with that is "accept that you can't have cats".
A bit off-topic, but is that attitude of "outside it's dangerous for cats" an American attitude? Here in Germany - and most pother European countries, to my knowledge - the attitude is more that cats might want to spend some time outdoors. I don't know the statistics regarding their life expectancy, but myself I sure wouldn't want to spend all my life indoors, no matter how much safer I'd be... When my parents moved, they kept their cats indoors the recommended 2 weeks, and it was heartbreaking to watch them cope.
I love these cats, but I hope everyone who adopts one first does their research about the breed. These cats have special needs when it comes to temperature, hygiene, skin issues. So just be aware it is not your low maintenance, self-taking-care of cat. Make sure you are prepared for these exotic beauties.
This comment has been deleted.
Sorry but I can't support that. It's nothing but animal cruelty. Poor cats.
Then the majority of dog breeds is animal cruelty too. Poor wolves.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
What is? They are born that way.
One day a cat born hairless and breeders decided that was cute so they tried theyr best to breed cats to recreate those features, it happens with a lot of the pure breed cat (persians, scottish fold, munchkin...) because to retain those peculiar things they need to mate the "same" cats over and over. It's the same thing as incest, we find it a taboo but the main problem is it causes a lot of health conditions. This is because most of the pure races have issues. Plus this cat can't survive in the wild and will get sick shortly after human care isn't provided, and it costs around 2000€ or so. Want to get a cat that's healty, that'll have a long life but still beautiful and (hopefully) affectionate? Go to a shelter.
They were bred that way.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
they were still born that way. No one did anything cruel to them.
One thing which I got painfully aware of, looking at these photos: They are not just missing the hair inside their ears to keep them clean, as Lios mentioned - they also have no whiskers. That is almost worse than the fact that you have to constantly keep them warm, because whiskers are mire than just "a cats beard". They rely on them to get around. Imagine driving a car not being able to see the road clearly ... This breed by its nature is a special needs breed - in my opinion it belongs in the same category like (for example) pug and french bulldog: "Please don't breed them." They are dependent of human care (a lot of) and wouldn't be able to survive on their own. Why would you want to have a cat which can't "cat" properly?
You need about a million more upvotes. All I see here is animal cruelty.
Agreed! I'm a cat lover but whoever perpetrated this breed should be exiled to Antarctica. Naked. They managed to take a beautiful creature and make it helpless, and admit it, ugly.
No need for violence ;) A little more common sense in ALL breeders would be enough. (Also: Please excuse the "mire" - it was, of course, supposed to be a "more".)
They are kind of ugly, but you have to admit it’s in a cute way. If you didn’t think “aww” once you have a heart of stone.
I also wondered about the lack of whiskers, how do they judge their surroundings? Or are they just stay indoors cats?
They use their front paws as hands to check openings etc. Like little monkeys. They also seem to have longer toes than other cats and are certainly a lot more dexterous - I’ve had one hold a bowl in her “arms” to pull it down safely off a shelf. One of mine rubs the back of her paw over things to fully investigate them. The other one is so dexterous as to learn how to push buttons to interact with electronics, and so intelligent as to have learned that swiping my iPad will throw away whatever I’m trying to look at. My “normal” cat doesn’t use his paws anything like as much. I don’t even think this is an adaptation they necessarily individually learn. The gene for hairlessness has existed in cats for centuries and there is some evidence that it is a throwback gene - a random occurring cat in the wild with the gene will have similar bone structure to the purebred form which arguably differs from a “regular” cat - eyes are set further apart for one. Look at vintage photos in newspapers.
My cat has normal fur (he's a bengal mix) and he uses his paws like that. Very dexterous. I think it's probably just your cat, not a breed trait. One of your cats could have learned it from the other as well. Sphynx cats are bred from random cats that had a gene mutations which caused them to be hairless, so the fact that your cat looks like it has longer toes I think is just a product of there being no fur there to make it look wider.
Hi! My Donskoy Sphynx 100% has whiskers - she even has a light winter coat right now that you can also see in the photo. https://www.instagram.com/p/BuHPugQFzTA/ Additionally, I can see whiskers in MOST of these photos, they're just tiny kitten whiskers that aren't being captured well in the photos.
Donskoys have a different gene for hairlessness
I have exactly the same opinion. Poor animals.
As a person who has owned sphynx my whole life (mom was allergic so I grew up with them) there is nothing cruel about it. Yea, they require extra work, and you can't let them go outside, but you shouldn't really let ANY cat be an indoor outdoor cat - it shortens their lifespan significantly and puts them in danger of disease, animal attacks, grabby little kids, and even worse. Whiskers help them tell what they can and cannot fit in as far as small spaces go. Its not an issue if you don't let them go outside. the pair I have now go for walks in their stroller and sometimes on a leash, but only supervised, and they wear their clothing if its not really warm outside. to say that these animals shouldn't be bred is shortsighted and doesn't take into account the fact that they serve a huge portion of people who are cat allergic. While not completely hypoallergenic, they are great for some people. My pair are happy as can be.
After having read your comment again, I'd also like to point out that the answer to "can't have cats for reason X" shouldn't be "remove reason X at the cats' detriment". The most loving way to deal with that is "accept that you can't have cats".
A bit off-topic, but is that attitude of "outside it's dangerous for cats" an American attitude? Here in Germany - and most pother European countries, to my knowledge - the attitude is more that cats might want to spend some time outdoors. I don't know the statistics regarding their life expectancy, but myself I sure wouldn't want to spend all my life indoors, no matter how much safer I'd be... When my parents moved, they kept their cats indoors the recommended 2 weeks, and it was heartbreaking to watch them cope.
I love these cats, but I hope everyone who adopts one first does their research about the breed. These cats have special needs when it comes to temperature, hygiene, skin issues. So just be aware it is not your low maintenance, self-taking-care of cat. Make sure you are prepared for these exotic beauties.
This comment has been deleted.
Sorry but I can't support that. It's nothing but animal cruelty. Poor cats.
Then the majority of dog breeds is animal cruelty too. Poor wolves.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
What is? They are born that way.
One day a cat born hairless and breeders decided that was cute so they tried theyr best to breed cats to recreate those features, it happens with a lot of the pure breed cat (persians, scottish fold, munchkin...) because to retain those peculiar things they need to mate the "same" cats over and over. It's the same thing as incest, we find it a taboo but the main problem is it causes a lot of health conditions. This is because most of the pure races have issues. Plus this cat can't survive in the wild and will get sick shortly after human care isn't provided, and it costs around 2000€ or so. Want to get a cat that's healty, that'll have a long life but still beautiful and (hopefully) affectionate? Go to a shelter.
They were bred that way.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
they were still born that way. No one did anything cruel to them.