Sphynx care: skin care, cosy resting places and company
Practical Sphynx care: explain your cat’s usual skin care, keep resting places familiar and agree play, meals and company with the sitter.
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Breed at a glance
Our editors rate each trait from 1 (low) to 5 (high). These are general breed characteristics, not reviews, and every pet is different.
- Coat
- Little to almost no hair
- Care
- Attention to the skin routine
Exercise needs
The CFA describes a curious cat who likes to join in. Offer familiar activities with room to rest afterwards.
Grooming
Little hair does not remove the need for skin care. Your cat’s established routine and comfort determine the attention required.
Playfulness
The GCCF describes a strong interest in play and human contact. Choose familiar games and leave time for company.
Feeding & daily routine
Provide complete food for the appropriate life stage and hand over the existing feeding plan. Needs vary between cats: do not ask the sitter to calculate extra portions independently. Include treats and ask your vet if unsure about body condition or appetite.
This breed on Petbnb
Petbnb bookings and sitters in the Netherlands.
- Paid bookings
- 12
- Sitters with breed experience
- 7
Last updated
The booking total includes paid bookings, as well as completed and reviewed stays or visits. It doesn’t mean every stay or visit has already taken place. Sitter counts and city rankings are based on the breeds sitters list on their profiles, rather than their booking history. This experience is self-reported; check availability for your dates.
Find a sitter who knows the breed
See which cities have the most sitters who list this breed on their profile. Arrange a meet and greet to talk about their experience and your pet’s needs.
- Sphynx sitters in Amsterdam2 sitters with breed experience
- Sphynx sitters in 's-Gravenhage1 sitters with breed experience
- Sphynx sitters in Den Helder1 sitters with breed experience
- Sphynx sitters in Enschede1 sitters with breed experience
- Sphynx sitters in Leeuwarden1 sitters with breed experience
- Sphynx sitters in Nijmegen1 sitters with breed experience
For a Sphynx, little hair does not mean little care. The handover focuses on things another cat’s coat may hide: skin, the familiar cleaning routine and how your cat likes being touched. Discuss this with the sitter beforehand, alongside food, the litter tray and company.
Did you know? The Sphynx is a relatively recent breed
The CFA traces the development of today’s Sphynx to a hairless kitten born in Toronto in 1966. Not every Sphynx is completely hairless, either: the amount of fine hair varies. Rather than simply describing your pet as a ‘hairless cat’, show the areas you normally check.
Make a skin-care card for the sitter
The GCCF explains that without an ordinary coat, skin oils are not absorbed by fur. The skin therefore needs particular care. Pass on the existing routine: which products do you use, which areas do you clean, and when is it necessary? Ask your vet for guidance if there are symptoms or you are unsure about the approach.
During the meet and greet, make a small card with three columns: check, care and contact. Point out a familiar area to inspect and demonstrate one ordinary task. Note separately what the sitter should not try independently, such as a new product or treatment for an unfamiliar skin change. You are handing over daily care, not asking them to diagnose a problem.
Bathing is not automatically part of every visit. Agree beforehand whether one is needed while you are away and whether the sitter knows the routine. Show any external ear and paw care already in use too. If there is pain or resistance, stop the task and get in touch.
Check the favourite resting place
According to the GCCF, an ordinary cat bed with a blanket can be suitable; additional heat is not automatically needed. Walk the sitter past your cat’s favourite places and show the blanket they use. Do not independently add new heating devices to the sitting routine.
A familiar place also helps with the transition after play. Let your cat choose when to lie under a blanket, and calmly check where they are before moving it. Explain which rooms are accessible and how to close doors when your cat likes following people.
Plan company alongside care
CFA and GCCF describe a sociable, curious cat who enjoys being with people. Let the sitter experience a normal activity: following a familiar toy and then sitting quietly together. Skin care should not consume all the visit time. Discuss how much remains for contact and what your cat is used to when nobody is home.
Pass on existing feeding arrangements
Use complete cat food for the appropriate life stage and measure their usual portions. A Sphynx may have different energy needs, but the sitter should not invent an extra portion to account for them. Record the current feeding plan, include treats and provide clean drinking water. Discuss changes in appetite or questions about body condition with your vet.
Three questions for the sitter
- Which skin-care tasks can you practise with me before care begins?
- How will you make time after grooming for play and quiet company?
- Which changes in skin, eating or behaviour will you report immediately?
See our general cat care guide and compare cat sitting at home according to the care your cat actually needs.
Use our pet sitter checklist to record the remaining practical arrangements.
Sources
- Cat Fanciers’ Association: Sphynx — background, appearance and behaviour.
- GCCF: Sphynx — company and daily care.
- LICG: feeding your cat and quantities — complete food and individual portions.
- LICG: holidays when your pet stays at home — introductions and care arrangements.