Thinking about getting a Sphynx

[Serena]

Hello everyone! My name is Serena and I am thinking about getting a sphynx.

I have been in love with the breed since I was a little kid. I had a cat book of 100 species of cat and Sphynx has always been my fave. I fell in love with their looks, but am also interested by the fact that they are described as 'dog like' cats. Thing is, I have not yet had the chance to interact with one in person.

I am a college student living off campus and considering getting my very first cat. I know it will be a huge responsibility, so I am doing my research. I have looked into various litter box options (does anyone know anything about the Litter Robot LRII?). I am hoping that being a part of this forum will be helpful and informative.

I live in a small one bedroom apartment and will not be at home ALL DAY. However I will not be away all the time, either. I have heard sphynx is not the best to be left alone and I am wondering how much of an issue this will be,

I also do not have much cat experience in general. I have always been a dog person (by default--growing up with 5 dauschunds and 3 pit bulls) so I have never had the opportunity to really interact with cats.

I have been in contact with someone who appears to be a reliable breeder in Long Island (I live in Connecticut) and was aiming for next fall or spring to get the cat.

I am happy to meet everyone and would love some tips and advice.

XX

 

[flying sphynx]

Hi Welcome , I have the LR2 and i do like it . I have 4 sphynx that use it and i am going to get another one . I like that it cleans it self , I have to empty it more often tham you would with 4 cats using it . I empty it 2-3 times a week. You should only have to empty it 1 time a week . I feel it is well worth the money. I do use less litter with it also. I hope this helps.

 

[Serena]

Thank you it's great to get some real feed back (one can never tell with reviews on websites,if they're paid reviews or legit,)

Can anyone tell me (who is/ has been a dog person) if sphynx cats are indeed "dog-like"?

How well would they fair being alone for a couple of hours a day (sometimes more, depending on the day)? I am studying art, among other things, and sometimes I am at the studio for long stretches of time.

 

[admin]

Hello Serena and welcome to Sphynxlair! So glad you found us! Sorry no help on the Litter robot. You can leave your sphynx home all day, just be sure he or she has some food, water and some toys to play with. Good luck on your search for a sphynx!

 

[susi794]

I also have two litter robots and I like them a lot. Your sphynx would be better with a friend if you're not home a lot. But there are lots of single sphynx households, so your kitten would survive once he/she got used to it. They are very needy as kits and he/she will drive you nuts coming to a home without a playmate as he is used to having his siblings to interact with....so be prepared to give him LOTS of attention when you are home.

 

[sciumi]

Hello and welcome, Serena!

A little about my experience (esp similarities to your situation):

Astor is my first pet, other than the Dachshund (yay!) I grew up with. I've always liked cats, but had never lived with one--I, too, considered myself more of a "dog" person--but I eventually decided (with some coaxing from my [former] live-in boyfriend) to get a cat. (I, too, live in a small apt & was not ready for a dog.)

I started researching & took an Animal Planet "Whih breed is for you?" quiz and #1 was Sphynx. At the time, my only experience with the breed was via "Austin Powers" and "Friends"--AND, I swear to god, the only picture accompanying the Sphynx description on the Animal Plt quiz was a close-up of an adult pink Sphynx hissing. Let's say I was skeptical, in the least.

So, I re-took the quiz, making a few changes without veering too far from my ideal vision. And EVERY single time: Sphynx, Sphynx, angry little Sphynx!

Before long, I (of course) fell completely in love with the breed--esp their "dog-like" reputation and good overall health.


And I think the breed has worked out wonderfully for me.

Personalities vary, but Astor is definitely dog-like: his little trot, spunky attitude, etc.

As my first pet, he really satisfied my need for a "challenging" (in a good way) pet--which I only recognized later. He still has all the conveniences of being feline (small, easier to find friendly apts, no need for walks, quieter, etc), but he is needy & particular enough to be engaging and keep me on my toes.




So, I think you would really enjoy the breed! Your attitude & energy are great. As for leaving your kitty alone for long stretches, I think Susi sums it up well.




Oh, and if you're ever near Queens, you're more than welcome to come meet Astor & me!!

 

[Serena]

Thank you everyone for the amazing advice.

Sciumi (not sure what to call you)--you have been amazingly helpful. I really do want to proceed with getting a sphynx, but I want to first do my research.

If I ever am around the Queens area I will definitely let you know. I would love to hang out with a hairless kitty first before committing myself to one.

As someone living in a small apartment, where do you keep your litter box? I know you are trying the Litter Kwitter method (I saw a post of yours referring to that) so did you totally toss the old litter box? What did you use before LK? Also, do you have more than 1 bath room or do you have to take the quasi litter box off the toilet every time you want to use it?

Also, do Sphynx cats leave oily marks everywhere? It wouldn't be a huge problem but I did see that mentioned somewhere and I am curious as I didn't realize just how filthy they could be.

 

[muddpuddles01]

They really are dog-like! My sphynx is so different from any other cat I've ever had! I leave her at home alone sometimes - I also have a dog but she's not always inside - and she's always fine. She wants lots of attention when I get home, but she's fine.

I lived in a small apartment and I always kept the litterbox in the laundry room or bathroom until I got the cat toilet trained, and then I just threw the whole thing out. I usually don't have any issues with Lenore leaving oily spots anywhere as long as she's clean. Bathing seems to take care of that for her, but I'm not sure how much of an issue it would be with a male. From what I understand, their rear area tends to cause more of an issue with oily spots.

