What do sphinxes eat: the best food and natural nutrition

Update date: 03/10/2021 10:29:57 8054 Share:

Author of the article: Astafieva Ekaterina Alekseevna

*Review of the best according to the editors of simplerule.ru. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective in nature, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.

Sphynxes are a hairless breed whose representatives need to exercise more to stay warm. These cats eat a lot to replenish used energy. Pets are not too picky about food, so pet owners need to constantly monitor the diet of their four-legged friend.

We have prepared a rating of the best food for Sphynx cats, which are popular among buyers. The list was compiled taking into account important parameters and expert opinions.

Dietary features of sphinxes

In Sphynxes (Canadian, Donskoy, Peterbald), like other hairless cats, due to the lack of fur, energy exchange processes occur at a high speed in order to maintain body temperature. Therefore, they need increased nutrition. At the same time, any cat will envy the appetite of sphinxes. They are not picky, they eat everything and can even eat inedible things as a “supplement”. It is difficult for them to resist a piece of chocolate or grapes; they will happily eat what is left on the plate after the owner’s dinner. In reviews, owners say that Sphynx cats like foods that ordinary cats won’t eat.

However, if other breeds begin to eat from the master's table and this does not affect their well-being, then the Canadian Sphynx will suffer from diarrhea. This also applies to changing your diet. If for other cats it takes a week to switch to a new food, for sphinxes it takes at least a month.

Improper nutrition is the cause of dysbiosis. The problem is common among Sphynxes and is easier to prevent. Many breeders believe that high-quality dry cat food is better for health and guarantees a long life.

Basic needs of the breed

A distinctive feature of Sphynxes is their lack of fur. Therefore, this breed is considered hypoallergenic. But due to the fact that they do not have fur, cats require much more energy to maintain immunity and health. For this reason, representatives of this species have an accelerated metabolism, a good appetite and are able to eat anything they find. Because of this, the formation of a diet for such pets must be approached responsibly so that the animal receives its daily intake of all necessary nutrients.

It is important to monitor what such a cat eats, since Sphynx cats are indiscriminate eaters. The use of low-quality food with a high content of flavor enhancers can cause intestinal upset in Sphynx cats with their high metabolism.

When feeding such pets, you must adhere to the following rules:

• each food distribution is given to the sphinx in a strictly dosed portion (food or natural food);
• compliance with the regime. This is convenient for both the owner and very useful for proper digestion of the animal;
• taking into account the pet's age. Kittens, adult cats, pregnant cats and older animals should stick to their diet.

What food to choose for your Sphynx

Food for Sphynxes should only be premium, super premium and holistic.

Premium dry food:

• Acana;
• Bosh.

Super premium food:

• Orijen;
• AATU;
• Eagle Pack;
• Hill's;
• Eukanuba;
• Iams;
• Nutro;
• Advance;
• Royal Canine.

Holistic class:

• Azmira;
• Canidae;
• Eagle Pack;
• Felidae

Almost all brands produce dry food specifically for elderly, pregnant cats, castrates, kittens, animals leading a sedentary lifestyle, and medicinal ones. Wet food is also divided into classes; it can be medicinal and dietary. If an animal has a food allergy, there are special hypoallergenic foods, both dry and wet.

For example, Royal Canine produces specially dry food for sphinxes. However, reviews about the line are contradictory. It's all in the composition. The main share is occupied by dehydrated proteins of animal origin (poultry). It is impossible to determine exactly what part of the bird was used in production. The remaining ingredients are also named in general terms and it is impossible to understand exactly what they are obtained from. It contains unwanted grains - wheat and cereal flour.

Food from different manufacturers is not mixed, only one is fed. Each manufacturer has its own ingredients and dosage. If you mix, then we are no longer talking about balance. And if there is a need to change the brand, then the transition to a new food is carried out gradually.

A cat should always have plenty of water when feeding dry food. The animal needs to drink 2-3 times more water than it eats granules. If the sphinx turns out to be a “light drinker,” then the owner will either have to reconsider the diet and switch to natural food / wet canned food (which is expensive) or supplement the pet with a syringe. Some cats begin to drink more when they are given a drinking fountain instead of a regular water bowl.

Lack of water during dry feeding is a serious burden on the kidneys. The risk of urolithiasis and constipation increases, the consequence of which is intestinal damage.

It is strictly forbidden to feed Sphynxes with economy-class food, which is widely available on the shelves of regular stores. The fact is that the main source of protein in such products is plants: soybeans, corn, wheat. But vegetable protein is not absorbed by the cat’s body. The meat component is minimal; as a rule, it is offal, poultry feathers, and fat.

