Dear Sinéad and Siouxsie,
I met your mama the other day while she was walking up the street, and she mentioned to my mama that you write advice for cats. So I was hoping you could help me with my problem. You see, I don't have any fur. Well, not much, anyway, just some on my tummy. I was born this way--the vet says I'm a genetic anomaly, whatever that is. My kitty-mama and my brothers and sisters all have plenty of fur. I've gotten used to being an oddball cat; it doesn't hurt my feelings so much anymore when the other cats make fun of me and call me a freak. My mama loves me, and that's what matters.

Anyway, back to my problem. Because I don't have any fur, my skin gets exposed to the elements, and right now my back and head are so dry and stiff that it actually hurts sometimes! I was wondering if you and your mama could give my mama some advice on how to make my skin feel better.

Thanks,
Tigre

Sinéad: Oh, my! No fur? We've heard of cats that don't have any fur, and that some people actually breed them.

Siouxsie: I can't imagine what I'd do without my lovely, glossy fur!

Sinéad: Well, the first thing that you and your mama have to remember is that our fur is what protects us from the sun and from getting too cold in the winter. Without fur, it's easy for us to get sunburned and to get a chill. Without fur, cats also burn up a lot more energy trying to stay warm.

Siouxsie: So you have to protect yourself from the sun and from the very-cold weather.

JaneA: When I met you, Tigre, I thought that if I found some skin care tips for the Sphynx--that's the purebred hairless cat Sinéad was talking about--those tips might help your mama take even better care of you. So the Ladies and I did our research, and here's what we came up with:

Sinéad: One thing we learned is that hairless cats need to be bathed regularly, at least once a week, because oils that would ordinarily be used to maintain the fur will collect on the bare skin, and dirt will mix in with the oils. Yuck! So I hope you like baths, Tigre, because a weekly bath with a very mild shampoo will help your skin stay in top condition. And your mama should remember to rinse you very well so the soap doesn't stay on your skin and make you itch.

Siouxsie: Your mama should also clean your ears weekly. Sphynx cats don't have the guard hairs that wash ear wax out of the ear, so it can build up in there and look like you have ear mites, even if you don't. But be very careful so that you don't push the wax further in. Your vet can show you how to properly clean out your cat's ears.

Sinéad: A daily wipe-down with a damp rag will help get the dirt off your skin. And it'll feel nice, too! Your claws and nail beds should also be wiped, because grime gathers in there and can cause irritation or infection.

Siouxsie: Sunburns, as we said, are almost unavoidable in hairless cats. I imagine that's at least part of the reason why your skin is so stiff and sore, Tigre. The Sphynx care sites we visited recommend that Sphynx be indoor-only cats and refrain from sunbathing in windows because of the sunburn risk.

Sinéad: But Mama says you're used to going outside, and we know how hard it is to become an inside-only cat if you've been going out all your life. So your mama's just going to have to learn to take care of your sunburns.

Siouxsie: First of all, people, don't use sunscreen on cats! It can be very toxic, especially if it contains PABA or zinc oxide. Sunscreen also feels extra-slimy and oily, and that's no fun, either. Maybe your mama can make sure you only go out in the early hours of the day when the sun's not so bright.

Sinéad: Aloe gel is a wonderful treatment for skin. Mama uses it when she gets sunburned, and she says it feels great and stops the burning right away. It's also good for you if you lick it off, and it doesn't taste too bad, either.

JaneA: If you use aloe gel on your cat's sunburn, make sure you are using only pure aloe gel without any preservatives or chemicals or artificial scents in it. The easiest way to guarantee that you're using pure aloe gel is to get an aloe plant, break off one of the tips, and squeeze it to geet the gel out. Of course, aloe gel also comes pre-packaged as well, and you can buy it at health food stores.

Siouxsie: Because cats' skin is sensitive, more so when there's no fur as a protective barrier, do not use "spot on" flea control on a hairless cat. It will irritate the skin and will make the cat sick when it tries to lick off the irritant. Also, lipstick and cosmetics on a hairless cat will cause allergic reactions, so avoid big smoochy lipstick kisses, too.

Sinéad: Since Sphynx and other hairless cats have higher metabolisms than the typical well-furred cat, Sphynx breeders recommend high-quality premium cat food, and sometimes even feeding the Sphynx kitten food throughout its life. Kitten food has more calories and more protein and fat than regular adult cat food.

JaneA: But since Tigre doesn't look underweight or unhealthy, I think her mama is feeding her good food. I'd recommend supplementing her diet with a special cat multivitamin and perhaps sprinkling some nutritional yeast on her food, though. Cats like the taste of nutritional yeast, and it contains a lot of vitamins that are good for the skin and nervous system. If you get a good cat vitamin, the taste will win them over and they'll come to view the vitamin as a special treat. At the very least, you'll be able to powder it and sprinkle it into their food without altering the tase.

Siouxsie: Maybe you can get your mama to give you extra massages and stuff, too. That might help your skin feel more flexible. And it would feel good, too. I love it when my mama gives me massages!

Sinéad: She could massage you as she rubs the aloe gel into your skin. Ooh, if I were a bald kitty, I'd love that!

Siouxsie: So, if your mama gives you weekly baths and ear cleanings, and wipes you off with a rag every day, gives you vitamins, and massages you with aloe gel to help relieve your sunburns, I bet your skin will feel lots better before you know it.

Sinéad: We hope this helps you, Tigre. All cats are beautiful, whatever color they are, and however much fur they have. Thank you for sharing your story with us. Purrs and head-rubs to you.

JaneA: I should make it clear that hairlessness is not a normal condition in cats. Tigre was born this way, and she's had good veterinary care since she was a kitten, so we know that hairlessness is a normal condition for her. If your cat loses its hair later in life, it could be a sign of a skin disease such as mange, a flea allergy, a fungal infection, or some other medical or emotional condition. Some of these conditions can be contagious to humans, too. It's very important that you take your cat friend to the vet if he starts losing fur, whether it's coming out in patches or all over his body.

Got a question? Need some advice? E-mail Sinéad and Siouxsie at advice@paws-and-effect.com. None of the advice in this column is meant to be a substitute for regular veterinary care.