One visit a year at minimum — and the heart leads it
For an adult Sphynx, one complete visit a year is the baseline, six-monthly in her senior years, with kitten visits clustered in the first months. What sets this breed apart is what the annual visit must contain. Sphynx cats have a well-recognised risk of heart muscle thickening, and it can develop young and silently, so ask directly about heart screening: careful listening at every visit, and a scheduled ultrasound scan at the interval your vet advises, recorded so the next one is not forgotten. A Sphynx whose paperwork shows scan dates is a Sphynx whose heart is genuinely being watched.
Skin and ears: the hairless agenda
With no coat to absorb oils, a Sphynx's skin produces a visible film, her ears fill with dark wax, and her nail folds collect grime — all normal, all needing management the vet should review annually. Ask the vet to examine the skin across her belly, neck folds, and tail for blackheads, rashes, yeast-type irritation, or sores, and to check deep in both ears. Discuss your bathing routine openly: most Sphynx cats need regular gentle washing, and the right frequency depends on her skin's response, not on a fixed rule. Report any patch that changes colour, texture, or smell between visits, and photograph it with a date.
Teeth, temperature, and other Sphynx specifics
Dental disease shows up early in many Sphynx cats, so the mouth deserves a graded check each year and a cleaning plan before tartar becomes gum disease. Tell the vet about her indoor temperature world too — a hairless cat who lives in a cold house burns extra energy staying warm, eats accordingly, and can lose condition in winter in ways that look like illness. Sun exposure through windows matters as well: pale skin burns, and any new pigmented spot should be shown at the visit rather than admired as a freckle.
Weight and energy as heart clues
Weigh her monthly and write it down — with no fur, you can see her ribs and belly clearly, which makes honest tracking easier than in any coated breed, so use the advantage. Report reduced stamina, faster breathing at rest, open-mouth breathing after mild play, or a new habit of sleeping stretched in cool spots. In a Sphynx, those are heart questions until a vet says otherwise, and they justify an appointment that week, not at the next annual slot.
Making the clinic comfortable for a hairless cat
Bring a warm blanket from home for the table and carrier — exam rooms are cold for a cat with no insulation, and a chilled, shivering Sphynx is harder to examine and slower to forgive the trip. Ask for her visit summary, scan dates, and skin notes in writing before you leave, and confirm when the next heart scan falls due so it enters your calendar the same day.
Keeping her heart scan dates, skin findings, and dental notes in her KinsLe Pet Passport means no part of her Sphynx care depends on anyone's memory.