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Looking in LA

MaddieP

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Hi all, I live in Baton Rouge, LA and I'm looking for a sphynx to add to our family! I'm willing to travel to pick them up. We do have 3 furry boys in the house, so as long as they're good with other cats I'm happy! I'm excited to be a sphynx mom, so please consider us as a potential family!
 

Yoda mom

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@MaddieP welcome to the lair family!
Jump in and enjoy this fun friendly bunch
Lots of great info to prepare for sphynx life :)

good info in the fraud thread



All paws crossed
Stay active and check often
Several of us have adopted from members
As well as retirees from reputable breeders

 

MaddieP

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Very good advice, thank you! I had scanned these when I first joined, but needed a refresher. I had to turn away a probably scam earlier when they had an ad in my area bit said they had moved but would ship him. I'm hopeful for an adoptee but if not my S.O. and I are contributing to the sphynx kitten fund. I've also been reading on insurance and wellness plans pretty extensively to make sure they get the best possible care. I've also confirmed that my vet can call out a heart specialist for yearly HCM scanning.
 

Yoda mom

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@MaddieP you are going to be a purrfect sphynx parents with all your love and research n planning :)

All paws crossed !
Btw , al paws are lair family so be sure to post pics of your babies :)
 

Condo commando

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Absolutely have to clean ears. If they get too waxy they get infected.

Be prepared to bathe them or pay for a groomer to do it. Once a month is fine imo.
 

MaddieP

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I'm prepared to bathe and clean ears, it sounds similar to when I had hairless rats. I was more curious as to must haves before take home day, but thanks for the advice
I've been doing quite a bit of research, and watching videos. I have a couple places where my online buggies have nakkid stuff in them, from exfoliating bath gloves to hylyt shampoo, a heated bed, and trizulta ear cleanser. Is that all the basics until I get my kitty and can determine what size clothing they need?
 

Yoda mom

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@MaddieP kitty proof everything! The are busy buddies into everything !
I even have to hide the toilet paper !
Seriously cat monkey dog baby all in one :)

1. Keep on food , litter , litter type , litter box style they are used to- adoptee or kitten -

2. Find a good vet - important to have a good working relationship with -
Have them mark chart “No Ketamine “ anesthesia - it can have a rebound effect on the heart .
Also many breeders contracts have a clause do not give Felv or FIP vaccines -
Rabies vaccine ask for non adjuvanted -
many vets prefer and use use Merial Purevaxx rabies vaccine so I alway ask for that one .

(Some members check out pet insurance for kittens- there are threads on that too.

mine were all adult adoptees so all would probably be pre existing so I got a care credit card - if you are financially responsible and manage it meticulously you will avoid thr high interest and take advantage of the promos
6, 12 , mos etc . I use it and never have paid interest .

3. A good shampoo (many like hylyt soap free hypo allergenic easy to rinse)
4. Spa day supplies - exfoliating gloves , nail trimmer , ear cleaner , qtips , precision qtips ,
( a little head lamp works great for ear cleaning and nail trimming so you can see the quick - some styptic powder on hand just in case you cut nails too short )

For towels - I like dog microfiber towels I get at Marshall’s - much easier than regular bath towels )

5. Lol a metal litter scooper! You will be an expert at poo patrol - they eat more have a higher metabolism ) I broke too many plastic scoopers

6. Many use a voyager harness - I also recommend a small hard plastic airline type crate .
Good for gotcha day pick up transport too amd vet visits . I keep mine ready during hurricane season too.

7. Toys! Kitty proof those too! They will eat /chew strings, bells , feathers , etc off toys -
Many of us use a dabird pole toy ( I like the one piece pole st pet supermarket )
Of course put away in a closet when not in use so they don’t eat it or get caught up in the string - god for all pole toys , ping pong balls I leave out amd they like to play invite thr tib eoth them

8. Throw blankets! I get the $8-10 50”x60” fleece throws at Ross amd Marshall’s .
My 4 prefer blankets over a their k&h heated cat bed .

9. Many use l-lysine powder mixed in wet food , as well as probiotics.

10. A can of 100% pure pumpkin on hand for any poo issues ( make sure to read label that it does not contain spices- the cans look similar .

11. I find an extra little raised double dish filled with water kept a few feet from their food encouraged them to drink more - mine did not take to the expensive drinkwell fountain thst was a pain to to take apart every few days motor and all or they get slimey you can’t see .

