Welfare

The discussion around the Sphynx is no longer simply about how these cats should be kept or bred. In some countries it has already moved much further, into the question of whether they should be bred or even owned at all.

In the Netherlands breeding hairless cats was already prohibited, and from 1 January 2026 the rules went further, with acquiring and keeping new hairless cats also prohibited and transitional arrangements for cats already owned before the ban.[1]

The reason given is welfare.

According to the Dutch government, hairless cats have difficulty regulating their body temperature, are more prone to yeast infections, have reduced sensory perception because they lack normal whiskers, are more likely to develop ear inflammation because they lack ear hair, and have more vulnerable skin with an increased risk of skin cancer from sunlight.[1]

These are obviously serious claims, especially when they are being used as part of an argument that an entire type of cat should no longer be bred or owned.

But taking welfare concerns seriously does not mean that we should stop asking what evidence actually sits behind them.

And this is where the subject becomes much more complicated.

Some of these concerns do have published evidence behind them. Some are biologically plausible, but the specific welfare consequence being described has not actually been demonstrated in Sphynx cats. At the same time, there are other documented health problems in the breed which seem to receive considerably less attention in the public discussion.

So rather than reducing the whole subject to whether somebody likes or dislikes the Sphynx, there is a much more useful question to ask.

What does the evidence actually show?

Skin

We do have published research and there is something measurable, although the results are sometimes simplified into something much broader than what the research actually showed.

One comparative study examined healthy Sphynx cats and found high levels of Malassezia yeast colonisation on the skin. All 18 Sphynx cats included in that particular study carried Malassezia, and populations were higher in several areas of the body compared with the other cats.[2]

So yes, there is evidence that Sphynx cats can have high Malassezia colonisation. But these were healthy cats.

Colonisation and disease are not interchangeable terms. Finding more yeast on the skin is not the same thing as demonstrating that every Sphynx is suffering from yeast dermatitis. What this research does give us is useful information. If a Sphynx develops relevant skin problems, Malassezia is something that should be considered. That gives owners, breeders and veterinarians something practical to work with.

Turning the finding into “Sphynx cats suffer from yeast infections because they have no hair” goes further than what those particular results demonstrated. But there is also a problem on the opposite side of this discussion, where almost every skin problem can end up being dismissed as “normal for Sphynx”.

A little oil on the skin is one thing. A cat which is repeatedly red, itchy, crusty, sore, smells abnormal or has recurring skin problems is something else, and being a Sphynx does not somehow make disease normal.

This is something seen quite often in social-media groups, where somebody uploads a photograph of a cat with obviously problematic skin and receives twenty different recommendations for shampoos, foods, wipes and supplements. There is nothing wrong with owners asking questions about normal care, but there is a point where experimenting at home needs to stop and the cat needs to see a veterinarian. If a problem keeps returning or is difficult to control, veterinary dermatologists exist for a reason.

Skin care itself is another subject where people often seem to want one universal rule, and one probably does not exist.

Some people say every Sphynx must be bathed weekly. Others say monthly. Others argue that they should hardly ever be bathed. Cats are different and their skin is different too.

Diet, allergies and underlying disease can affect the skin. The products being used can affect it too, and overwashing can cause problems as well. One Sphynx may become oily very quickly while another barely needs bathing.

So rather than deciding in advance that every Sphynx needs exactly the same routine, it makes considerably more sense to look at the individual cat, what its skin normally looks and feels like and whether something has actually changed.

A breeder should also explain this before the kitten leaves. Not simply which shampoo to buy, but what normal skin should look like, what routine that particular kitten is accustomed to and what changes mean it is time to stop changing shampoos and call the vet.

Sunlight and skin cancer

The Dutch explanation also raises the issue of sunlight, stating that hairless skin is more vulnerable to UV exposure and therefore skin cancer.[1] There are actually two slightly different questions mixed together here.

The first is whether fur provides some protection from sunlight. Obviously it does. Removing that physical barrier means the skin is more directly exposed, and UV-associated skin damage and squamous cell carcinoma are well recognised in cats, particularly in lightly pigmented and poorly protected areas. So sensible sun protection for a Sphynx is hardly controversial.

A hairless cat should not be left baking in strong sunlight for hours. It should have access to shade, be able to move away from direct sunlight and persistent changes in the skin should not be ignored.

But the second question is different:

Do Sphynx cats actually develop skin cancer more frequently than other cats?

We looked for published evidence demonstrating this specifically at breed level and could not identify a Sphynx-specific epidemiological study showing an increased incidence of skin cancer.

