Aggressive, wild sphynx

[Essayjee]

I found a sphynx cat. She apparently had been wild in my apartment complex for weeks. She was very skinny, slightly scratched up. She is not trustful. I searched all over the Internet, made missing reports at animal shelters, and made flyers. I took her to the vet to get checked for a microchip, and she didn't have one. She is spayed. She has aggressive behaviors and tendencies. She can be incredibly sweet. She doesn't like to be picked up. She bites ad scratches randomly sometimes, like if she's in your lap.
I have a male (neutered) cornish rex. They seem to avoid each other and I never leave them alone together. But the interactions they have had are not pleasant.
I know she needs to be bathed, and her ears are full of wax. I managed to give her ear mite medicine. However, she will not let me near her neck at all. I attempted to put a collar on her, and she bit me. Any advice for handling an aggressive sphynx? Bathing one, especially. Any advice is welcome!
I know it will take time, but I know baths are a necessity.

 

[Catzzzmeow]

Wow...an option might be warm wet wipes to start. Use them like you are petting her until she trusts you. The last thing you want is for her to not trust you. Maybe others have better ideas, but I say take it slowly and make her feel good and have her trust you first before bathing.

 

[AbbieS]

The wipe idea is best. Can you secure her in a room without your other cat? That way you can spend one-on-one time with her and build trust. If she remains hostile, you might talk to your vet about a med that would soothe her nerves long enough for you to clean her up and let her know you're her friend.

 

[AbbieS]

Also, if she's been outside this much, her skin might be sunburned and irritated causing her grouchiness and aversion to touch. Maybe some witch hazel to soothe her if her skin is irritated?

Or maybe she's just scared and reacting angrily after being lost for so long.

 

[Essayjee]

The wipe idea is best. Can you secure her in a room without your other cat? That way you can spend one-on-one time with her and build trust. If she remains hostile, you might talk to your vet about a med that would soothe her nerves long enough for you to clean her up and let her know you're her friend.

She is in her own room. I spend time in there with her, and also leave the door open for her during the day and she ventures out of it to explore. If course, this had to be supervised because of my other cat. She does run to her room after she bites, growls, or swipes.

 

[Essayjee]

Wow...an option might be warm wet wipes to start. Use them like you are petting her until she trusts you. The last thing you want is for her to not trust you. Maybe others have better ideas, but I say take it slowly and make her feel good and have her trust you first before bathing.

Do you mean like cat wipes? Or a wet washcloth... Or either? Thanks for the advice. Any thoughts on her ears?

 

[Catzzzmeow]

Pet wipes. You can just wipe her down while petting her. If she likes her ears massaged you can start with the wipes. You can make them warmer by using water on them, or, I bought a baby wipe warmer.

 

[1sphynxlover]

Sounds like she is just scared. It will take time for her to settle down to her new surrounds. I would just give her a bunch of love. Can you just imagine what she's been through? I would use the pet wipes instead of trying to give her a bath right now. The main thing she needs right now is love and security.

 

[AbbieS]

Yeah, it sounds like she will settle down pretty quickly. Glad you found her and I bet she will be extremely grateful once she realizes that she's in a safe place and loving hands. Can't wait to see pics....clean or dirty..and hear progress. Please update often.

 

[Retro Kitty]

Poor kitty! Who knows what she went through before you found her. Everyone raves about felliway plugs. They're like glade plug ins but made to calm cats. You can get them at the pet store.

I can't believe no one responded to your attempts to locate the owner.
Long shot but I know someone near me who lost their Sphynx a while back near Houston, Tx. I know it was a female and I think she was mostly white with a colored tail. Figured I'd ask just in case! I'd be sick if I lost any of my pets.

 

[ElvirasMum]

Please do not put ALOE on her, it is toxic to cats if she gets enough in her system!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jovanna]

Poor thing. She must have been terrified being outside on her own. If she has been outdoors for a long time, she probably reverted to a feral state. It will take time for her to build trust again. Try using the pet wipes or baby wipes to clean her up. Use a favourite food as a reward afterwards. For my feral boy, I bought a cat grooming bag for bathing on ebay. He didn't end up needing it, as he tolerated his bath well enough without it, but it may be an option for you. Try the slow blink technique that Jackson Galaxy recommends to help her feel more calm around you. My indoor cats and the ferals outside both respond to this by blinking back. Thank-you for rescuing her. I am sure that she will show her appreciation in time.

