This post may contain affiliate links.
The Sphynx breed has gained a lot of popularity in the past few years. Many people are attracted to their intelligence, affectionate nature, and unique appearance. However, with this popularity comes a lot of misconceptions and wrong information concerning this breed, like the messy oily stains they leave behind.
So do sphynx cats leave oily brown stains?
Sphynx cats and hairless cats produce natural oils that are left on the surface of their skin. Due to its hairless feature, this oil isn’t absorbed and it attracts dirt. Over time this build-up of oils can leave a residue on any surface their body touches, hence oily, brown stains.
Sphynx cats are not regular cats and shouldn’t be treated as such. They are normally high maintenance and can be difficult to care for if you aren’t prepared. One of their high-maintenance needs is regular bathing
This is to help remove excess oils and dirt that may have settled on their skin. This is what causes them to leave an oily residue on clothing, linen, and furniture. Most of the time owners who don’t properly take care of their sphynx are the ones complaining about oily stains.
Of course, they are going to be dirty if not cleaned. It’s like humans not bathing and expecting to stay fresh, Not going to happen!
These cats must be maintained, depending on their individual needs. All sphynx cats secrete oils in different amounts and must be maintained accordingly.
For instance, a Sphynx kitten will normally produce more oil than an older sphynx. Also, sphynx who are very active and energetic tend to also secrete more oils with their sweat. Therefore more frequent bathing or cleansing will be required to prevent the transfer of stains.
On the other hand, some sphynx will release less oil and will not require much less cleansing, therefore the fear of unwanted stains and oily marks will be minimal to none.
To conclude, it’s normal for sphynx cats to leave stains if not properly taken care of. If you take pride in making sure your cat is kept well-maintained and cleaned. You won’t experience stains and messy brown marks that most people fear.
Ways to Prevent Stains And Marks?
A simple way to prevent stains and marks is proper hygiene. Getting a sphynx cat used to a routine is very important as it prepares them by helping them get used to water and the cleansing process.
Sphynx cats need regular cleaning and overall hygiene maintenance for optimal health and to prevent your home from getting dirty. Ways to prevent stains include:
1. Regular bathing with a suitable shampoo for sensitive skin like the fragrance-free, hypoallergenic Earthbath shampoo. A bathing routine of once or twice a week is ideal. Try not to bathe very often since this will cause the cat’s skin to dry out.
2. Get kitty clothing to help absorb excess oils. This will prevent oil and dirt transfer since the clothing will cover the most affected areas of the cat’s body. Therefore, you can wash kitties’ clothing while saving your household belongings.
3. Hygiene wipes are a lifesaver. This will help keep your sphynx clean while preventing the need to bathe. Sphynx normally gets dirty very quickly and may present with brown patches. These wipes can help keep them clean until their next bath day.
4. Couch and furniture covers are also a great way to prevent stains. The Purefit reversible cover is a great water-resistant protector. Prevention is always better and these furniture protectors are great and allow for easy cleaning.
5. Get dark-colored bedding so dirt isn’t very visible. This can help reduce your laundry load and save you time and effort.
6. Change your cat’s sleeping habits. Most owners allow their sphynx to sleep in the same bed as them. This is the main reason why bedding is most at risk for catching on stains and excess oils.
By creating better sleeping habits the cat will learn to sleep in its own bed, therefore preventing stains.
How To Get Rid Of Stains?
Getting rid of grease is a hassle on its own, fortunately, these stains that hairless cats leave comes off pretty easily if you have the right products and cleaning techniques.
luckily I’ve found a few cleaning habits and products that you can use to keep your home stain free.
Removing Oily Stains From Upholstery.
1. Upon discovering the grease stain on your furniture, place a good amount of baby powder directly on the stain. The powder will help absorb the oil from the fabric making the removal easier.
2. After a few minutes remove the powder using a brush. If you feel the fabric has more oil, add a little more powder and allow a few minutes.
3. Spray a generous amount of upholstery cleaner and allow it to sit for a few minutes. This will give enough time for the cleaner to work its way through the stain.
4. Apply some cleaning detergent and work the stain out using a brush.
5. Using a damp cloth, dab the area. If the stain is still present repeat the process.
Removing Oily Stains From Clothing/Bedding.
These are easy to clean surfaces that don’t require much effort. A simple wash with any detergent or soap is enough to get rid of the stains.
If you regularly clean out your bedding as well as your sphynx blankets and their clothing. You might not even notice any visible dirt. Maintenance is key and thats the only way to prevent dirt and grease buildup.
What About Sphynx Poop And Messy Smears?
Sphynx cat poop is usually smelly than that of a normal cat. These cats don’t normally cover up their poop and will not use a dirty litterbox. In such situations, they will rather poop outside the litterbox which makes it easier for them to smear it all over themselves and your home.
What makes it worst is that these cats are prone to sensitivity and allergies to the gut. This means that they need specific food to ensure optimal gut health. Normally it takes a while for sphynx owners to figure this out and in the meantime, the texture of their poop is very liquid.
This forms the basis of the problem as the cat’s bottom will be messed and the same mess will be transferred throughout your home causing brown stains and a bad smell. At times owners are required to wipe off their cat’s bottoms to prevent poop smears.
Also, sphynx cats are prone to diarrhea, they often step on it when in the litterbox. This just creates more mess as the waste is tracked on each step.
For this reason, most owners go for a raw diet as it improves the health of their gut. This automatically improves their stool.
Ways To Prevent Messy Situations?
Since sphynx cats are different from other breeds as they come with different challenges and problems. When it comes to their poop, there are ways to prevent messy situations from occurring. These ways include:
1. Find the right food for your sphynx. Most sphynx cats don’t agree with normal cat food and will require a raw diet. The sensitivity of their gut responds better to raw food than kibble or wet food. Finding a balance is key.
2. Monitor your cat’s litterbox to observe any changes to the texture of its feces. Normal poop should be dark brown, firm but malleable. Diarrhea will be the result of the food not agreeing and smearing will be the evidence.
3. At times you will have to wipe their bottom after defecating to prevent messy situations. Normal wipes are ideal for preventing these messy situations.
4. Get a big enough litterbox. These cats are quite tall and they require a litterbox that is fitting. They should be able to turn around and move freely inside. A self-cleaning litterbox is highly recommended, especially for fussy cats like the sphynx breed.
5. Sphynx cats are very fond of stepping on their poop, there isn’t an apparent reason as to why, but to prevent poop smearing you can make sure their paws and bottoms are clean once they do their business.