Large studies of feline skin tumours certainly show that cats develop squamous cell carcinoma and other skin cancers. One UK study examined more than 9,000 feline skin masses and found several breed associations with particular tumour types, but no pedigree breed had increased odds of malignant skin tumours overall compared with non-pedigree cats.[3]

None of this proves that a Sphynx has no additional risk from direct UV exposure. That would be going too far in the opposite direction. What it means is that there is a biologically sensible reason to protect hairless skin from excessive sunlight, but that is not quite the same thing as having breed-specific incidence data showing that Sphynx cats develop skin cancer more frequently.

If those data exist, they should be published and cited. If they do not, then it is perfectly reasonable to describe this as a plausible risk that justifies sensible prevention. A risk does not need to be exaggerated before it becomes worth taking seriously.

Whiskers

They are specialised sensory hairs and they help mammals gather tactile information about their immediate environment.[4] That part is not really in dispute.

Sphynx cats themselves also vary. Some have no visible whiskers, some have short or broken ones and some grow considerably more noticeable whiskers. Even the TICA breed description recognises that whiskers and eyebrows may be present, broken or completely absent.[5] But again, there are two questions here which can easily become mixed together.

One is:

Do whiskers have a function?

Yes.

The other is:

Has the absence or reduction of normal whiskers in Sphynx cats been demonstrated to cause a measurable welfare problem?

We looked for Sphynx-specific research showing that cats without normal whiskers collide with objects more frequently, have difficulty navigating their environment, cannot feed normally, cannot climb or play normally, show chronic stress or otherwise have a measurably poorer quality of life.

We could not identify such a study.

That does not mean whiskers are irrelevant, and it certainly does not prove that their absence has absolutely no effect. It simply means that knowing the biological function of a structure and demonstrating a measurable welfare consequence when that structure is reduced are not exactly the same thing.

If lack of normal whiskers is being used as evidence that the Sphynx phenotype itself causes suffering, asking where that suffering has actually been measured is a reasonable question. And perhaps this is also an area where more research is genuinely needed.

Ear hair and ear infections

The same problem appears again with ears.

The Dutch explanation states that because hairless cats lack normal ear hair, dirt can enter the ears more easily and this can lead to inflammation.[1]

It sounds perfectly plausible, but plausibility is still not the same thing as demonstrating the entire proposed chain.

Cats can develop ear disease for many different reasons. Feline otitis is multifactorial and recognised causes include parasites, inflammatory disease, allergy, polyps, infection and other primary, predisposing or perpetuating factors.[6,7] Sphynx ears also commonly accumulate very visible wax, so owners do need to pay attention to them.

What we could not identify was published breed-specific research demonstrating that lack of ear hair causes significantly more debris to enter the ear and that this, in turn, produces a significantly increased rate of otitis in Sphynx cats.

Again, this does not mean ears should simply be ignored because there is no perfect study. Owners should learn what is normal for their own cat, clean the ears appropriately rather than aggressively, and seek veterinary advice if there is pain, redness, a strong smell, abnormal discharge, repeated head shaking or persistent excessive debris.

But if increased ear disease is being presented as an established consequence of the Sphynx phenotype, then asking for evidence demonstrating that increased disease is completely reasonable.

Thermoregulation

When it comes to thermoregulation, obviously Sphynx cats do not have a normal coat and fur has a function, so there is no point pretending that a hairless cat will regulate temperature in exactly the same way as a cat with a full coat.

Hairless cats have higher energy requirements than coated cats, largely because more energy is required to maintain body temperature. Recent veterinary nutrition guidance places maintenance energy requirements for Sphynx and other nude cats at around 20% above standard estimates.[8] Sphynx cats are also recognised as being more sensitive to cold and needing access to warmth.[5]

PetMD advises that hairless cats may need clothing when it is cold, provided the individual cat tolerates it.[9]

So yes, Sphynx cats do need warmth and, depending on where they live, this is something that has to be taken seriously.

But there is quite a big jump between saying that an animal needs some additional help maintaining its temperature and saying that this automatically means poor welfare.

If a Sphynx was put outside during winter in Scotland, the Netherlands or Finland and expected to live like a feral cat, then yes, obviously that cat would be at a serious disadvantage. But this is not how responsibly kept Sphynx cats are supposed to live in the first place.

They are companion animals living in human homes, with proper heating, beds, blankets, food, water and, where needed and tolerated by the individual cat, clothing.

The more relevant question is whether the needs of that animal can realistically be met in the environment where it actually lives, and for a Sphynx, keeping warm is simply one of those needs.

This is also something that needs to be explained properly before somebody buys one. A house that feels perfectly comfortable to a clothed human may not feel the same to a naked cat, and climate obviously makes a difference. Keeping a Sphynx in southern Spain is not the same as keeping one in Scotland. Heating, warm beds, blankets and draughts matter.

Clothing is another subject that sometimes becomes strangely polarised. Dressing a cat in uncomfortable outfits purely for photographs, particularly when the cat clearly dislikes it, is one thing. Putting a comfortable jumper on a Sphynx that is actually cold and tolerates clothing is something completely different.

