Sphynx cats are a unique breed with wrinkly skin and no apparent hair. But their distinctive nature does not mean they need a low-quality nutrition diet. On the contrary, these felines require a wholesome, nourishing diet that meets their natural biological needs.
The best cat food for sphynx cats should be protein-rich, moderate fat, and low in carbohydrates. The diet should be similar to what a cat would eat in the wild.
You need to choose foods whose protein sources are real meat like beef or poultry, not meat byproducts. Moreover, it should contain minimal fillers like rice, corn, and wheat.
To get you started, here are the 10 best cat foods for your sphynx cat. They are high-quality, balanced, and digestible foods.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites (2023 Update)
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Smalls Human-Grade Fresh Cat Food Subscription
Human-grade
Comes in 3 textures
All natural without the use of preservatives
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Best Value
Hill’s Science Diet Chicken Cat Food
Made of natural, wholesome ingredients
No artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives
Enriched with omega fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants
Check Price
Taste of the Wild Venison Cat Food
Features real-meat proteins
Meets AAFCO’s nutritional levels
Includes antibiotics, probiotics, and prebiotics
Check Price
Blue Buffalo Chicken Dry Cat Food
Grain-free formula
High protein recipe
Features LifeSource Bits
Check Price
Best for Kittens
Purina One Healthy Kitten Dry Cat Food
Zero fillers included
Contains DHA for brain and vision development
Included calcium supports the growth of strong teeth and bones
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The 10 Best Foods for Sphynx Cats
1. Smalls Human-Grade Fresh Cat Food Subscription – Best Overall
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Proteins: 49.6%
Fats: 8.05%
Calories: 550 kcal/ half cup
Fiber: 0.4%
The Sphynx is a large cat and while it doesn’t have a coat to worry about, it is still very important that you feed a high-quality food packed with meat protein and because their bodies have to work harder to keep them warm, they tend to have a voracious appetite.
Smalls Human Grade Fresh is fresh cat food that uses high-quality ingredients. The chicken formula contains 86% chicken (including skin, liver, and heart) with the rest of the food being made up of fruit, vegetables, and some supplements. It is designed to closely mimic the natural diet of a cat in the wild and owners report that it can improve health, as well as skin condition, with the latter being especially important to this breed. Its high-quality ingredients, which consist primarily of meat, as well as its palatable appeal, make Smalls Human Grade Fresh the overall best cat food for Sphynx cats.
Smalls offers a subscription package, which means that you do need to commit to buying, and it isn’t cheap food because it is packed with premium ingredients. It is also less convenient than some foods because it needs to be refrigerated until feeding time.
86% chicken is very high
Uses human grade meat
Moisture-rich natural food
Available to order so you can avoid allergens and unwanted ingredients
- 86% chicken is very high
- Uses human grade meat
- Moisture-rich natural food
- Available to order so you can avoid allergens and unwanted ingredients
Expensive
Needs to be stored cold
- Expensive
- Needs to be stored cold
If you seek the best food for sphynx cat for the money, look into Hill’s Science Diet. The brand is well-known for making great-tasting, high-quality nutrition food to keep cats happy and healthy.
Proteins: 30%
Fats: 17%
Calories: 502 kcal/cup
Fiber: 8%
Check Price on Chewy
The food features high-quality, responsibly sourced chicken as its number one ingredient. It also includes chicken fat and chicken meal, which are delicious and highly digestible.
This chicken recipe contains taurine. Taurine supports heart health, and when balanced with vitamins and minerals, it improves kidney and bladder functioning. There is a blend of omega-6 fatty acids, too, that nourish your sphynx’s skin and coat.
The food is suitable for adult cats between 1 to 6 years.
Pros
Made of natural, wholesome ingredients
No artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives
Enriched with omega fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants
Suitable for adults
Cons
Some cats experience a minor reaction after consuming it.
3. Taste of the Wild Venison & Salmon Cat Food
Taste of the Wild Formula contains everything your sphynx needs. It provides the essential minerals, vitamins, nutrients, amino acids, and antioxidants your kitty needs through any life stage. This saves you the agony of transitioning your cat to different foods.
Made of natural, wholesome ingredients
No artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives
Enriched with omega fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants
Suitable for adults
- Made of natural, wholesome ingredients
- No artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives
- Enriched with omega fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants
- Suitable for adults
Some cats experience a minor reaction after consuming it.
- Some cats experience a minor reaction after consuming it.
Proteins: 42%
Fats: 18%
Calories: 390 kcal/cup
Fiber: 3%
This feline recipe is protein rich as it includes real chicken, smoked salmon, and roasted venison. These proteins support the development of your pet’s bones, joints, and overall health.
The formula is also enriched with prebiotics, probiotics, and antioxidants from fruits and vegetables. Not only do they promote digestive health and the immune system, but also general health.
The food contains highly digestible peas and sweet potatoes to match your active sphynx needs.
Pros
Meets AAFCO’s nutritional levels
It contains antioxidants for a healthy immune system
Features real-meat proteins
Includes antibiotics, probiotics, and prebiotics
Cons
Expensive
Blue Buffalo Wilderness is another great cat food for sphynx cats as it provides superior nutrition. It features real chicken as its first ingredient for starters, and you can find other flavors like salmon, duck, rabbit, or trout.
Meets AAFCO’s nutritional levels
It contains antioxidants for a healthy immune system
Features real-meat proteins
Includes antibiotics, probiotics, and prebiotics
- Meets AAFCO’s nutritional levels
- It contains antioxidants for a healthy immune system
- Features real-meat proteins
- Includes antibiotics, probiotics, and prebiotics
Expensive
- Expensive
Proteins: 40%
Fats: 18%
Calories: 443 kcal/cup
Fiber: 4%
Blue Buffalo cat food is unique because it is crafted with LifeSource Bits. This is a blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that promote your sphynx’s healthy oxidative balance and promote a robust immune system.