12. Baby wipes - many use Huggies naturals -
I gave up on baby wipes - I just put 100% cotton baby clothes in a pitcher of ear, eater with a few drops of hylyt for in beteeen spa day wipe downs.

13. A bag of treats or use their food kibble - you can train them to a meet and greet spot , bed time spot on your bed on their blanket , tricks , treats for after spa day

Surely others will add some ideas :)
 
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Yoda mom

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Lol clothing - mine run naked
So,m emembers kittens have cute sock outfits and can om for good sources for clothing .
My sphynx got s nail stuck on an outfit and nearly fell from a high place
So now they go naked !

Love Trizultra with for ears - like it can be used on skin too
Many use Virbac but mine tolerated Trizultra Better,

You will get lots of great suggestions and find what works best for you and your future nakid !

Retail therapy is great awaiting a Gotcha !
All paws crossed the stars align

Glad you are doing your research :)
 

Yoda mom

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Forgot to mention - pet d’grease Shampoo is kept on hand and used by many members -
Need just a little and must rinse extremely well or they will be dirt magnets

Pet Toothpaste and brush or even a a baby tooth brush

*** more storage on phone etc for lots of pics! :)
 

MaddieP

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I have most kitty stuff on hand already, we have 3 furry ones in the house, so boxes, toys, nail clippers, stainless steel bowls for food and water, treats, top opening carrier, etc, are already here. I will be sure to get some of their food and litter type when they come home to wean them onto the type we use.
I stay cold, so we have throws on both sofas, but I'll be sure to buy extra, plus microfiber dog towels. I would like to try clothing, mostly because I think it's cute. I'll be sure to monitor them closely when they wear it. I've been looking into insurances and various health plans and talked to my regular vet to make sure they have a heart specialist to do yearly scans for HCM. I'll be sure to tell them about the ketamine.
Thanks for the advice everyone, the feedback is great! I want to be e extremely prepared for our new baby!
 

Condo commando

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The proBNP blood test is a good diagnostic test for the heart before you start doing scans. There is a lot of info in the health and nutrition forum.

Honestly a sphynx is a cat so since you already have cats, you should be 90% set. The other 10% is they get cold and they need bathing/ear cleaning. But it sounds like you're set with blankets and cleansers too so at this point you just need the {=
 

MaddieP

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Good to know about the proBNP, the minimum fee for the specialist to come out is 400, which would be worth it for my long-awaited nakkid, but of course another option (which is probably less expensive) is appreciated.
I'll wait until we're decided on a path to order their essentials, but I will pick up the naturals wipes (used to use them on my splay-leg bunny who would get a dirty bottom), microfiber towels, and prevision q tips soon. Keep the suggestions coming, they're appreciated!
Is sunblock needed if I plan to try to harness train for walks?
 

Sheldon13

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I second using a health insurance plan from the beginning!!! I use Healthy Paws and they have been great.

I’ll pm you on clothing places.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 

MaddieP

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I've been looking at Nationwide. Their highest plan covers regular office visits, and seems to cover about the same as Healthy Paws otherwise.
I'd love to know good clothimg places, I've been scouring Etsy for cute clothes! I would really like a boy, so I've mostly been looking at boy clothes.
 

Condo commando

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I would avoid putting anything on them that is not made for a cat because it can be toxic for them. Besides that the bigger risk of sun exposure is not sunburn but heatstroke if you ask me.

I live in Florida and and there's always sun coming in my windows. The cats sit right in front of the glass and bask in direct sunlight. Sometimes I might shoo them away but when I'm out all day they could be laying there for hours. I've never seen a skin issue.

Now what I have seen was one of my cats started to overheat in a long car ride (about 2 hours). It was very hot and the air conditioning can only do so much. First she was panting and then her saliva got all foamy just as we were getting home. I ran in the house with her to cool her off. Thankfully she cooled off quickly. But boy I learned my lesson.

So my 2 cents is watch out for heatstroke more than sunburn.
 

Toa and Ross

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@MaddieP sounds lile you are very well prepared and have everything at home you need for the naked!
I can only add one thing: tissues. Make sure you have tissues at hand. Sphynx tend to make you so happy you start to cry;-).
 

MaddieP

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Any tips for acclimating a new adult cat if that's how our search goes? Our last attempt did not go well. We have a 7 month old bottle baby kitten, a year old Maine Coon mix that's finicky on new friends, and a 9 to 10 year old Russian Blue that is also not the friendliest.
 
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