These are not whims or fashion choices, and none of this means the breed cannot thrive. It means the breed requires informed care, and that anyone unwilling to provide it should not be breeding or buying one in the first place.

And this actually raises a wider question about domestic cats generally. Cats have lived with humans for generation after generation, with food put into a bowl, fresh water, veterinary treatment, warmth and shelter. How many ordinary domestic cats would genuinely do particularly well if all of that was suddenly removed and they were expected to survive completely on their own? We do not normally use that as the measure of whether a companion animal can have good welfare.

The fact that an animal needs some help is not really the welfare issue. The important part is whether the person responsible for that animal understands those needs and actually meets them.

Eyes

This is probably where the whole discussion becomes particularly interesting, because questioning evidence that is weak or incomplete does not mean defending the Sphynx regardless of what research shows. That would make very little sense. If we expect evidence from people making claims against the breed, then exactly the same standard has to apply when the evidence tells us something we may not particularly like.

And with the eyes, there is evidence.

A retrospective veterinary ophthalmology study examined 110 Sphynx cats and compared them with other cats seen during the same period.[10]

Corneal sequestrum was around eight times more likely in the Sphynx cats and was diagnosed in 42 of the 110 Sphynx cats in that referral population. It also appeared considerably earlier, with the average age at diagnosis around two years in the Sphynx cats compared with almost six years in the non-Sphynx cats.[10]

Lower eyelid entropion was also significantly overrepresented, and recurrence of corneal sequestrum after surgery was higher in Sphynx eyes than in non-Sphynx eyes.[10]

And now we have something quite different from an assumption based on anatomy.

We have cats, diagnoses, a comparison population, numbers and a measurable difference.

That is evidence of a real breed-associated problem. So perhaps the more useful question is why eyes receive relatively little attention in the general welfare discussion compared with things such as missing ear hair.

Corneal sequestrum is obviously not something an owner should be expected to diagnose at home, but owners can absolutely be taught what an unhappy eye looks like. Squinting, keeping one eye partly closed, excessive tearing, redness, rubbing, discharge, cloudiness, sensitivity to light or a persistent brown or black area appearing on the cornea are all things that deserve attention.

They are also not things to leave for several weeks while asking Facebook what eye drops somebody else's cat was given.

Recurring or serious eye problems may need a veterinary ophthalmologist, and this is exactly where breeder education can make a genuine difference.

Some information is uncomfortable to give to buyers because nobody particularly enjoys explaining everything that might potentially go wrong with the breed they love. But hiding a documented problem does not protect the breed and it certainly does not protect the cat.

If people buying Sphynx cats know that particular corneal and eyelid problems are overrepresented, they have a better chance of recognising something early and getting appropriate treatment. That is useful welfare information, and the evidence has to work both ways.

This really brings us back to the main problem with the whole discussion.

If somebody makes a claim against the Sphynx, loving the breed is not a reason to dismiss it. We should look at the evidence.

But if evidence demonstrating a particular claim cannot be found, being a government, welfare organisation, registry, breeder or veterinarian does not somehow turn an assumption into data either.

The standard has to work in both directions. Where evidence is strong, say so. Where it is weak, explain the limitation.

Where we simply do not know yet, saying “we don't know” is completely acceptable. And where evidence identifies a genuine problem, do something useful with that information.

High maintenance is not automatically poor welfare

Sphynx cats are high-maintenance cats. There is really no reason to pretend otherwise. But high maintenance and poor welfare are not synonyms.

An animal requiring human care does not automatically mean that animal is suffering. The more useful question is whether those needs can realistically be met and whether they actually are being met.

For a Sphynx living in a warm, enriched home, receiving appropriate nutrition and veterinary care from people who understand the breed, those needs can be met. The problem starts when they are not.

This is also where the argument about indoor living becomes a little strange. A Sphynx is generally expected to live indoors, but what exactly is the alternative being used for comparison?

Unrestricted outdoor life carries risks for every domestic cat: road traffic, fights, infectious disease, parasites, poisoning, becoming lost and uncontrolled reproduction.

A Sphynx sleeping on a sofa, climbing a cat tree, chasing another cat through the house and eventually disappearing underneath somebody's duvet is not suffering simply because it does not live outside. But there is another side to this as well.

Putting a cat indoors does not automatically mean that cat has good welfare, and this is where the conversation becomes a little less comfortable.

Regulations

The welfare rules are already there. TICA has conditions breeders agree to, GCCF has its own standards, and most registries have something similar. The problem is not really the lack of rules, it is that very little is done to check whether they are actually being followed.

There are voluntary inspection schemes. TICA has a Cattery Evaluation Program in which a veterinarian assesses the cattery against a defined set of criteria, including the cats’ living conditions, cleanliness and sanitation, health records, husbandry practices and cattery procedures. GCCF uses a similar system, with a trained assessor visiting the cattery and assessing it against the organisation’s Breeder Scheme Standard.