 

[Jocy24]

See if she likes being wrapped up snug in a fleece blanket. Try wrapping her and then cleaning her ears. I don't know your technique but try putting cleaner on a cotton ball then wiping the ear and not putting ear cleaner directly in the ear from the bottle. You could also try wiping her down in parts while she's wrapped up. Try a reallllly warm wash cloth. I have found wipes don't work well for me. A little Dawn dish soap is a good "cat" degreaser lol! Thank you for taking in that poor baby!!!

 

[Gizasmom]

The best advice given to me was from Patti (catzzmeow) and when Giza wasn't loving on me like I have liked to swaddle her ( basically grab a baby blanket and I lay it over her and just burrito her up as she stands there) yours will not just stand there like Giza so u will have to scoop and grab quick and then pull sides around till pretty snug and paws are tucked in ( just head out) this puts Giza to sleep within seconds! In sure u will not have the same reaction but it may sooth and calm her and at the same time u can caress her head gently and give her some kisses maybe a chance to bond I sit on the couch like this forever!!!! Just another thing to try I have a pick I took last night ill have to attach it in a sec!

 

[Gizasmom]

She has her paws out cause she was hot hahaha u would want to have them tucked in

 

[Essayjee]

Poor thing. She must have been terrified being outside on her own. If she has been outdoors for a long time, she probably reverted to a feral state. It will take time for her to build trust again. Try using the pet wipes or baby wipes to clean her up. Use a favourite food as a reward afterwards. For my feral boy, I bought a cat grooming bag for bathing on ebay. He didn't end up needing it, as he tolerated his bath well enough without it, but it may be an option for you. Try the slow blink technique that Jackson Galaxy recommends to help her feel more calm around you. My indoor cats and the ferals outside both respond to this by blinking back. Thank-you for rescuing her. I am sure that she will show her appreciation in time.

I've been doing the slow blink and she responds sometimes and sometimes does not. She did allow me to pick her up today, which was a first. She seems more on edge when she smells my other cat. I ordered the feliway plug ins! Hopefully that works. I'll try swaddling her. She us exploring her home right now. She found a new blanket in my room that she loves.

 

[Essayjee]

Poor kitty! Who knows what she went through before you found her. Everyone raves about felliway plugs. They're like glade plug ins but made to calm cats. You can get them at the pet store.

I can't believe no one responded to your attempts to locate the owner.
Long shot but I know someone near me who lost their Sphynx a while back near Houston, Tx. I know it was a female and I think she was mostly white with a colored tail. Figured I'd ask just in case! I'd be sick if I lost any of my pets.

This is a black one I found in downtown Atlanta! I found it to be so odd, as well. She's making big progress. Ordered the plug ins. Thank you for the advice.

 

[Essayjee]

Here's a pic of her from the day I found her. She made a bed in a blanket.

 

[NinaGato]

I would try some flower essences in both cats water. I have had good luck with Jackson galaxy ' s line of products and have used Bach products also. The plug ins should help alot

 

[Lickleone]

Here's a pic of her from the day I found her. She made a bed in a blanket.

She is gorgeous I think she will be fine if you have patience let her learn to trust at her pace, ages been through a traumatic experience is humans don't just ignore our own traumatic experience so we shouldn't with an animal who has no understanding if why they had to go through trauma

 

[Caloci]

She is really cute. I hope she relaxes and settles in. I am assuming you plan to keep her?

 

[Retro Kitty]

She’s beautiful! I hope the plug-ins help and with a little TLC she learns to trust you. It’s so sad when people don’t microchip their pets.

 

[Jocy24]

Wowza!!!! She's a beauty...blue point or blue mink maybe. You won the stray cat lottery!

 

[AbbieS]

HOLY MOLY she is gorgeous. I have to say that while I'm sad for the kitty's tough luck, I'm jealous of you finding a sphynx....and a gorgeous blue/black one at that!

 

[rlewis899]

She is so beautiful, don't give up on her. Look her in the eyes and talk to her gently. Tell her the rules and that you will help her through this transition and that you love her. Tell her often and she will come to understand.

I would do this while she is bundled up and not able to claw your eyes out of course.