Life expectancy of Sphynx cats and ways to extend it
The Sphynx is a very specific breed, primarily due to its unusual appearance. These hairless cats can face both excessive love of admirers and outright rejection. Starting such an animal, the owners ask themselves the question - how long will it live, what factors can affect this indicator? We will try to parse the answers in our article.
The main differences
As mentioned above, the main feature of this cat breed is the absence of hair. Bald babies look very funny, they are pleasant to the touch and can have a variety of colors. Their body is rough and somewhat reminiscent of suede. There are small membranes on the legs.
Most sphinxes love water, although this is not typical of felines. They are very affectionate and strongly attached to their owners. It gives the animals a special pleasure to sit on the arms or shoulders of the household.
These cats do not tolerate loneliness well, so they are not suitable as pets for busy or overly active people.
It is impossible not to note the artistry of the sphinxes, it is a pleasure to take photographs with them.
Cats are very curious and enjoy communicating with other pets in the house. The owners note the wonderful character of their pets, their friendliness and the complete absence of aggressiveness, which makes babies a favorite even in those families where there are small children. Sphinxes are sociable and very smart, each of the household can play with them and teach teams.For this reason, even those who have sick relatives in the house give birth to such pets - they act as a kind of therapy.
Sphynxes are not afraid of people and are tolerant of dogs.
They are very clean, so you have to maintain hygiene and clean the tray in time, otherwise the pet will simply refuse it.
What determines life expectancy
Unfortunately, the age of pets is not as long as many owners would like, and sphinxes are no exception. There are many factors that can prolong or, conversely, reduce the life span of these animals. Let's consider the most basic ones.
First of all, experts advise keeping your pet's weight under control. Cats can overeat if they are not limited in this, which ultimately threatens obesity and related problems.
You should choose wholesome food and carefully think over the diet so that it contains the necessary nutrients and vitamins in the required amount.
Another important factor is cleanliness. This is due to the fact that the cat has practically no hair, therefore, a specific fatty layer forms on its body, on which bacteria can multiply. Therefore, water treatments are necessary, and they should be carried out every day.
It will also be useful to use special compositions for washing.
Protective hairs in the ears of cats of this breed are also absent, which leads to the active formation of sulfur. To exclude sulfur plugs, which are very harmful to the pet, the ears will need to be cleaned every week.
Bald animals react very strongly to changes in temperature. If the house is cold, the sphinx can easily catch a cold.
Therefore, you should equip a warm place with a bedding for sleeping, and it will also be useful to purchase a warm blouse for your pet.
Seals are very sensitive to the sun and can even get burned. Therefore, it is necessary to protect the animal from direct sunlight.
Sphynx's curiosity is a great quality, but sometimes it can lead to injury. It is necessary to ensure the safety of the animal and restrict its access to dangerous objects.
If you really want to have a Sphynx, but you can't often be at home and pay enough attention to it, one of the options would be to purchase another kitten of the same breed... Smart cats will love to communicate with each other. They are also very fond of children, most often they calmly walk into the arms of guests, find contact with other pets. Seals prefer to sleep in bed with their owners.
Loneliness is destructive for them and can shorten their lifespan to 7–8 years.
As in humans, heredity plays a large role in influencing the life span of sphinxes. The presence of centenarians may indicate that the descendants will repeat the fate of their ancestors. If the animal does not have birth injuries, congenital defects and diseases have bypassed it, it has every chance of a long and happy feline life.
Good immunity is also very important in this regard. Its strengthening is entirely the concern of the pet owners. It is necessary to provide the cat with good nutrition and vitamins, take care of the conditions of detention and devote the maximum amount of time to the pet.
If these conditions are met, the sphinxes, despite their average life expectancy, will be next to their loving owners for many years.
These cute bald animals can be divided into Peterbald, Don and Canadian. This indicator does not affect life expectancy in any way; in general, it ranges from 12 to 14 years. The long-lived Sphinx, recorded today, has lived to be 30 years old, but this is a rare exception.
Castrated and uncastrated
If it was decided to have a male sphinx at home, sooner or later the owners think about its castration.According to veterinarians, this procedure is even beneficial, since neutered cats, according to research results, live longer.
In addition, they become even more calm and good-natured, hormones return to normal. The risk of testicular cancer and prostatitis is also excluded.
If we are talking about cats, there will be no harm either. After sterilization, she will not try to run away from home, the issue with hormones will be settled, diseases of the reproductive system will also not threaten the animal. Life expectancy increases, which is important if the owners do not plan to obtain offspring. A young spayed cat will not suffer from breast diseases.
Life expectancy of a giving birth cat
Sexual maturity occurs in sphinx girls at the age of six months to 12 months. Experts recommend the first mating no earlier than after a year.
To prevent pregnancy and subsequent childbirth from harming the body, this process should be planned no more than 1-2 times a year.
Pregnancy can harm an animal that has reached the age of 7 years, so after this period kittens should not be planned. In general, whether a cat has given birth or not, will not affect its life expectancy. The main thing is to comply with all breeding conditions.
For more information on the Sphynx breed, see below.