Hello, cat lovers! Let us introduce you to the world’s most expensive cat breed, the Sphynx! Their loving nature is why many people worldwide are crazy about this hairless cat breed; fun fact: The first Sphynx cat was a domestic shorthair kitten, Prune, born hairless due to a genetic mutation.
These cuties are not only expensive to buy but also to take care of for a lifetime. Many pet owners are ready to spend a lot of money to purchase and maintain rare breeds of cats, and the Sphynx is one of them because they have an extraordinary appearance and intelligent nature.
This hairless cat is mainly an indoor cat and doesn’t like to be alone for long periods, meaning they need a responsible owner ready to give them a lot of time and love! The Sphynx is relatively hypoallergenic, just like the Bengal, the Russian Blue, or the Highland Lynx.
Generally speaking, Sphynx cats can have any coat color and eye color. You can see them in tabby patterns or bicolored coats, and these felines have unique eye colors such as copper, gold, and blue.
Sphynx cats have an expected lifespan of 9 to 15 years.
The main question is, how much does a Sphynx cat cost? Let’s dig deep into the cost and expenses.
An Average Sphynx Cat Price
How much does a Sphynx cat cost? As a purebred cat, the Sphynx cat can cost from $1,500 to $4,500. However, a purebred Sphynx cat can cost you more if the breeder’s reputation is valuable. But, the prices can also go up to $10,000, but those kittens would be from the champion lines, rare colors, with show quality, or the breeder sells them with breeding rights.
The price of a Sphynx cat can also vary depending on its color, origin, size, and other factors. Let’s see how much money you need to purchase a Sphynx by adoption and by the breeder.
How Much Does A Sphynx Cat Cost If You Adopt It?
It is pretty rare to find Sphynx in an adoption agency, but it could happen, and often they are less expensive to purchase than anywhere else. And if they end up in the adoption centers, they are usually adult cats with health conditions, which is probably why they are there.
However, this cat breed is scarce to find in adoption centers and rescues because many cat owners wouldn’t give up a cat they purchased and took care of for a long time.
However, if you desperately want to adopt this cat breed, search for breed-specific rescues because there is a higher chance of having Sphynx for adoption. To adopt the Sphynx cat, you must pay $50 to $300.
How Much Does A Sphynx Cat Cost If You Purchase It From A Breeder?
Maybe the best way to get the Sphynx kitten is through a cat breeder. The price of a Sphynx kitten from a reputable breeder is on average from $2,000 to $5,000.
Those people will take care that the cat they’re ready to give is of a high-quality. Most cat breeders check their cats for genetic diseases before they breed them.
They chose the healthiest cats for breeding so the kittens are as healthy as possible. The reputable Sphynx breeders will screen for health issues in cats they want to sell.
High-quality breeders can offer you two types of cats. Pet quality and show quality, but those cats that are of the show quality will usually cost you more.
Before contacting any breeder, look at the TICA website to see the reputable breeder by the list by state. You can search for breeders online and ask them to visit their cattery.
Sphynx Cat Setup
As a new Sphynx cat owner, you would need to provide your cat with all the necessities and supplies before you welcome her into your loving home, such as bed, toys, food, bathing supplies, toys, cat bowls, etc.
We put it into a table so you can have an accessible overview.
| Supplies | Price |
|---|---|
| Microchip | $5 – $50 |
| ID Tag and Collar | $15 |
| Litter Scoop | $5 – $20 |
| Litter Box | $25 – $200 |
| Food and Water Bowls | $10- $15 |
| Spay/Neuter | $50 – $200 |
| Crate | $15 – $30 |
| Bed | $15 – $45 |
| Toys | $30 – $75 |
Life Expenses For A Sphynx Cat
How much does a Sphynx cat cost if you own her for a lifetime? You should expect to pay around $30,000 to $45,000 for a Sphynx cat that will live for up to 15 years. The first year’s expenses are a bit higher, approximately $4,000, while the following years would cost around $2,000.
We separated the expenses into categories.
Let’s see how much you need to spend on a new family member.
1. Food
You would spend much more on Sphynx cats than on other cat breeds. Even though the size of this cat is tiny, the amount of food they need to eat is substantial. The reason for that is their lack of fur. What does that mean? It means that they use more energy to regulate their body temperature. Therefore, you need to spend more on quality food.
That’s why taking care of what food enters your cat’s body is essential. A high-quality diet helps a healthy oil balance in the skin of your Sphynx.
