Sphynx Kitten Care

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Sphynx Kitten Care

DO SPHYNX CATS LEAVE OILY STAINS AND BROWN MARKS?

The Sphynx breed has gained a lot of popularity in the past few years. Many people are attracted to their intelligence, affectionate nature, and unique appearance. However, with this popularity comes a lot of misconceptions and wrong information concerning this breed, like the messy oily stains they leave behind.

Sphynx skin, like ours, creates SEBUM, a waxy/oily substance made by the sebaceous glands. Without hair to whisk it away and off the skin, over time (and between baths), this can build up on their skin, making it easy for dirt and dust to stick to them. You may see evidence of this build-up under their nails (their nails can look brown or black) and even on their teeth (after licking/grooming themselves so often). Even some of our Sphynx kittens will get a spot on their noses and around their mouths because they nurse from their mom so often that they pick up her oils.

With a lighter-colored Sphynx, you can clearly tell when its bath time. For a darker Sphynx, the safest bet is to just give them regular baths anyway. If your Sphynx is great at cleaning itself, you may be able to go longer between baths. The usual tricky spot for MOST Sphynx is under their chin on their neck, where they can’t quite reach to clean. Just remember a clean dust free dirt free home will keep your Sphynx a lot cleaner for a lot longer.

So do Sphynx cats leave oily brown stains?

Sphynx and hairless cats produce natural oils that are left on the surface of their skin. Due to its hairless feature, this oil isn’t absorbed and it attracts dirt. Over time this build-up of oils can leave a residue on any surface their body touches, hence oily, brown stains.

Sphynx are not regular cats and shouldn’t be treated as such. They require a little more maintenance than a regular cat and can be difficult to care for if you aren’t prepared. One of their needs is bathing.

This is to help remove excess oils and dirt that may have settled on their skin. This is what causes them to leave an oily residue on clothing, linen, and furniture. Most of the time owners who don’t properly take care of their Sphynx are the ones complaining about oily stains.

Of course, they are going to be dirty if not cleaned. It’s like humans not bathing and expecting to stay fresh, Not going to happen!

These kittens must be maintained, depending on their individual needs. All Sphynx cats secrete oils in different amounts and must be maintained accordingly.

For instance, a Sphynx kitten will normally produce more oil than an older Sphynx. Also, Sphynx who are very active and energetic tend to also secrete more oils with their sweat. Therefore more frequent bathing or cleansing will be required to prevent the transfer of stains.

On the other hand, so far my Sphynx will release less oil and will require much less cleansing, therefore the fear of unwanted stains and oily marks will be minimal to none.

To conclude, it’s normal for Sphynx to leave stains if not properly taken care of. So even if you have hard water that might make your Sphynx produce more oil, with proper care and shampoo,  you won’t experience stains and messy brown marks that most people fear..

WAYS TO PREVENT STAINS AND MARKS?

A simple way to prevent stains and marks is proper hygiene. Getting a Sphynx used to a routine is very important as it prepares them by helping them get used to water and the cleansing process.

Sphynx need regular cleaning and overall hygiene maintenance for optimal health and to prevent your home from getting dirty. Ways to prevent stains include:

  1. Regular bathing with a suitable shampoo for sensitive skin like the fragrance-free, hypoallergenic Earthbath shampoo. A bathing routine of once or twice a week is ideal. Try not to bathe very often since this will cause the cat’s skin to dry out.
  2. Get Kitty Clothing to help absorb excess oils. This will prevent oil and dirt transfer since the clothing will cover the most affected areas of the cat’s body. Therefore, you can wash kitties’ clothing while saving your household belongings.
  3. Hygiene wipes are a lifesaver. This will help keep your sphynx clean while preventing the need to bathe. Sphynx normally gets dirty very quickly and may present with brown patches. These wipes can help keep them clean until their next bath day.
  1. Couch and furniture covers are also a great way to prevent stains. The Purefit reversible cover is a great water-resistant protector. Prevention is always better and these furniture protectors are great and allow for easy cleaning.
  2. Get dark-colored bedding so dirt isn’t very visible. This can help reduce your laundry load and save you time and effort.

HOW TO GET RID OF Sphynx STAINS?

Getting rid of grease is a hassle on its own, fortunately, these stains that hairless kittens leave comes off pretty easily if you have the right products and cleaning techniques.

Luckily I’ve found a few cleaning habits and products that you can use to keep your home stain free.

REMOVING OILY STAINS FROM UPHOLSTERY.

  1. Upon discovering the grease stain on your furniture, place a good amount of baby powder directly on the stain. The powder will help absorb the oil from the fabric making the removal easier.
  2. After a few minutes remove the powder using a brush. If you feel the fabric has more oil, add a little more powder and allow a few minutes.
  3. Spray a generous amount of upholstery cleaner and allow it to sit for a few minutes. This will give enough time for the cleaner to work its way through the stain.
  4. Apply some cleaning detergent and work the stain out using a brush.
  5. Using a damp cloth, dab the area. If the stain is still present repeat the process.

REMOVING OILY STAINS FROM CLOTHING/BEDDING

These are easy to clean surfaces that don’t require much effort. A simple wash with any detergent or soap is enough to get rid of the stains.

If you regularly clean out your bedding as well as your Sphynx blankets and their clothing. You might not even notice any visible dirt. Maintenance is key and that’s the only way to prevent dirt and grease buildup.