That cats were sacred to the ancient Egyptians is something we all know. The remains of this rich civilization have given us countless motifs with felines as the main protagonists, such as the sculpture “Amulet, cat” which is in The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Historical curiosities aside, the egyptian cat or sphynx, also known as sphinx, is suitable for family. Although they are not part of the perfect cat breeds to have children (they are, for example, the Burmese and the Persian), sphynx cats can live with little ones if we educate them correctly for it.
Beyond its ability to relate to children, the sphynx hides many more curiosities than just not having hair and we intend to discover them. Also, experts don’t give tips to take care of this delicate breed.
Your skin deserves special attention
If you think that by not having hair they are easier to maintain, you are not right. In Purina they make it clear, it is a cup “prone to skin problems, including the development of rashes and fungal infections. You have to be careful and protect the sphynx from sunburn.”
Therefore, it is important prevent the cat from being too exposed to the sun and “lubricate their skin with baths or even with sunscreen,” the experts from the Veterinary Hospital of Catalonia point out in Diario Veterinario.
Likewise, it is essential to maintain proper hygiene and bathe it with a sponge every week to remove oily secretions.
The eyes and ears do not stay to the side
We have already commented that the skin of Egyptian cats needs pampering. To this we add the care of the ears and eyes.
In Diario Veterinario they highlight that “the absence of eyelashes makes this breed more prone to eye infections, since dust and dirt particles enter them more easily.” In this way, we should clean the area daily so that they do not contract infections. In Animal Expert they detail that we can do it with physiological saline.
Regarding the ears, these are large and very open, so they tend to accumulate an abundance of wax that we must clean frequently.
Be careful with the temperature of the house
Having no hair this breed is unprotected against changes in temperature and it is difficult for them to remain stable. Thus, in AnimalWised they recommend keeping the sphynx in a warm place (neither too cold nor too hot), especially in winter.
We take this opportunity to remember the multiple benefits of having a cat at home, such as that they can help reduce our anxiety and their presence reduces the feeling of loneliness.
A complete and balanced diet
We may not think so at first, but since they lack hair they require a complete diet so that their body temperature does not plummet. In Veterinary Journal they point out that “the veterinarians of the Torreblanca Veterinary Clinic speak of the importance of the cat receiving a healthy and balanced diet that is rich in calories and proteins.”
Experts point out that “due to the absence of hair, the animal consumes a large amount of them [calorías y proteínas] for maintain your body temperature which is superior to that of other races.”
Photos | istock