Due to the consumption of low-quality food, the Sphynx cat’s skin becomes excessively oily, and it causes skin irritation. That leaves greasy stains wherever your cat sits or rests, and you would have trouble removing it.
Cost: $20-$60
RELATED: Best Cat Foods Without Fillers
2. Maintenance
One would think that because the cat has no hair, you won’t need to care much about its coat. However, this cat, the Sphynx, is a high-maintenance cat.
Every cat person knows that cats are great at keeping themselves clean. But, the Sphynx cat’s coat differs from other cats. To avoid the build-up of natural oils in the skin, they need regular baths and to bust off often.
The skin is also sensitive and delicate, so the regular shampoo you would buy doesn't work for this breed of cat. You can purchase great shampoos for a Sphynx online for about $15. These shampoos will prevent acne outbreaks on their skin.
Along with that care, these cats need regular cleaning of their claws and ears to prevent wax build-up. You can take them to a professionalist and take a full grooming service that would cost you about $65 to $75.
Due to their sensitive skin, their exposure to the sun is limited, but you can’t use sunscreen on them, so how can you protect them from the sun?
There is an option of buying your Sphynx a tent. A good quality tent you can buy for $60, or you can DIY. Before you decide to outdoor walk with your Sphynx cat, purchase cat clothes that can help them manage their body temperature and, most importantly, protect them from UV.
For an outdoor walk, you may get an incredible collar with a leash that costs $10, while the sweaters can be found for $15.
Cost: $100-180$
3. Entertainment
Every pet needs fun, and every pet needs toys. So does the Sphynx. Your cat won’t thrive if you leave her alone every day. And when you do, the cat must have something fun to do. This breed of cat is known for not being so active. However, they like cat toys and love to climb high.
So, the cat tree would be a great option. A high-quality cat tree can cost you $50; however, if you want some better trees, you may spend up to $200. However, count on that you will buy this once; you won’t need to purchase this item every month. But, the scratching posts of the cat tree may need to be replaced from time to time because it will gradually wear out.
You can also budget the money for toys. These cats are gentle with their toys, and you may not need to buy them as frequently as you would for other cat breeds. The monthly cost for toys is about $15 to $50. Remember that kittens are full of play and get bored with toys quickly, so maybe you’ll need to buy more until the cat grows up.
Cost: $15-$100
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4. Health Care
Vet Appointments and medication can be costly when these cats are suffering from a disease or have some health problems. These cats are likely to suffer from a chronic health conditions, leading to more money to spend.
The Sphynx cat requires vet checkup every year to prevent health issues. One example of that would be vaccination. It’s a must to keep your cat up to date on vaccines, and these checkups are crucial for preventing any health issue or catching it before it gets worse.
However, these cats are prone to have skin problems such as greasy or oily skin and health problems such as HCM (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) that affects many cats such as Ragdoll, Persian, and Maine Coon. That’s why taking care of those screenings for HCM, and other health issues such as FELV (Feline Leukemia Virus) and FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis) is essential.
Due to their sensitive skin, these cats are also at high risk for sunburns, cuts, and scratches, so keep that in mind; if you have a female Sphynx cat that is pregnant, you’ll need to pay for many tests during their pregnancy stage.
Cost: $95-$210
5. Insurance For Pets
The best advice concerning pet insurance is that you purchase it. These cats are prone to health problems, so you may expect expenses for health care. Their lack of fur makes them sensitive and prone to skin problems. When these problems arrive, pet insurance will help you don’t spend that much.
But, many companies for pet insurance are familiar with the fact that these cats aren’t that healthy, and therefore, they will demand a more significant amount of money to be paid. You’ll need to pay more than you would pay for another cat breed.
As your cat grows, the pet insurance expenses are also rising, just to remind you that it will probably get more and more expensive.
All the facts considered, it would be great that you plan a budget for some unexpected costs.
Cost: $30-$100
How Much Does A Sphynx Cat Cost Per Month?
How much does a Sphynx cat cost per month? If you wonder how much, wonder no more, as we calculated for you. The monthly expenses for this cat are from $150 to $350, and most of that money will go to medical needs, litter boxes, cat food, and toys.
However, if you purchase pet insurance, that price can be a bit higher, but the emergency vet bills will be covered. And we know those prices can be increased, and they are not factored into the monthly cost because we can’t predict each cat's health. If you don’t purchase pet insurance, make sure to save at least $5,000.
1. Food
These cats will need higher quality cat food because they will likely develop various skin problems. That high-quality food needs to be full of meat.
