It’s easy to assume that a Sphynx cat would require less maintenance than a furry cat, but owners of hairless cats will know that the opposite is true. Sphynx cats need regular bathing to keep their sensitive and delicate skin healthy and free of bacteria.

The good news is that most Sphynx cats will grow up with regular bathing, so they should—hopefully—come to enjoy being in the water.

In this post, we’ll share eight tips on how to bathe a Sphynx cat.

The 8 Tips to Bathe a Sphynx Cat

1. Gather Your Resources

The last thing you want is to place your cat in the tub only to realize you’ve forgotten something—like the shampoo or towel. This will only cause you and your cat more stress than necessary.

Before you start, prepare by gathering everything you need and placing them within easy reach of the tub.

2. Create a Calm Atmosphere

Try to make the room as quiet as possible before you begin. Turn down the tv or radio, and warn everyone else in the house that it’s kitty’s bath time—avoid slamming doors or people coming in and out of the room.

Once the house is quiet, fill the bath with warm water. The sound of the water may startle your cat, so it’s important to do this before bringing them into the same room.

3. Prepare the Bath

Fill the tub or large bowl with enough water to reach your cat’s belly in height, but no more. Make sure the water is nice and warm, but not too hot.

Place one of the towels on the bottom of the tub. This will create a non-slippery surface so that your cat can feel more confident standing in the tub.

Add a small amount of hypoallergenic cat shampoo to the water, and mix it in.

4. Bathe Your Sphynx Cat

Gently lower your Sphynx cat into the tub, making sure its back legs go into the water first, then its front legs. Keep your voice calm and low, and talk to your cat to reassure them. Gently hold them in place by keeping one hand over their neck, but do not push them down.

Use the washcloth to wash your cat clean, taking care to clean between the skin folds too. Don’t forget to wash your cat’s tail, but avoid getting water on their face. You can clean between your cat’s toes by gently pressing on their toe pads to expose the claws—dirt often gets trapped here.

Clean your cat’s face using the washcloth, taking care to clean around their eyes, too.

5. Rinsing Off

When you’re done washing your Sphynx cat, you can either use a jug of clean warm water to rinse them off—taking care not to run the water over their face, or use the shower head. If you’re using a shower to rinse them off, the sound may startle your cat, so make sure you’re holding them in place.

6. Drying Off

Wrap your cat up in a big dry towel, and quickly rub them dry. For an even happier cat, use a warm and toasty towel, but make sure it’s not too hot! Your cat may feel as though they want to get away from you by this point, so try not to drag the process out.

That said, don’t let them go just yet—there’s another important step left!

7. Clean the Ears

Sphynx cats need their ears cleaned at least once a week. These cats produce a lot of earwax, and their lack of fur means that their ears trap dirt quickly. Using the liquid ear cleaner and a cotton ball, gently hold back each ear and wipe around the outer ear canal.

8. Treat Time

As soon as you are done bathing your Sphynx cat, offer them some treats. For a start, your cat will hopefully begin to associate bath times with treats. Most cats don’t tend to love water, so offering your cat a small treat after they’ve been bathed will reassure them that you do still love them!

What Happens if You Don’t Bathe a Sphynx Cat?

Sphynx cats produce a lot of oil on their skin. If they aren’t bathed regularly, the oil will attract dirt and over time encourage the growth of bacteria, especially between skin folds.

How Often Do You Bathe a Sphynx Cat?

Depending on how active your Sphynx cat is, they’ll need a bath every one to two weeks. If you notice that your cat smells bad, or they take on a rusty or brown appearance, it’s probably time for a bath!

What Should I Bathe My Sphynx Cat With?

Use a shampoo that is specifically for cats. Hypoallergenic shampoos are best—especially those with no scents.

Conditions, such as acne and yeast infections, are more common in Sphynx cats. These conditions may require medicated shampoo, so it’s best to speak to a veterinarian about which products are best to use when bathing your Sphynx.

Conclusion

When bathing your Sphynx cat, it’s important to prepare everything you need, then take your time to make the process as stress-free as possible—for both of you! Try not to get water into your Sphynx cat’s ears or onto their face. Instead, use a washcloth to gently clean their face, and cotton balls and ear cleaner to clean inside the ears.

With patience, plenty of praise, and a treat to finish off, bathing your Sphynx cat can become an enjoyable and relaxing activity for both of you!

Featured Image Credit: Svitlana Kriukova, Shutterstock