At times the idea of caring for your little one might be a little overwhelming. Let me just remind you to take a moment and just breath..adoption is a learning process. I wanted to dedicate a section of this website to share what I think are some basic fundamentals in understanding and meeting your kittens health and physical needs.
Diet: Sphynx and Bambino's and Elf's have no hair and therefore must produce more energy (heat) to create a constant body temperature. To do this, they must have a healthy and wholesome source of food that means no table scraps! I highly recommend that your baby should be consistently maintained on the same brand of food, doing so may prevent unfortunate accidents and upset stomachs. If you choose to switch brands you should do so slowly over a period of weeks. In some situations, when a kittens has an abrupt change in diet, situations such as intestinal infections, poisoning, vomiting and diarrhea can occur. Should this unfortunate situation occur, your baby should be taken to the vet immediately. Dehydration is a serious matter and can quickly cause death if not treated. Also keep in eye on their poop...this can tell you a lot about how your Sphynx, Bambino or Elf is reacting to his or her nutrition. Always keep a constant source of water, it is very important that your kitten is well hydrated.
Kitty Litter: Let face it, there are a great many things that you will enjoy or look forward too when adopting a new naked baby, cleaning their poop is not one of them. For years I tried many different litter types and brands: clumping, non-clumping, silica beads, pine, walnut, crystals etc..etc...Finally I tried paper pallet litter, Eureka I have found it! I love this litter and highly recommend it. Did I also mention this litter causes virtually no tracking, no kidding! Your baby will be raised on paper pallet litter.
Grooming:
Bathing: Yes your baby is perfectly naked and soft, no hair anywhere, that does NOT mean they are maintenance free. Body oils that would generally be absorbed through a kittens/cats coat, build up on your little ones skin. As a result the kitten should be bathed at least once every two weeks, “no-tear” formulas are highly recommended. Baby wipes (alcohol free) are a great way to maintain them clean between bathings.
Ears: Naked Babies have little to no hair in their ears which usually helps catch and protect from dirt and other impurities. As a result, the waxy buildup tends to be of darker color and of thicker consistency. To clean the wax buildup, apply a small amount of ear cleaner to a cotton ball and gently swab the ears of your naked baby. If possible avoid using Q-tips, incorrect use of the Q-tips can push the wax further into the ear canal and cause an ear infection.
Nails: Sphynx and Bambino's and Elf's should have their nails cleaned and clipped regularly. Their nails tend to build up a dark waxy coat , which can easily be cleaned by pulling back the skin (located immediately over the nail) and cleaning it with a baby wipe or alcohol swab. When clipping their nails avoid clipping into the pink fleshy area of the nail. Clipping into this area will cause bleeding and discomfort.
Eyes: Sphynx and Bambino's and Elf's can have a frequent amount of build up in the corners of their eyes, these are also known as eye buggers; this is a direct result of their lack of hair. This build up can easily be removed with a warm wash cloth or baby wipe. If you notice a yellow or red discharge along with swelling of the eyes, please contact your vet immediately for this might be a sign of infection.
Teeth: Your kitten may have what looks like tarter stains on their teeth. This is not abnormal, in fact, is it caused by the oils on their mothers skin while nursing. Their permanent teeth will come out white and unstained.
Stress & Upper Respiratory problems: It is not uncommon for a Kitten to undergo some degree of stress when there is a change in their environment, i.e., change in home environment or shipping. Occasionally this transition may cause them to start to sneeze, cough or develop a runny nose which can be the beginning signs and stages of a developing upper respiratory infection . If this occurs the cat/kitten should be taken to veterinarian. Lysine is an amazing supplement which can be given pre or post stressful situation and will help your naked baby's immune system fight URI (upper respiratory infections). It is important that upper respiratory issues be address in a prompt manner.
Providing Health Care: Sphynx, Bambino's & Elf's are a rare breed. Its is always advised that the buyer choose a veterinarian that is familiar with these naked beauties. Use of Ketamine should be avoided at all cost. Ketamine, a popular anesthetic, causes acute hypertension. For cats that have undiagnosed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), this can mean sudden death. Never give FIP or FELV vaccines to your hairless kitten/cat. FIP vaccines are often fatal if your cat has been exposed to the corona virus, which 90% of cats in a multiple cat household have been exposed to. They will break out with the fatal form of FIP if given the vaccine; there is no treatment.
And finally please be aware that although your baby has no hair anywhere.........they are not hypoallergenic. However, there have been reports that due to their lack of coat, some individuals with cat allergies are able to tolerate cohabitation with these breeds.