There are many pros to having a hairless cat as a family pet but what are there any cons that prospective owners should consider before welcoming a bald kitty?
Hairless cats, including Sphynxes, Donskoys, and other breeds, require more maintenance than most furry cats. They need weekly baths and skin care. Many bald breeds are prone to serious health issues. Bald cats also do not do well with going outside, so they usually need to be indoor pets.
What You Need to Know Before Bring Home a Hairless Cat
Health Issues
Although there are several hairless cat breeds, some health issues are common for all bald kitty breeds. The very feature of hairlessness, for example, makes bald felines susceptible to multiple skin problems.
Bald Cats Are Prone to Skin Issues
Sphynxes and other hairless cats are sensitive and prone to skin issues, including dryness, excess oiliness, acne, and urticaria. They are predisposed to health problems due to their genetics and the lack of the protective barrier of fur. Common skin conditions can also lead to pungent body odor in Sphynx cats.
Anything in these cats’ environments can be abrasive or irritating without the protection of a furry coat. Hot or cold air can be harsh on the cat’s skin. Minor mechanical injuries, such as scratches, are more impactful and take longer to heal in hairless cats.
If your cat accumulates secretions in the areas with multiple skin folds, a yeast infection can develop quickly. Problems with yeast are more likely in areas where there is already some skin breakdown, due to scratching, for example.
Although many people think bald kitties cannot get fleas, that is wrong. Bald cats can get fleas like any other cats.
Urticaria Pigmentosa
Urticaria Pigmentosa is a common condition in hairless cats. It causes hives and irritation and can be mistaken for a common allergy. Furry cats might be afflicted by urticaria more often than we realize but the condition is not obvious because the hives are concealed by the fur.
There is likely a genetic component to Urticaria Pigmentosa in cats. Common environmental allergens can also make Urticaria Pigmentosa worse.
Mast cell disease, or Urticaria Pigmentosa, is a condition that is poorly understood, so there is much we don’t know about the causes and treatments.
Allergies
Sphinxes are also at risk for allergies. They can develop dermatitis as a reaction to food, kitty litter, or something else in the environment. Your cat scratches in response to the allergen and the skin becomes inflamed and very dry.
Other Health Issues In Bald Cats
Other health concerns are more breed-specific, as a rule. Sphynxes, for example, are prone to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a heart condition. In general, however, bald cats, albeit sensitive and high-maintenance, are healthy pets overall.
Hairless Cats Need Baths
Any area that accumulates too much oil is more prone to breakdown and infection, so effective hygiene prevents bacterial infections, too. Bald cats need skincare routines to prevent issues related to oil build-up.
Sphynxes and other bald cats need regular baths to remove any secretions from their skin. Some cats benefit from having their skin moisturized.
Usually, the owner finds a routine that works well for the cat. Finding such a routine could take time but should prevent any hygiene-related problems or at least keep them under control.
Skin Care Routine
Bald cats sweat, shed danger, and can leave an oily trace on surfaces.
Sphynxes and other bald cats need a more elaborate routine to keep their skin healthy and your home clean.
- Bald cats need weekly baths in warm water, using gentle cat wash or other mild soap, castile soap, for example.
- Most cats hate baths so you can sometimes substitute for sponge baths. Use a cloth with some soap and one with just water.
- Using gentle disposable dander-reducing cat wipes can be a part of the routine and could be very helpful with dander control
- Use a massaging brush to improve blood circulation to the skin. Most bald cats enjoy being brushed.
- You could try moisturizing your cat’s skin. Since felines love grooming, the moisturizer should be non-toxic to the animal. A small amount of coconut oil is a good option.
- Inspect and clean the paws with a wet washcloth because bald cats are more likely to get dirt stuck between paw digits.
- Use a cloth to clean their ears.
Bald cats need sunscreen
Even a furry animal can get a sunburn on a hot sunny day but a bald cat is especially at risk.
If your pet goes outside but does not do well with sunscreen, you could put a light cotton shirt on your cat to protect him or her from direct sunlight.
Hairless Cats Get Cold And Hot Easily
Hairless cats are prone to hypo and hyperthermia, due to lack of fur and its insulative power.
At home, hairless cats might gravitate toward heat sources on a cold day. They are likely to be sensitive to high temperatures outdoors and have a very poor tolerance of cold weather.
Sensitivity to hot and cold weather is one of the reasons Sphynxes and other bald cats are usually indoor cats, although they can go outdoors for short periods under supervision.
Hairless Cats Can Cause Allergies
Bald cats, including Sphynxes, produce the main allergy-causing protein like all other cats. The protein is called Fel d1.
Since the protein is present in large quantities in saliva and cats transfer saliva to their skin by grooming, their dander contains plenty of Fel d1, too. It becomes diffused into the environment easily, especially if the cat has no fur or very short fur.
Sphynx cats, however, are less likely to trigger a reaction in people who have allergies because they produce smaller amounts of Fel d1 than most cat breeds
Some people are more sensitive to other proteins produced by cats or triggered even by a small amount of Fel d1. In other words, Sphynx cats are not considered hypoallergenic but they do have a lower allergenic potential than most cat breeds.
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