The lower the class of food, the more dyes, preservatives, and flavor enhancers it contains.

What to look for when choosing food

When deciding what to feed your Sphynx, the first thing you need to do is consult with a breeder and a veterinarian, preferably specializing in this breed. But the latter is rare. Secondly, carefully study the composition.

Nutrition for illnesses

Sphynx cats require a healthier and more balanced diet than other cat breeds - they have a very sensitive digestive system. The slightest violation in the diet - diarrhea cannot be avoided.

The main condition for choice is control of protein levels and the absence of ingredients in the food that can cause stool upset. If problems with the gastrointestinal tract do arise, replace the food with a special one, after consulting with a veterinarian.

Rating of veterinary food:

1. GO Sensitivity Shine;
2. 1st Choice;
3. Gina Elite Cat Sensitive;
4. Josera SensiCat;
5. Bozita Feline Funktion Sensitive Diet & Stomach;
6. Hill's Science Plan Sensitive Stomach;
7. Royal Canin Sensible 33.

Important to know: What to feed a spayed or neutered Sphynx.

Natural nutrition in the diet

A number of breeders and owners of hairless cats believe that the diet of Sphynx cats should be only natural.

For each specific pet, the diet is compiled individually and often experimentally.

Diet example:

• The basis is meat. Preference is given to raw beef, poultry (chicken, turkey), rabbit, and lamb. The meat is given without bones. It is first scalded or frozen (6-10 days). If you are allergic to raw beef or chicken, which happens with sphinxes, the meat is boiled. Meat products should account for 60% of the diet. And if the kitten is given 30 grams. meat per day, then for an adult cat up to 360 gr.
• Offal – boiled beef liver (no more than 2 times a week), heart, chicken gizzards.
• Chicken necks and heads - pre-beaten.
• Dairy products - cottage cheese, fermented baked milk, kefir, yogurt without additives. You can use hard cheese.
• Eggs are a healthy product. Give 2 times a week. Quail - a whole egg, if chicken - the yolk is better, raw or boiled.
• Fish is given to the Don Sphynxes and no more than once every 2 weeks. Only sea food, boiled, without bones. If urolithiasis or other health problems are suspected, it is completely excluded from the menu. Canadian Sphynxes have weaker digestion and it is advisable to remove fish from their menu.
• The following grains are allowed: rice, buckwheat. They are given in the form of porridge.
• Grated vegetables: zucchini, pumpkin, carrots, cabbage. Other vegetables and fruits that are low in starch are suitable, except tomatoes and grapes. Usually vegetables are grated and mixed with meat and porridge.
• Grass - germinate oats, wheat or purchased mixtures.

All food is served “on the table” of the Sphinx at room temperature. Never from the refrigerator or hot. It is recommended to bake or boil cereals and vegetables, this way they are better absorbed. In addition, vegetable oil (1 tsp) is added to them as a source of fatty acids.

What food should not be given

Sphinxes should not be given any food from the owner's table.

The following types of products are prohibited:

• Tubular bones - there is a high risk that the cat will choke or injure its stomach.
• Pork is a fatty meat and is poorly digestible by sphinxes. Raw duck and goose meat leads to infection with worms.
• Fried, fatty foods provoke intestinal disorders, which negatively affects the appearance of the animal.
• Sweets and baked goods cause allergies and metabolic disorders. The glands produce secretions more actively, and the skin becomes more dirty. Chocolate is a poison for any cat, causing poisoning.
• Potatoes, beans, soybeans are not digested in the intestines. They cause flatulence and are useless for the animal.
• Garlic and onions in any form have a detrimental effect on the blood, causing anemia.
• Spices, including salt, are of no benefit to the cat.
• Milk is prohibited for animals older than 3 months. A common cause of prolonged diarrhea.

Pros and cons of different types of nutrition

Heated debates between veterinarians and owners continue over what to feed Sphynx cats. Both natural and industrial nutrition have their advantages and disadvantages.

Problems with improper feeding

The criterion “does my cat like it” should not determine the choice of food for feeding the Sphynx, who is ready to eat anything without thinking about the consequences. And they can be very unpleasant:

• systemic digestive disorders;
• chronic diseases of internal organs;
• metabolic disorders;
• allergies and various dermatological diseases.

A Sphinx who eats at the same table with you should not cause tenderness, but anxiety

Overeating is detrimental for any cat, and for the Sphynx, whose sense of fullness is muted, it is especially dangerous. Hairless cats very easily experience metabolic failures, and metabolic disorders lead to obesity, which is fraught with quite serious problems - from acne to functional disorders of all body systems.