They do require a lot of care, so it's great that you've done research before getting one. I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't prepared for bringing one into my home! She's just like a kid!

One tip I have is to be sure if you get it as a kitten to acclimate him/her to baths and ear cleanings right off the bat. Lenore was already grown when I got her, and no one had ever taken the time to get her used to these things, and it was AWFUL trying to give her a bath with a washcloth without her acting like she was dying! And FORGET getting her anywhere near a sink or tub! It took a while, but she tolerates baths now. She still doesn't like it, but she does much better.

Good luck with your venture, and I hope you're as happy being a sphynx mommy as I am!

 

[sciumi]

Thank you everyone for the amazing advice.

Sciumi (not sure what to call you)--you have been amazingly helpful. I really do want to proceed with getting a sphynx, but I want to first do my research.

If I ever am around the Queens area I will definitely let you know. I would love to hang out with a hairless kitty first before committing myself to one.

As someone living in a small apartment, where do you keep your litter box? I know you are trying the Litter Kwitter method (I saw a post of yours referring to that) so did you totally toss the old litter box? What did you use before LK? Also, do you have more than 1 bath room or do you have to take the quasi litter box off the toilet every time you want to use it?

Also, do Sphynx cats leave oily marks everywhere? It wouldn't be a huge problem but I did see that mentioned somewhere and I am curious as I didn't realize just how filthy they could be.

My real name is Jenny, but "Sciumi" works fine! (It's a nickname from college.) I'm not sure if it says my real name anywhere, now that I think about it...

I'm glad I could help!!

You are definitely smart to do your research before getting one (or even thinking about getting one!).


As for litterbox in small apartment, I would recommend trying to find a quiet corner, as far away from eating areas as possible (both your eating area & the kitty's). I also LOVED the "Litter Locker" which is a nifty little trash bin for soiled litter & poops, that is very convenient and really hides the smell well! Oh, and a rubber litter mat. And...a dust buster!


I've never noticed oil marks from Astor--except on his clothing & bedding which definitely gets dirty.

Compared to a furry cat, though, Astor doesn't add much mess to my apartment. It's one of the reasons I wanted a Sphynx--not having to deal with cat hair everywhere!

Though, I expect you will find a lot of nail flakes all over the place! I swear, I could build a new Astor every week out of his nail sheddings!!

 

[SphynxKid]

Thank you everyone for the amazing advice.

Sciumi (not sure what to call you)--you have been amazingly helpful. I really do want to proceed with getting a sphynx, but I want to first do my research.

If I ever am around the Queens area I will definitely let you know. I would love to hang out with a hairless kitty first before committing myself to one.

As someone living in a small apartment, where do you keep your litter box? I know you are trying the Litter Kwitter method (I saw a post of yours referring to that) so did you totally toss the old litter box? What did you use before LK? Also, do you have more than 1 bath room or do you have to take the quasi litter box off the toilet every time you want to use it?

Also, do Sphynx cats leave oily marks everywhere? It wouldn't be a huge problem but I did see that mentioned somewhere and I am curious as I didn't realize just how filthy they could be.

I lived in a small apartment when I first got one sphynx, then two. My bathroom was not large enough to contain a littler box and I didn't have a laundry room. I was actually able to keep a covered litter box in my living room, stashed behind a chair. It was barey noticeable to people, unless I had company over and the cat decided to do his/her business in the middle of a party or something. But, that was just worked around (ie, I went and scooped up the mess really quickly to prevent the smell from traveling too far). I used a litter locker too, so I didn't have to walk out to the dumpter every time I scooped the box. It worked well and I'll say, I was much more diligent about it when it was in my living room, than I am when it is in my basement!

Jen

 

[Nofuratu]

if you use the litter quitter, you get rid of the litter box completely and just use the kwitter, first beside the toilet, and then on top of the toilet. You have to remove it from the toilet to use it for humans, but its no big deal. Its worth it!

you could bring your sphynx to the art studio. I bring Nofur absolutely everywhere.

 

[sciumi]

Oh! And, yes, I only have the one bathroom (very small!!!) but removing the LK becomes habit so quickly, I don't even notice it anymore

 

[Serena]

Thanks guys!

I am really thinking about trying out the LK! I just don't know how difficult it will be to try out the LK while I'm just a new cat owner and also taking classes full time. Maybe it's just paranoia,

Everything has been super helpful! Thanks again everyone.

 

[sciumi]

Just a couple thoughts for you:

I think you need to be positive you want a cat before you adopt one, but I wouldn't worry so much about the difficulty of care. There are somewhere between 75 and 90 million pet cats in the US; and approx. 1/3 of American households have at least one feline.

Plan on getting pet insurance, have an emergency fund or credit card, read some books.

It's very easy to get swept up in research--especially all of the information & debate on how to *perfectly* take care of a cat--I remember getting really scared reading about the "best" diet for cats, to the point where I felt like if I didn't prepare raw food, I didn't deserve to have a pet.


And Sphynxes are cats. They are FAR more similar to all cats than dissimilar. All you really need is a good vet whom you feel comfortable asking questions. Sphynxes might be a better match for certain people than for others, but any competent pet owner will do fine.


So, be sure you know what you want for yourself, but don't let yourself scare yourself out of getting a cat if you think it would enrich your life

 

[Sphynx Happy]

Hi Serena and welcome to the forum. You've already got great advice thus far I just wanted to say hi.