The argument raised by some breeders that an inspection cannot be independent simply because the breeder pays for it does not really make sense. Both systems involve an assessment against criteria set by the organisation. The breeder is paying for the inspection and the assessor’s time, not for a particular outcome.

Animal welfare gives us something outside breeder politics against which practices can actually be assessed.

If the Sphynx is now under enough scrutiny that governments are questioning whether these cats should continue to exist and welfare is a reason, then simply telling people to stop judging other breeders is not going to solve very much. Neither is repeating that breeders need to unite.

Cooperation is good, civility is also good, sharing information is good as well. But none of those things changes the conditions an individual cat lives in and none of those answer one of the more uncomfortable questions:

Do breeding cats have meaningful lives outside reproduction?

Would we be comfortable with somebody independent seeing all of it?

These are not political questions. They are welfare questions, and welfare, transparency and a genuine willingness to educate should be present all the time, and they should come before politics, titles, rosettes and speeches.

References

[1] Government of the Netherlands / Rijksoverheid. Vanaf 1 januari 2026 ingang houdverbod vouwoorkatten en naaktkatten. Published 31 October 2025. Official Dutch government notice introducing the keeping ban from 1 January 2026 and setting out the stated welfare reasons concerning thermoregulation, yeast infections, whiskers, ear hair and sunlight/skin cancer. (Rijksoverheid)

[2] Volk AV, Belyavin CE, Varjonen K, Cadiergues MC, Stevens KB, Bond R. Malassezia pachydermatis and M nana predominate amongst the cutaneous mycobiota of Sphynx cats. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery.2010;12(12):917–922. doi:10.1016/j.jfms.2010.07.002. Malassezia species were isolated from all 18 Sphynx cats in the study, with high counts in several body sites compared with coated controls. (PubMed)

[3] Ho NT, Smith KC, Dobromylskyj MJ. Retrospective study of more than 9000 feline cutaneous tumours in the UK: 2006–2013. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 2018;20(2):128–134. doi:10.1177/1098612X17699477. (PubMed)

[4] Ahl AS. The role of vibrissae in behavior: a status review. Veterinary Research Communications. 1986;10(4):245–268. doi:10.1007/BF02213989. Review of vibrissae as part of the mammalian tactile sensory apparatus and their proposed behavioural functions. (PubMed)

[5] The International Cat Association. Sphynx Breed Information and Standard. TICA recognises that Sphynx whiskers and eyebrows may be whole, broken or completely absent and describes the breed's hairless phenotype. (TICA - The International Cat Association)

[6] Kennis RA. Feline otitis: diagnosis and treatment. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice.2013;43(1):51–56. doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2012.09.009. (PubMed)

[7] Brame B, Cain C. Chronic otitis in cats: clinical management of primary, predisposing and perpetuating factors. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 2021. doi:10.1177/1098612X211007072. (PubMed)

[8] Blanchard G, et al. Nutrition and aging in dogs and cats: assessment and dietary strategies. 2025. The review's summary table lists approximately +20% maintenance energy requirements for Sphynx and other nude cats relative to standard feline estimates. (PubMed Central (PMC))

[9] PetMD. How to Keep Sphynx Cats and Other Hairless Cats Warm. Veterinary-reviewed practical guidance on warmth and use of clothing in hairless cats.
Note: this is used here as practical veterinary guidance rather than as a primary research source.

[10] Sarfaty H, Ezra-Elia R, Sebbag L. Prevalence and characteristics of ocular diseases in Sphynx cats: a retrospective assessment (2012–2021) and comparison with non-Sphynx cats. Veterinary Ophthalmology. 2022;25(5):367–375. doi:10.1111/vop.12994. The study included 110 Sphynx cats; corneal sequestrum was diagnosed in 42, with an odds ratio of 8.0 compared with non-Sphynx cats. (PubMed)

[11] The International Cat Association. Outstanding Cattery Program. TICA states that its programme incorporates a Cattery Evaluation Program and Outstanding Cattery Code of Ethics aimed at cattery management and husbandry standards. (TICA - The International Cat Association)

[12] Governing Council of the Cat Fancy. GCCF Breeder Scheme. Scheme requirements include allowing premises to be inspected and assessed by a trained GCCF assessor to establish compliance with the Breeder Scheme Standard. (The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy)

[13] Governing Council of the Cat Fancy. Breeder Scheme FAQs. GCCF states that the annual payment covers costs associated with assessments, and explains the Improvement Action Report process where a breeder does not meet the scheme standard during inspection. (The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy)

[14] The International Cat Association. TICA Price List. Current TICA pricing lists a fee for the Outstanding Cattery Code of Ethics and a renewable Cattery Evaluation fee. (TICA - The International Cat Association)