Vitamins and supplements in the Sphynx diet

If dry food is chosen as the Sphynx's diet, then vitamins and supplements are not used. Hypervitaminosis is no less dangerous than a lack of vitamins.

With a natural diet, it is important to choose the right vitamins for sphinxes. The veterinarian will help with this. Apply:

• brewer's yeast is a source of B vitamins, the dosage of which is calculated based on the weight of the animal;
• mineral supplements such as Kizim, Jim Pet, Sanal, Brevers 8 in 1, Canina.

Some owners and breeders are of the opinion that if the natural menu is precisely adjusted, the pet is healthy - no vitamins are needed.

Food for a neutered cat

If the animal is sterilized, then it is necessary to purchase special food for it.
The Sphynx's diet depends on the individual characteristics of the cat, its gastronomic preferences, weight, age and activity. For sterilized and neutered individuals, you should purchase special food to avoid the development of complications and urolithiasis. Suitable hypoallergenic premium, super-premium or holistic food. The selected product should prevent the development of obesity.

Changing your diet

The Sphynx's digestive system reacts sharply to changes in diet, especially at a young age.

When a kitten is taken home, at first it needs to be fed in the same way as in the nursery. If for some reason there is no information about this, then the most optimal is veal (raw or boiled), cottage cheese, finely chopped yolk, meat and vegetable pate. Gradually introduce rice and buckwheat porridge. It is better to get used to cereal dishes from childhood. An older cat will refuse porridge.

When choosing what to feed sphinxes, you should give preference to either dry food or natural food. Mixing two types of food is prohibited. If a decision is made on a mixed diet, then drying is given in the morning, natural in the evening, or vice versa. Different types of food are digested by different enzymes, and the intestines need time to rebuild.

When feeding dry feed, the dose is calculated depending on the recommendations of the feed manufacturer. With natural nutrition, depending on the animal’s weight and health status. On average, for kittens the daily feeding rate is 10% of body weight, for adult animals - 5% of body weight.

Rules for feeding kittens

Babies are sold in nurseries at 2-3 months, when they can already feed themselves.
Babies are sold in nurseries at 2-3 months, when they can already feed themselves. Breeders create an initial diet for kittens, but it is not necessary to adhere to it in the future.

In clubs, cats are fed commercially prepared products; owners often switch their pets to natural feeding. In order not to spoil the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, a smooth transition is organized by feeding the animal with new components of the diet.

Attention! It is forbidden to mix dry and homemade food. Food varies in density and requires the production of different enzymes, which disrupts digestion and metabolism.

Up to 3 months, food is given 6-7 times, 25 g each. As the cat grows older (by the age of one year), the cat is transferred to two meals a day, 50 g per serving. High-quality food has a product line according to age and disease.

Correct menu by month

The list of prohibited and permitted products is individual for each age.

At all stages, a kitten needs microelements that contribute to the development and strengthening of muscle and bone tissue, and the formation of the body.

Be sure to read:

How to feed a cat if he doesn’t eat, what to feed a sick cat

Homemade food or ready-made food

There is a myth that natural food is healthier than prepared food. But that's not true. New ready-made foods contain more nutrients needed by a breed or individual with a specific disease or stage of physical development.

Dry food is convenient, it does not need to be heated or cooked, and it is easier to calculate portion sizes. But high-quality products are expensive, so purchasing dry granules weekly becomes problematic. Economy options have a bad effect on the animal’s genitourinary system and gastrointestinal tract.

Natural nutrition requires searching for products, proper preparation, and storage . In addition, such feeding requires the use of supplements.

The advantage is careful selection of the composition. Only the owner decides what to include in the pet's diet.

How many times a day should you feed a kitten?

Natural nutrition requires searching for products, proper preparation, and storage.
From childhood, pets are taught to follow a meal schedule. This makes caring for the animal easier and promotes healthy eating behavior.

For each age, a certain feeding frequency is prescribed.

How much food and water to give at a time

To prevent the kitten from becoming thirsty, a drinking bowl with clean boiled water should be available. In summer, the volume of drinking increases and the amount of food is reduced. Each cat's nutritional needs are unique.

This depends on the pet’s activity, its physical and moral condition, possible health or weight problems. On average, up to a year, a baby needs 100-120 g of food. This amount is divided equally among all techniques.

An adult Sphynx will need at least 200-250 g of protein base and 100 g of carbohydrates.

The dry food indicator is indicated on the pack of a specific brand. Experts believe that it is better to reduce the volume of finished products to 300-400 g per day, that is, give 150-200 g in the morning and evening. If there is food left in the bowl, it is removed until next time, and the portion is reduced.

