What to Feed a Sphynx Cat: Diet, Portions and Why They Eat So Much

The first thing that surprises new Sphynx owners is the appetite. A hairless cat of ordinary size can out-eat a much larger coated cat and stay lean, and there is a straightforward reason for it.

Why they eat so much

No coat means heat escapes constantly, and replacing that heat costs energy. A Sphynx is effectively running the heater all day, so it needs more fuel than a coated cat of the same weight. Add the breed’s general refusal to sit still and the appetite makes sense.

The practical consequence: do not assume the feeding guide on the packet, which is written for an average cat, is right for yours. Feed to the cat in front of you.

What to feed

The same principles as any cat, applied properly. Cats are obligate carnivores: they need animal protein, they need taurine, and they do poorly on diets built around plant protein. Look for a complete food with named meat as the leading ingredients, and choose one your cat actually eats consistently.

Wet food deserves a place in the routine. Cats have a weak thirst drive and evolved to take most of their water from prey, so wet food supports hydration and urinary health in a way that dry food does not. Many households, including ours, use both — wet meals with dry available.

Raw feeding is a legitimate choice but only when it is done properly, which means a balanced, complete recipe and strict hygiene. It is not something to improvise from the butcher, and it is worth a conversation with your vet rather than a forum.

How much, and how often

Split the daily ration across several meals rather than one large one. Kittens eat little and often — three or four meals a day while growing. Adults do well on two to three meals, with more in cold weather when the heat cost goes up.

Judge portions by body condition rather than by a number: you should be able to feel the ribs easily under a thin layer, with a visible waist from above. Weigh your cat monthly if you can — it is the earliest, cheapest health check there is, and hairless cats make changes in condition very easy to see.

Water

Fresh water in more than one place, in wide bowls, away from the food. Many cats prefer moving water, and a fountain often lifts intake noticeably. Good hydration is one of the easiest wins in cat health.

Things worth avoiding

Constant food changes, which upset sensitive stomachs. Cow’s milk, which most adult cats cannot digest. Onion, garlic, grapes, raisins, chocolate, alcohol and xylitol, all of which are toxic to cats. Dog food, which lacks what a cat needs. And free-feeding an unlimited bowl for a cat that has already put on condition.

When to ask a vet

Sudden appetite changes in either direction, weight loss despite eating well, repeated vomiting or diarrhoea, or a cat that stops eating for more than a day. A hairless cat’s condition is visible earlier than a coated cat’s, so act on what you can see.

Meet the cats behind the advice

Everything here comes out of running a household of Sphynx and Donskoy cats — meet the queens, studs and kittens, or send us an enquiry if you have a question we have not answered.