Cost: $20-$60
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2. Medications And Vet Checkups
Sphinx will need more health care than other cat breeds. Annual vet-check ups due to preventive health care are crucial. The vaccines also need to be given and be up to date.
Because of their skin, the monthly costs will be a bit higher due to their special treatments and creams. The cats on the medication will cost you more than usual, and you can predict the emergency health problems that may arrive.
Cost: $95-$210
3. Pet Insurance
It is strongly advised that you purchase insurance for a Sphynx cat. Due to their higher risks of some health problems, having pet insurance will help you keep the expenses minimal.
Your monthly expenses will be a bit higher but remember, if unexpected problems arise, be glad you purchased the pet insurance.
However, the bill for pet insurance will get more prominent as the cat ages, so don’t be surprised if you see a different bill over time.
If you don’t get the pet insurance, make sure to put aside the money for emergency purposes.
Cost: $20-$80
4. Grooming
These cats are hairless; however that doesn’t mean that they don’t need to be taken care of regarding their coat.
Even though these cats don’t require brushing, they need regular bathing with high-quality shampoos. Due to their sensitive skin, you must look for shampoos for your cat.
As you can’t use sunscreen on your cat, you must purchase clothes and a tent if they spend some time outside.
Because they’ll need a bath every week, the shampoo will be your regular purchase.
Cost: $5-$40
5. Entertainment
Your new pet will need cat trees, toys, and other items to keep the cat occupied. These cats don’t like to be alone and need something that keeps their mind off of their pet. Even though these cats are not lively, they love to play with toys and climb cat trees.
Cat trees that are high-quality cost at least $50; however, there are many more expensive for more than one cat, and their prices go up to $200. It’s great that you won’t need to buy this regularly, and this is a one-time purchase.
These cats are gentle with their toys, so you won’t need to buy toys as much as you expected, but prepare to buy a lot of toys for a kitten as they are more playful than adult cats.
Cost: $15-$50
Check here to see the best tall cat trees.
6. Environmental Maintenance
As these cats have sensitive skin, cat litter should be an essential purchase of yours. And you’ll need to clean the litter box and take care of it regularly. These cats don’t prefer highly-scented litter, which may upset their skin, so you might look at hypoallergenic cat litter or all-natural cat litter, which is often the expensive option.
You may also look for sprays and liners, not that every litter box needs one, but you can think about purchasing it just in case.
These cats love to be warm, so the purchase you’ll need to do is to buy a heated bed. A heated cat bed will affect their well-being, and your cat will be thankful. You can find many of those on Amazon with prices $19 to $50.
Cost: $35-85$
Additional Costs To Consider
There are monthly costs, but there are also some costs aside that you need to factor in. You are already familiar with emergencies for your cat can be highly expensive. But, if you are under pet insurance, those expenses will be easier to handle.
You also need to bear that sometimes you won’t be able to bring your cat with you on a trip or a vacation. Then, you’ll need to hire someone to take care of your little friend, which will add to your budget. The other factor you need to consider is that your cat may damage some items in your home; therefore, you’ll need to fix or replace it. This can be expensive.
One more factor is that there is a possibility that your cat will get lost; then, you’ll need to pay for flyers. But if you microchip your cat, there is a higher possibility that you’ll find her quickly. Sadly, many are looking to steal those cats for easy money, so make sure not to leave your cat unsupervised, which is another reason for microchipping your cat.
Are Sphynx Cats High Maintenance?
Yes, the Sphynx cat can be very high-maintenance. Why? They have no hair? Well, that is quite the reason. Their skin is sensitive, and even though you don’t need to brush this cat, you must bathe her regularly, at least once a week. Usually, the hair pulls the oil away from the skin, but this cat has no hair and therefore has problems with oily skin.
To Wrap Up
How much does a Sphynx cat cost? I hope we have cleared all of your doubts about the price and expenses of the Sphynx cat.
These cats are very uncommon, and therefore their prices are high. Sphynx cats need more health care and grooming than other cat breeds, and that’s why they are expensive to purchase and take care of.
If there is no possibility of adopting the cat, make sure to look for a high-quality breeder and ask him for all the genetic testing, the lineage, and the care they receive. Only that way, you’ll be sure you’ll have a happy and healthy Sphynx cat. That means you’ll be satisfied that your cat is doing well; second, you need to spend that much money on health care.
However, don’t save on their special shampoos and food. They deserve special care and love. If you’re ready for a friendly and clever member, prepare her a loving home, and they will return it with their cuddles!
