The Sphynx cat is a unique cat breed that you might not see every day. For starters, the cat has no fur on its body. It has a shriveled face that is angular, along with big ears and a completely hairless body. It’s a pedigreed cat and can cost anywhere between $300 and $3,000.

Needless to say, the chances of you finding this cat in a local shelter or a rescue are incredibly remote. What if you wanted the Sphynx cat? Have you ever thought about the price tag? Why do Sphynx cats cost so much? It’s a common question that might pop up in your head time and again. One look at this cat and you will realize there’s really not much to it, so why the high price?

The Costs

First of all, you should know that the reason why these cats cost so much is because they are purebred. Secondly, they are quite hard to find, which is why breeders usually charge a higher price. Another reason is because of the rising demand: more and more people want the Sphynx cat because of its unique appearance.

As a result of that, owing to the law of demand and supply, the price has shot up, since supply is low. There are quite a few factors that affect the price of the Sphynx cat, so it’s important to discuss each of them in detail to get a better idea about what makes the cat so expensive.

Expenses for Breeding

Exotic cat breeds such as the Sphynx come with a significant responsibility, and many small-time breeders simply cannot afford to bear the financial burden. You need to understand that this breed requires a considerable amount of work to breed, since they need special care when compared with other breeds.

For instance, they need regular HCM heart scans as well as standard maintenance. Apart from that, consistent blood tests and screenings are also important, and the initial care at the vet usually means that breeders spend a great deal of money. When you add the costs of nutrition and their basic needs of the breed, it all adds up to a pretty significant amount.

Quality of the Cat

There are basically two kinds of Sphynx cats that you will find in the market: show quality and pet quality. As you might know, the show quality type usually costs a bit more.    

The show quality Sphynx meets all of the standards of the breed, ranging from its temperament to its body proportion, color of the skin, size, and all other details. Think of it this way: the show quality cats are considered the models and the beauty queens in the world of cats.

On the other hand, pet quality Sphynxes are just normal Sphynx cats who fail to meet the stringent criteria of show quality cats. There’s really nothing wrong on the outside; some may lack the temperament, while others might not be the accurate body proportions.

Gender

If you know a thing or two about purebred cats, you will also know that unspayed female cats are generally more expensive. That’s simply because these cats are able to reproduce. However, you should know that this does not really affect the price all that much, but it’s still a key factor that differentiates the price of the Sphynx when compared with other cats.

These are just some of the major factors that affect the price of the Sphynx cat. However, if you are going to bring the cat into your house and have decided to go for one, it’s important for you to understand that the cat requires a bit of care. Ongoing maintenance is also much higher when compared with other cat breeds, so the upfront cost isn’t the only thing you have to worry about.

Personality

The Sphynx cat is relatively agile, and generally likes to do acrobatic things. You will often find it jumping around on furniture and it loves to show off for attention. Unfortunately, this can also result in injuries, and because the cat does not have a protective coat of fur on its body, this ultimately means higher costs at the vet.

More importantly, you should know that this is a very loyal breed, and it will follow you around wherever you go. The cat will often try to involve itself in things that you are doing, and it will not miss any opportunity to just curl up in your lap! They are very curious and quite intelligent and won’t be willing to let go of any opportunity.

For its own safety, you should make sure that you keep the cat indoors. Letting the cat go outside is a bad idea, as it could get scratched and can easily get hurt by other street cats. That’s not something that you want, so it’s best to keep the cat indoors, in an environment that you can control.

Health

The cat doesn’t really suffer from any major health problems, though there are a few that you might want to know. These cats are nicely muscled and generally healthy, but a couple of diseases have been noticed in the breed. The first one is urticaria pigmentosa. It is a skin disease that causes crusty sores to appear on the cat’s body.

The cat can also suffer from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, also known as HCM. This is a type of heart disease that is usually inherited by several cat breeds. For instance, the Maine Coon also suffers from this problem at times. However, there’s no absolute proof that this problem is congenital in the Sphynx.

Care

Even though the cat is completely hairless, it requires a considerable amount of grooming. In fact, some might say that the grooming required by the cat is on par with those cats that have thick, shaggy coats, and even more. For starters, you need to make sure that their skin is moisturized on a daily basis with a scent-free lotion. Oils are also applied from time to time to keep the skin healthy.

More importantly, the cat is going to require a bath at least once a week, otherwise it’s going to leave greasy marks on your furniture or any surface that it climbs up on. These cats can also suffer from periodontal disease, so it’s important that you brush their teeth at least once a week. Ideally, daily dental hygiene and brushing is the best choice.

Furthermore, the corners of their eyes need to be wiped away regularly with a gentle, soft cloth. Make sure you use a different cloth for each eye, otherwise there is a risk of an infection spreading in the cat’s eyes. Furthermore, you should know that these cats are incredibly particular about their hygiene, so you need to make sure that their litter box remains spotless at all times.

These are just a few things that you should know about Sphynx cats, and the main reasons why they cost so much.