A few random questions

[LithiumLittle]

Now that my Calcifer is finally home. I have some questions on few topics for you veteran owners.

1) these chicken necks I have seen mention of for teething, are you buying them from the supermarket and giving them raw? Or the dried one from pet stores?( sorry if that's really basic, I haven't had a tiny kitten since I was a teenager and didn't spoil her near as much as I am Calcifer).

2) is it going to be super important to brush his teeth once he gets his adult teeth? I have a a few telling me of their friends friend's sphynx having a ton of dental issues, but am finding mixed reviews when using the search on here.

3) can the stress of moving cause them to produce more oil? He was perfectly clean when I got him yesterday, then today was all brown. I gave him a baby wipe down and I got a lot of dirt off and he is still has brownish spots. I am tempted to give him a full on bath but don't want to stress him out that much on day two at home. Is he just extra oily? Or is that normal?

I think that's all I got for now. He is just being adorable and bouncing all over the place, biting our hair, chewing at piercings(that's fun when sleeping). I will be happy when stops crying for his mom and siblings though, that's heartbreaking.

 

[admin]

Now that my Calcifer is finally home. I have some questions on few topics for you veteran owners.

1) these chicken necks I have seen mention of for teething, are you buying them from the supermarket and giving them raw? Or the dried one from pet stores?( sorry if that's really basic, I haven't had a tiny kitten since I was a teenager and didn't spoil her near as much as I am Calcifer).

2) is it going to be super important to brush his teeth once he gets his adult teeth? I have a a few telling me of their friends friend's sphynx having a ton of dental issues, but am finding mixed reviews when using the search on here.

3) can the stress of moving cause them to produce more oil? He was perfectly clean when I got him yesterday, then today was all brown. I gave him a baby wipe down and I got a lot of dirt off and he is still has brownish spots. I am tempted to give him a full on bath but don't want to stress him out that much on day two at home. Is he just extra oily? Or is that normal?

I think that's all I got for now. He is just being adorable and bouncing all over the place, biting our hair, chewing at piercings(that's fun when sleeping). I will be happy when stops crying for his mom and siblings though, that's heartbreaking.

Congrats - what a cutie! I would try to keep him as stress free as possible, wait a month or so for baths. I don't think he will produce more oil due to stress. We don't feed raw but a few here in the group do, @Xandria does for sure, see our raw section too - Sphynx Cats & Raw Diet
If you can clean his teeth comfortably, it surely wouldn't hurt. A good snack like Greenies helps with tartar build up. As far as the teeth, its really hit or miss, I'm not sure poor dental issues are breed specific.

 

[Xandria]

Now that my Calcifer is finally home. I have some questions on few topics for you veteran owners.

1) these chicken necks I have seen mention of for teething, are you buying them from the supermarket and giving them raw? Or the dried one from pet stores?( sorry if that's really basic, I haven't had a tiny kitten since I was a teenager and didn't spoil her near as much as I am Calcifer).

2) is it going to be super important to brush his teeth once he gets his adult teeth? I have a a few telling me of their friends friend's sphynx having a ton of dental issues, but am finding mixed reviews when using the search on here.

3) can the stress of moving cause them to produce more oil? He was perfectly clean when I got him yesterday, then today was all brown. I gave him a baby wipe down and I got a lot of dirt off and he is still has brownish spots. I am tempted to give him a full on bath but don't want to stress him out that much on day two at home. Is he just extra oily? Or is that normal?

I think that's all I got for now. He is just being adorable and bouncing all over the place, biting our hair, chewing at piercings(that's fun when sleeping). I will be happy when stops crying for his mom and siblings though, that's heartbreaking.

Hi there.

I used the dried chicken necks from Tisol. Unfortunately Max is allergic to chicken, so that was a short lived experiment, but he loved them!

Max's teeth already need cleaning by the vet, I'm sad to say. I was brushing them about once a day, and with his raw food diet, that wasn't enough. So I'm brushing his teeth 2-4 times a day now (after each meal) which is more than I brush my own I was told the finger brush (plastic) wasn't really comfortable for them so I use this brush:

Virbac USA | C.E.T.® Cat Toothbrush with Toothpaste Packet

I think dental issues simply vary based on too many factors (like humans). Hubby brushes his teeth constantly, and has issues, I brush once a day and my teeth are awesome. I had one cat that didn't need much brushing, and Max definitely does. Although, the vet said that on a raw food diet, it's not uncommon for the cats to need really regular brushing.

You don't want to bathe Sphynx too often. A basic wipe down with a warm water soaked cloth works wonders. I found that using the baby wipes caused an increase in dirt attraction so I don't use the baby wipes on his body (just his nails).

Enjoy Calcifer -- love the name!!!

 

[Hairless Blessing]

Congrats, on your new baby. He's a Handsome little Gentleman.

 

[Yoda mom]

@LithiumLittle , head smooches to Calcifer! Can't wait to see more pics of him! So glad he is home he is having fun bonding with his new mum! It's a whole new world and his crying with turn to more fun antics with you!
Ps- yes watch the piercings- I know kitty claws and piercings don't mix either - ouch- Drew blood! Now I see the herd running towards my pillow and prepare!

Sorry I can't help with chicken neck info - I have never used them ( my man would not like that ) he doesn't get the raw thing

Mine refuse all the greenie dental flavors

two of my older adoptees seem to need more brushing - I just ordered oratene maintenance gel


I ordered from a different vendor on line - prices vary - I did call the company and checked on the ingredients especifically aloe-
And they explained thoroughly the safe part of the plant used-
It can be used without a brush I read but I will TRY the brush

I also ordered the oratene antiseptic gel to keep on hand
I got both on line-

We will see- I used to brush my pets teeth all the time and he still needed dental- the other one no brushing and teeth fine on check- every kitty is different-
it does seem to me the Sphynx can be more prone to teeth issues from what I read in my opinion-
Hence I am trying oratene maintenance gel now

I like got some infant toothbrushes at Walmart to try - they were actually hard to find the teenie ones -
I will order the CET brush mentioned too-
All these dang pet toothpastes seem to have sugar forms of some sort in them for some reason

Good advice on the wet wash cloths wipes for in-between baths- I add a drop of Hylyt to a pitcher of water -and use baby wash cloths - throw in wash after with no fabric softener-
I gave up on baby wipes too and just use for nails too

I love the hylyt shampoo! Soap free hypoallergenic amd smells great ! (Very forgiving on rinsing too unlike d'grease for my wiggly haaate water kitties) my vet carries it too

I can go about a month full spa day bathing with the hylyt routine I use- my very wrinkly girl a little sooner-
Exfoliating gloves work great to hold slippery kitty and wash on full bath days
Nails 2xweek - ears 2-3 times a week- I do not flush personally- I use cotton round cosmetic pads and precision q tips come shaped great for little areas and only where you can see

Head smooches to Calcifer!

 

[MelissaAlice]

I feed my girls raw and dried chicken necks, they like both. I get both from a raw supplier I found locally but you can also get them from pet stores and the supermarket.

I brush the girls teeth once a day before bed.
I rescued Elfie when she was 4 and had to have 8 of her little teeth pulled! Toothless "knock on wood" has beautiful teeth!

I can give Elfie a bath in the morning and by bedtime she is brown again! Some sphynxies just get dirty!

 

[Xandria]

@Yoda mom -- thanks for the tip on the Oratene. I'm going to try that for Max.

This is one of the reasons I love this forum so much -- everyone chimes in with their experiences and knowledge; so helpful to everyone no matter how brief or long you've had a Sphynx companion.