Sphinx is a very specific breed, primarily because of its unusual appearance. These bald cats can face both excessive love of admirers and outright rejection. When producing such an animal, the owners are wondering - how long will it live, what factors can affect this indicator? We will try to make out the answers in our article.
The main differences
As mentioned above, the main feature of this breed of cats 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 for cats. They are very affectionate and strongly attached to the owners. Particular pleasure is given to animals to sit on the hands or shoulders of households.
Such cats do not tolerate loneliness, so they are not suitable as pets for busy or overly active people.
It is impossible not to note the artistry of the sphinxes, taking photos with them is a pleasure.
Cats are very curious, enjoy communicating with other pets in the house. Owners note the wonderful nature of their pets, their friendliness and the complete lack of aggressiveness, which makes babies a favorite even in those families with small children. Sphinxes are sociable and very smart, each household can play with them and teach teams.For this reason, even those who have sick relatives in the house get such pets - they act as a kind of therapy.
Sphinxes are not afraid of people and tolerate dogs.
They are very clean, so you have to follow hygiene and clean the tray in time, otherwise the pet will simply refuse it.
What determines the life expectancy
Unfortunately, the age of pets is not as long as many owners would like, and the Sphinxes are no exception. There are many factors that can extend or, conversely, shorten the life span of these animals. Consider the most basic.
First of all, experts advise to keep the weight of the pet 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 consider 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 virtually no hair, respectively, on its body a specific fatty layer is formed on which bacteria can multiply. Therefore, water procedures are necessary, and they should be carried out every day.
It will also be useful to use special formulations for washing.
Protective hairs in the ears of cats of this breed are also absent, which leads to active formation of sulfur. To eliminate 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 catch a cold easily.
Therefore, you should equip a warm place with bedding for sleep, and it will also be useful to buy 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.
The curiosity of the sphinxes is an excellent quality, but sometimes it can lead to injury. It is necessary to ensure the safety of the animal and limit its access to dangerous objects.
If you really want to have a sphinx, but there is no way to often be at home and pay enough attention to it, one option would be to purchase another kitten of the same breed. Smart cats will be happy to communicate with each other. They also love children, most often calmly go into the arms of guests, find contact with other pets. Females prefer to sleep in bed with the owners.
Loneliness is destructive for them and can shorten their life to 7–8 years.
As in humans, heredity plays a large role that affects the life span of the sphinxes. The presence of centenarians may indicate that descendants will repeat the fate of their ancestors. If the animal does not have birth injuries, he was bypassed by congenital malformations and diseases, he has every chance of a long and happy feline life.
Good immunity is also very important in this regard. Its strengthening is completely the concern of the pet owners. It is necessary to provide the cat with full 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 the average life expectancy, will be with loving hosts for many years.
These cute bald animals can be divided into peterbalds, Don and Canadian. This indicator does not affect the life expectancy, in general it is from 12 to 14 years. The Sphinx, a long-liver, registered today, has survived to 30 years, but this is a rare exception.
Castrated and Uncastrated
If it was decided to start a male sphinx at home, sooner or later the owners think about castration.According to veterinarians, this procedure is even useful, as castrated cats, according to research, 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 eliminated.
If we are talking about cats, there will also be no harm. After sterilization, she will not try to escape from home, the issue of hormones is 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 sterilized cat will not suffer from diseases of the mammary glands.
Life expectancy of a giving birth cat
Puberty occurs in sphinx girls from six months to 12 months of age. Specialists recommend the first mating no earlier than after a year.
So that pregnancy and subsequent births do not harm 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. On the whole, whether the cat has given birth or not, its life span will not be affected. The main thing is to comply with all breeding conditions.
Read more about the Sphynx breed below.
