Sphinx is a very specific breed, primarily due to its unusual appearance. These bald cats can face both excessive love of admirers and outright rejection. Planting such an animal, the owners are wondering - how long will it live, what factors can affect this figure? 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 in the absence of wool. Bald babes look very funny, they are pleasant to the touch and can have a varied color. Their little body is rough and somewhat resembles suede. There are small membranes on the legs.
Most sphinxes love water, although this is not typical for felines. They are very affectionate and strongly attached to the owners. It is a special pleasure for animals to sit on the hands or shoulders of the household.
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; it is a pleasure to take photos with them.
Cats are very curious, happy to communicate with other pets in the house. The owners note the remarkable character of their pets, their friendliness and the complete absence of aggressiveness, which makes babies a favorite even in those families with small children. Sphinxes are sociable and very smart, each of the household members can play with them and teach the 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 tolerant of dogs.
They are very clean, so you have to follow the hygiene and clean the tray in time, otherwise the pet will simply refuse it.
What determines the duration of life
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 extend or, on the contrary, reduce the life expectancy of these animals. Consider the most basic.
First of all, experts advise to keep under control the weight of a pet. Cats can overeat if they are not limited in this, which in the end threatens obesity and related problems.
You should choose wholesome foods and think carefully about your diet, so that it contains the necessary nutrients and vitamins.
Another important factor is cleanliness. This is due to the fact that the cat has practically no wool, 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 is useful and the use of 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 a pet, ears need to be cleaned every week.
Bald animals are very sensitive to changes in temperature. If the house is cold, the sphinx can easily catch a cold.
Therefore, you should equip a warm place with bedding for sleeping, and also it will be useful to get a warm blouse for your pet.
Seals are very sensitive to the sun and may even get burned. Therefore, it is necessary to protect the animal from direct sunlight.
The curiosity of 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 you can’t often be at home and give him enough attention, one of the options will be to purchase another kitten of the same breed. Smart cats will be happy to communicate with each other. They also love children very much, more often they calmly walk into the hands of guests, find contact with other pets. Seals prefer to sleep in bed with their hosts.
Loneliness is destructive for them and can shorten the life span to 7–8 years.
As in humans, heredity plays a large role, affecting the life expectancy of sphinxes. The presence of long-livers can indicate that the descendants will repeat the fate of their ancestors. If the animal has no birth trauma, it was avoided by congenital defects and diseases, it has all the chances for a long and happy cat life.
Very important in this regard, and good immunity. 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, sphinxes, despite the average life expectancy, will be close to loving owners for many years.
These cute bald animals can be divided into peterbolds, Don and Canadian. This figure does not affect the life expectancy, in general, it ranges from 12 to 14 years. The Sphinx-survivor registered today lived to be 30 years old, but this is a rare exception.
Castrated and ungelded
If it was decided to start a male sphinx at home, sooner or later the owners think about his castration. According to veterinarians, this procedure is even useful, as neutered cats, according to research results, live longer.
In addition, they become even more calm and good-natured, hormones return to normal. It also eliminates the danger of testicular cancer and prostatitis.
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 not threaten the animal either. Life expectancy increases, which is important if the owners do not plan to get offspring. A young, sterilized cat will not suffer from diseases of the mammary glands.
Life expectancy of the giving birth cat
Sexual maturity occurs in Sphynx girls aged from six months to 12 months. Experts recommend the first mating not earlier than after a year.
To prevent pregnancy and subsequent delivery 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 you should not plan kittens. In general, whether a cat is giving birth or not, it will not affect the duration of its life. The main thing - to comply with all conditions of breeding.
For details on the sphinx breed, see below.