Bald cats do not have fur to insulate them, so how do they keep themselves warm? Do they depend on clothes and heaters or do they have any adaptations to prevent hypothermia?
Sphynxes and other bald cats get cold easily, especially if the temperature drops below 15°C (60°F). Hairless cats do not have a coat to protect them but have a higher metabolism than other cats, which helps them keep their body temperature higher. Several factors, such as very young or old age, or health problems, put them at a higher risk for hypothermia. Most Sphynx cats benefit from clothes or a heating blanket and must live indoors.
Sphynxes and other hairless cats adapt to their environment but their ability to adapt is limited.
HOW DO BALD CATS MAINTAIN THEIR BODY TEMPERATURE?
Despite not having the benefit of a warm coat, Sphynxes and other bald cats have unique adaptations that help them maintain their body temperature.
High Metabolism
Sphynxes and other bald kitties have a fast metabolism, meaning that they digest their food quickly and the physiological processes in their bodies are fast.
As a result, they have higher resting heart rates, they may sweat more. Naturally, that also leads to a higher demand for nutrients and a slightly higher baseline body temperature. It helps with staying warmer but may not be sufficient, depending on the animal and how cool the environment is.
Acclimation
Acclimation, or adapting to the typical environment, is an important factor but it is not always reliable and is very individual. It is also not specific to bald animals.
Cats do adapt, to an extent, to their immediate environment. So, your pet could get used to a slightly cooler or warmer than optimal temperature. However, paying attention to your pet’s behaviors and needs is important. Any additional risk factors that could impact the cat’s ability to acclimate.
Unable to Conserve Warmth
Bald cats have a lower ability to conserve warmth because there is nothing, other than their skin, to insulate them from the surrounding environment. If a cat is not moving, while sleeping, for example, it could develop mind hypothermia.
AGE AND HEALTH STATUS AS FACTORS FOR TEMPERATURE INSTABILITY
A healthy adult cat tolerates a cool day better than a kitten or an elderly, more fragile, animal.
An animal with one or several health problems is more vulnerable to temperature instability, both hypothermia and hyperthermia.
Heart problems, in particular, affect perfusion to the tissues and make hypothermia more likely. Many other chronic or acute health conditions will make the cat more vulnerable too, including hypoactive thyroid, common for older cats.
HOW COLD IS TOO COLD FOR HAIRLESS CATS?
The ideal temperature for Sphynxes and other bald cats is around 20°C (68°F) or slightly above that. The optimal range varies depending on what the cat is used to.
Most hairless cats are uncomfortable in a place with the ambient temperature is below 15°C (60 °F). If your home is usually cool, consider putting clothes on your bald kitty or providing a space heater or a warm blanket for the cat to retreat to a warm spot for sleep.
HOW TO TELL IF YOUR CAT IS COLD
A cat’s normal body temperature ranges from 101°F (38°C) to 102.5°F (39.2°C). Hairless cats may run warmer but the difference is not very significant.
If the cat’s temperature drops to 90°F (32°C) – 95°F (35°C), the animal is mildly hypothermic. Anything below 84°F (28C°) is severe hypothermia but that is unlikely if your cat is an indoor pet as most bald cats are.
Some of the common signs of mild and moderate hypothermia include the following:
- Behavioral changes, for example, nervousness and pacing; curling up and sleeping more than usual is even more common
- Cold paws and ears
- Vocalizing in a way that communicates distress
- The pallor of the mucous membranes of the mouth
- Shivering
- Some cats groom excessively
Some of the signs of progressing hypothermia include weakness and lethargy, stiffness of paws and possibly the torso, slow or labored breathing, and low heart rate. Again, those are unlikely, unless your house is really cold or if your pet escapes outside in cold weather.
HOW TO KEEP YOUR HAIRLESS CAT WARM
Increased Nutrition During The Cold Season
Bald cats usually eat a little more than most cats but their diets should still be balanced. Excessive weight gain is a concern for any animal.
That said, if your home is cooler than ideal during the cold season, your hairless pet might benefit from extra calories to support the effort to stay warm during winter.
Does Your Hairless Cat Need Clothes?
Well, most cats do not need clothes but being bald is not entirely natural for cats. These animals did, after all, emerge as a breed thanks to a mutation.
Most hairless felines still do fine without clothes but it is an option to consider. Your bald pet could benefit from wearing a sweater or a vest if you notice that the cat gets cold often or if your home is cooler than you think is ideal for the cat. Your pet might need time to get used to wearing clothes.
In summer, a hairless cat that goes outside could benefit from a cotton shirt to protect from direct sunlight.
Other Ways To Keep Your Sphynx Warm
Your home needs warm spots for your pet to sleep comfortably and retreat to as needed.
If you have a fireplace or radiators, you could place the kitty bed next to them. The cat will probably gravitate toward those warm spots even without a kitty bed.
Alternatively, you could purchase a heating pad or a blanket for your pet. Those are quite affordable and provide a good, at least partial, solution for a pet prone to getting cold.
CAN HAIRLESS CATS GO OUTSIDE?
Sphynxes and other hairless cats can spend some time outdoors but it is best to let them venture out when it is moderately warm outside.
It is important to avoid the hours when the sunlight is direct during the hot season. It may seem counterintuitive but having no fur contributes to the fact that bold cats are sensitive to hot weather.
It is important to keep your bald cat at home when it is much colder than 15 °C (60 °F) or if it is raining. Brief outings are okay, especially if your pet goes outside regularly.
Related Questions:
Are Sphynx Cats Born Hairless?
Sphynx cats are born bald and they do not develop any fur as kittens, although some Sphynxes may have some fuzz all over their bodies. Some other hairless cat breeds – for example, Donskoy – can have fur as babies and then lose it as they age.
Can Sphynxes Live Outside?
Bald cats have all the instincts of other cats so they can adapt to surviving outside. However, all the typical issues of hairless cats will still need to be addressed. Those include the lack of insulation and the high risk for heatstroke and sunburn, or hypothermia, depending on the climate.
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