Be sure to read:

Can cats have sweets: when is it necessary, in what form is it allowed, benefits and harms, why not?

Is the diet suitable for the Sphynx?

In hairless cats, thinness and excess weight are equally noticeable. Therefore, it is quite easy to visually assess whether the food is suitable for pets.

There are several other signs:

• The stool is formed, not dry and not too soft. The cat goes to the toilet very regularly.
• The skin is clean, no acne. Discharge is normal - this means that the sphinx needs to be bathed once every 2 weeks, and for some representatives of the breed even less often.
• The ears don't leak. Excessive discharge from the ears occurs in the Canadian Sphynx due to poor diet.
• The pet is well-fed, but without folds of fat.
• The ribs do not protrude, but can be felt well with fingers.
• The mood is playful and cheerful.

Therefore, if the animal is healthy and feels good, then the diet is correct and there is no need to change it. Cats don't need variety.

What to feed a pregnant cat

During pregnancy, a Sphynx cat's appetite increases. The need for food increases by 2 times. Portions are reduced, but the number of feedings is increased to 3-4 per day. There is also a requirement for the diet - it must be balanced.

Pregnant women sometimes require mineral supplements. It is important to ensure that they do not contain an additive such as biotin. The component promotes hair growth, which is not adornment for hairless cats.

Choosing wet food

High-quality canned wet food will satisfy all the body needs of your exotic cat!

Premium class food has a rich, balanced composition of natural ingredients, without flavoring additives, flavor enhancers, dyes and other synthetic elements that are especially harmful to the sensitive body of purebred cats.

Unlike dry food, the wet product contains 75-80% liquid, so when feeding the animal it is not necessary to provide access to drinking water.

Eating wet food replenishes water balance and improves the functioning of other important body structures.

The advantages of canned cat food also include easy digestibility (it is better digestible than dry food). When choosing a product, be sure to study the production date, terms and storage conditions.

Premium and Super Premium brands of wet canned food from reliable manufacturing companies:

1. Leonardo – high content of meat ingredients, natural composition, enriched with vitamin and mineral complexes.
2. Applaws is a British holistic food made exclusively from natural ingredients. The line offers a large selection of flavors.
3. 1st Choice is a hypoallergenic food with a balanced composition of ingredients approved by the Canadian Association of Veterinarians. The preserves contain beneficial probiotics that improve the digestion process.
4. Almo Nature - a natural composition from a European manufacturer is characterized by high quality and a wide range. For production, high-quality meat products, premium fish and other useful components intended for feeding cats are used.
5. Grandorf - Italian food made from natural meat has a balanced and hypoallergenic composition.

What to feed a Sphynx kitten

When thinking through a kitten’s diet, it is important not to overfeed.

From 3 weeks, kittens are gradually accustomed to new food. This is also done by the breeder. Upon purchase, he will tell you how to feed the kitten correctly. The basis of the diet is still mother's milk, but a little meat and a cat's milk substitute are introduced as complementary foods.

The most active growth occurs at the age of 5-8 weeks. They begin to feed the kittens wet food or expand the diet: vegetables + meat.

From 3-4 months the process of changing teeth begins. During this period, it is very important that the diet is balanced and contains vitamins and microelements. Dry food is introduced little by little. The granules are soaked and mixed into the scraped meat. However, it is better not to give drying until 6 months, while the intestinal microflora is forming.

An approximate menu by age is presented in the table:

From 9 months, kittens are transferred to 3 meals a day. At one year, the kitten eats like an adult animal - 2 times a day.

Are additional beneficial supplements required?

By feeding the Sphynx with high-quality complete food, the owner does not have to worry about any additional feeding - the animal gets everything it needs without it. For cats that eat natural food, vitamin and mineral supplements are required - their composition and dosage should be recommended by a veterinarian, taking into account the characteristics of a particular animal and its diet.

Sphynxes are not only famous gluttons, but also sophisticated gourmets. Many of these breeds of cats love leafy greens, which are rich in vitamins and minerals. You should not deny your pet this healthy treat, even if you think that his diet is completely balanced and full of everything he needs.

Many bald cats generally have a weakness for fresh greenery - even for ordinary lawn grass, which is usually recommended for breeds with long and thick hair, in order to clear the cat’s stomach of its stray clumps. But don’t forget that your Sphynx could also use this cleansing and vitamin natural supplement.

Let him nibble the grass rather than eat your indoor plants - especially since among them there may be specimens that are dangerous to the cat.