Hi All - New to board

[Misses Pinkerton]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this board, and I'm a new sphynx owner. I adopted my sphynx from the local humane society where I volunteer. I've always wanted a sphynx, but was waiting for my other cats to live out their lives before I got one. Then one day when I was walking dogs at the shelter I heard they had a hairless cat. So I couldn't pass her up. She is wonderful and I've had her for about 2 months and totally love her.

I'm having problems with her care though - turns out she doesn't like her bathtime. So far I've had to take her to a groomer for her baths, but that's getting rather expensive and would like to do it myself.

Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Lorie

 

[Inferno12]

Welcome to the Lair and congrats on your new baby. I often wonder how these guys end up in shelters??

There are several threads on here about bathtime and you should do a search and read up on it. I suggest that you fill the tub with a little warmer than warm water (I hope that makes sense) up to her chest. That seems to calm them the most. then use baby shampoo and a wash cloth. I would also use a warm towel out of the dryer to wrap her up in after the bath. Wrap her front paws in tight like a burrito and then you should be able to clean the ears at least too. Good luck and feel free to ask any question you might have. There are many many knowledgable people here

You baby is beautiful!

 

[sphynxie]

Welcome to the lair! Your sphynx girly is a cutie As far as bathtime, mine don't like it either. I've tried it all and we just end up doing it and making it quick for the girls. There are threads on baths you can check out for other members advice and suggestions-good luck

 

[MissMySphynxBoys]

Welcome to Sphynx Lair. Congratulations on your baby. Thank you for rescuing her.

My first recommendation in addition to Inferno's advice would be to make bath time extra special. I had a Sphynx once who didn't have much patience for baths either, but I learned he would do and go through just about anything for canned tuna fish juice. I used to open a can and leave it on the counter while I bathed him in the kitchen sink. He gave me dirty looks but always kept his eye on the prize.

And if that doesn't work, learn to bathe her quickly!

Good luck.

 

[NakedNinja]

Welcome!!! Congratulations on adopting a shelter Sphynx. My Gabey is a rescue as well, and he's just the most lovely cat ever.

He hates baths. He runs when he sees the "bath basket" come out. (I have a little basket where I store all his bath stuff). He screams, thrashes, yowls, and glares at me as if he's going to rip my throat out. So, we just make it as quick as possible, with lots of praise and treats afterward.

 

[TotenEngel]

Hi, welcome to the lair, beautiful girl!!
We always have a major struggle at bath time so in our house its the 'do it quick' scenario!! I've been trying to bathe Smeagol regularly in the hope that he gets used to it (he's really stinky at the moment though!! He went in for castration so got a break after that and has flu for the last couple of weeks so have been avoiding it!! Hes on the mend soon so we're gonna have to go for it soon!)
My one bit of advice - clips claws before bathtime!!

 

[tessblack]

Well mine don't love it but sometimes are better than others.


Sometimes they just want no part of it and it is a struggle. My husband and I try and do it together because it is easier with 4 hands. 3 to wash and the 4th to caress. When we tried to do it in the sink with just a bit of water it was hell and had many scratches and flying slick cats. So bath water that is warm and also up to the chest made a huge difference. I usually get them when they are sleepy they are much less crazy.

Good luck and welcome. I am sure you will get most ? answered here.

 

[klreese]

Welcome to SL! your baby is beautiful!!
i truly don't have any helpful hints on bathtime. 2/3 of my babies HATE bathtime you can do a search for "bath" or "bathing" and maybe can find some old threads on it.

 

[Misses Pinkerton]

Wow, thank you all for the warm welcome and advice!! I'm sure I will have lots of questions for all you experienced sphynx lovers.

It's good to know that I'm not alone with bathtime troubles - I thought it was just my inexperience getting in the way.

I didn't try filling up the tub yet. I just tried putting her in the tub and dumping water over her back to wet her and that's as far as I got!! She flipped out and clawed her way out of the tub and up over my back screaming and howling all the while and that's when I decided to take her to the groomer. I'm anxious to try again though. This time I will try filling up the tub. We'll see how that goes.

As far as cleaning her eyes and ears, she doesn't like it, but I manage to get it done. Haven't tried clipping the claws yet either.

I'll keep you posted!

Thank you all

 

[gizmo6370]

Welcome to the lair!

 

[Shell_Baby]

My one bit of advice - clips claws before bathtime!!

