Sphynx cats are a strong and hardy breed of cats that suffer very few health problems. Only a few health conditions are known to affect sphynx cats, and they do not have any genetic predispositions either. These are the few health conditions you may come across as a sphynx cat owner:

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM): this is a disease which causes thickening of the heart muscle and can be detected using an echocardiogram.

Hereditary Myopathy: this is a condition that that affects muscle function.

Urticaria Pigmentosa: this is a skin condition which causes crusty sores to form on the body.

Periodontal Disease: gum disease that infects and damages the tissues that hold your teeth in place.

The sphynx cat is actually quite a high maintenance cat – whilst they obviously don’t need to be brushed, they needs frequent bathing, usually once a week as they have oilier skin than cats with hair. Cat hairs normally pull oil away from the skin, but as sphynx cats do not have hair the oil builds up on the skin and picks up dirt. Because of this, sphynx cats need to be washed and bathed a little more frequently.

Sphynx cats are quite active but their actual exercise needs are pretty low. They tend to entertain themselves for hours at a time, but also enjoy having playmates to spend time with. To avoid them getting overweight, regular exercise is required to keep them happy and healthy, and ensure they remain mentally stimulated.

Regardless of their lack of hair and fur, sphynx cats can still attract fleas. Fleas just need a warm body to jump on – however on the plus side they will be easier to spot on a sphynx cat.

Sphynx cats are some of the more pricey pets, with the average price being around £2000. Cats and kittens from more reputable breeds will probably cost much more too. Hairless cats are not as easy to come by compared to other common cats, hence the higher price.

As mentioned above, sphynx cats are quite high maintenance cats and need to be bathed at the very least once a week. She won’t need to be brushed, but she will require washing and bathing to get rid of the oil and dirt build-up on their skin.

There are a number of common health issues that Sphynx Cats are prone to, and as a pet owner it’s worth considering insurance to help protect against unexpected vet bills. Take a look at Asda Money Cat Insurance to see the kind of cover you could get for your cat.