I was just thinking that very thing Congrats on your new baby - she's beautiful! And welcome to the Lair; you will find a wonderful group of folks willing to help and give advice!

 

[ilovemysphynx]

Hi Lorie and welcome to sphynxlair!
Congrats on your new baby! I will assume that she did not get many baths and that is why she is not loving bath time! Keep it routine and yes fill the tub and this should get easier over time

 

[ypvsypvs]

All sphynxes love boxes. So, put him in a box, lock it and fill it with water and soap and shake.


Nah, just joking ofc. Normally you find a way to make bath time doable without too much of a riot.
I fill tub about 6 inches with warm water and hold my hand over his eyes and put him in. The moving surface of the water scares them sometimes.
After that I let him put his front legs up on the edge of the tub and talk calm to him and pour some water over him but not the head. Then I clean him as he is standing on his back legs.
Pour some water over him again and wrap him in a towel and then clean his head with baby wipes and his ears with q-tips and baby wipes.
All done!

He is a darling though, not all are when it comes to baths but there is always a way to make it doable without too much of a fight.

Welcome to the Lair by the way.

 

[susi794]

Welcome to the Lair and our little online family of friends. Looking forward to getting to know you and your baby better.
Susi and the gang

 

[kiennasmom]

Hi and welcome to the Lair! I don't have much to add except I've found baths are easier with 2 people--1 to hold the sphynx an the other to suds & rinse. Thank you for giving your baby a great Forever Home!!

 

[Gizzymom]

Welcome! I find my Gizzy is more relaxed if I get in with him... But i would NOT recommend that until she calms down somewhat!!

Your rescue baby is just beautiful!!!:Laugh:

 

[ckutkuhn7]

welcome to the Lair! Your kitty is gorgeous!

I highly also suggest the high water up to the chest, it helps greatly. I also give treats after bath time, every time so they know they did a "good thing".
I wouldnt recommend dumping water over him using a cup because that makes noise and they dont usually like that. I usually dig the wash cloth in the water and run that over their back so get the suds off.

Goodluck, you'll find lots of advice here. We can't wait to hear how the next bath goes!!

 

[pooner]

Hi and welcome to the Lair

Pooner really dislikes the bathtub however he does really well in the deep kitchen sink. I think once you start filling up the sink or tub with warm water your little one will do better than when you just poured the water over. Each sphynx is different, I've seen some on you tube that love the big bath tub and then other's like my guy who prefers smaller bodies of water like the sink.
Good Luck! You've got lots of support on the Lair.

 

[admin]

Hi Misses Pinkerton and welcome to Sphynxlair! Looks like you got lots of good advice! Please enjoy the site!

 

[marlene]

Welcome to the lair! My girl does much better if I'm in the bathtub with her. And I use dripping wet washclothes for rinsing, she can't stand to have water poured over her.

 

[Bella07]

Welcome to Sphynx Lair! Your new girl is beautiful! Best of Luck and enjoy your new hairless friend.

 

[firehillqueen]

While they don't really love bath time like Tosca does, Cadeau, Ciel, and Chimere all accept it with different levels of tolerance. I agree with the deeper the water the better they accept it. I also started bathing more frequently so now they are getting use to it. I also wrap them quickly and tightly in a warm towel. From there we go to claw clipping and ear cleaning. The idea of treats is great! I think I will use the tuna can idea too.

 

[mom2Isis]

Welcome to the Forum! I am new here, as well, and am a new Sphynx owner myself. I adopted mine about 3 months ago from a very crappy breeder and we have had health issues and such. The breeder never bathed or cleaned my girl (she is 3), so needless to say she HATES it. She will let me trim her nails and clean her ears.

For bath time, I wear an old shirt (since she has basically shredded it) and fill by bathroom sink with warm water. Then I soak a washcloth in it, squirt on a little baby shampoo, and then rub her down with that while I am holding her, talking to her the whole time. After I have dne that, I rinse the washcloth in the sink and them wipe her down with that to get the soap off. I do this twice. Then I wrap her up in a warm towel and do her ears, between the toes, and trim the nails. She is mad at me for awhile after that, but gets over it. I am always shocked at how much gunk comes off her. I bath her about every week and a half.

Enjoy your new baby! This is a great place full of information.

 

[rmcsilva]

Congratulations on your new sphynx! She will make your life a lot happier!

Enjoy!

 

[NightSpidy]

Welcome to the lair!!!! Your girl sure is pretty