The recipe has omega-3 and 6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat health. It also contains healthy carbohydrates to fuel your kitty’s energy needs.
Pros
Features LifeSource Bits
Grain-free formula
High protein recipe
Healthy complex carbohydrates
Contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
Cons
Not suitable for kittens
Purina One Healthy Kitten Formula is the best kitten food for sphynx cats. It delivers DHA, a fatty acid present in a mother’s milk linked to brain and vision development.
Features LifeSource Bits
Grain-free formula
High protein recipe
Healthy complex carbohydrates
Contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
- Features LifeSource Bits
- Grain-free formula
- High protein recipe
- Healthy complex carbohydrates
- Contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
Not suitable for kittens
- Not suitable for kittens
Proteins: 40%
Fats: 18%
Calories: 462 kcal/cup
Fiber: 2.5%
The formula is crafted with real chicken as its first ingredient. The high-protein supports your kitten’s growing muscles and fuels its active lifestyle. The food also contains four antioxidant sources to improve your pet’s immune system. The kibbles are formulated with calcium to support the development of strong teeth.
This cat food is veterinarian recommended and produced in U.S facilities.
Pros
Zero fillers included
Contains DHA for brain and vision development
Included calcium supports the growth of strong teeth and bones
Features real chicken as the first ingredient
Cons
Expensive
Royal Canin Sensitive Digestion is the best dry food for sphynx cats with digestion problems. It includes prebiotics and a combination of nutrients to balance intestinal flora and prevent digestion health issues.
Zero fillers included
Contains DHA for brain and vision development
Included calcium supports the growth of strong teeth and bones
Features real chicken as the first ingredient
- Zero fillers included
- Contains DHA for brain and vision development
- Included calcium supports the growth of strong teeth and bones
- Features real chicken as the first ingredient
Proteins: 33%
Fats: 20%
Calories: 469 kcal/cup
Fiber: 3.1%
This cat food is packed with digestible proteins, which gives your sphynx a higher energy density. This means that your pet will need to consume smaller meal sizes, thus decreasing its digestive workload.
In addition, this sensitive, dry food meets your cat’s palatability. It comes in three different kibble shapes to improve your sphynx’s appetite.
Pros
It contains high digestible proteins
It comes in three kibble shapes for palatability
Fermentable fibers promote the development of good bacteria
Ensures optimal absorption of vitamins and minerals
Cons
It is not grain-free
Since sphynx cats are an active breed, they need high-energy cat food. Stella and Chewy’s Duck Duck Goose Dinner Morsels nourish your pet’s appetite with duck with ground bone, turkey with ground bone, turkey liver, goose, and turkey gizzard.
It contains high digestible proteins
It comes in three kibble shapes for palatability
Fermentable fibers promote the development of good bacteria
Ensures optimal absorption of vitamins and minerals
- It contains high digestible proteins
- It comes in three kibble shapes for palatability
- Fermentable fibers promote the development of good bacteria
- Ensures optimal absorption of vitamins and minerals
It is not grain-free
- It is not grain-free
Proteins: 40%
Fats: 30%
Calories: 149 kcal/oz.
Fiber: 5%
98% of this raw cat food is poultry, organs, and bone. This means the diet is nutrient-dense and protein-rich to provide your sphynx with the most digestible form of nutrition. Besides, the recipe contains probiotics, vitamins, amino acids, and minerals that support your kitty’s digestive health.
This Stella and Chewy’s freeze-dried food is rich in natural nutrients present in raw meat and organs. It is designed that the sphynx’s body harnesses most of these nutrients and excretes little waste. This cat food is suitable for kitties with chronic digestive issues or with smelly waste. Its low carbohydrate content helps reduce inflammation.
Sadly, some cats get constipated while on this diet. Should this happen with your sphynx, it would be best to switch to a low-bone product. The excessive consumption of bone can lead to constipation or worsen symptoms of kidney disease.
Pros
Freeze-dried food is shelf-stable and safe
Low carbohydrate content
Formulated with highly digestible animal ingredients
It contains probiotics for digestive health
Cons
The ground bone may be too much for some cats
Freeze-dried foods need rehydration before meals
During the first year of their lives, Sphynx kittens need more proteins, calories, and fats to support rapid growth. They need a specially formulated diet that is present in the Nulo Freestyle Turkey and Chicken Recipe.
Freeze-dried food is shelf-stable and safe
Low carbohydrate content
Formulated with highly digestible animal ingredients
It contains probiotics for digestive health
- Freeze-dried food is shelf-stable and safe
- Low carbohydrate content
- Formulated with highly digestible animal ingredients
- It contains probiotics for digestive health
The ground bone may be too much for some cats
Freeze-dried foods need rehydration before meals
- The ground bone may be too much for some cats
- Freeze-dried foods need rehydration before meals
Proteins: 11%
Fats: 6.5%
Calories: 193 kcal/can
Fiber: 0.75%
The formula is crafted with real turkey, chicken, turkey liver, and tuna, all high-quality, digestible proteins to fuel your feline’s muscles. The gravy has a tender texture and an irresistible taste.
The recipe is free of grains, wheat, corn but contains superfoods that promote your kitten’s overall health. These include taurine, omegas, minerals, vitamins, cranberries, kelp, and pumpkin.
The broth-based gravy keeps your Sphynx kitten hydrated.
Pros
Suitable for kittens and adult cats
Grain-free recipe
Formulated with whole-body healthy nutrients
Broth-based gravy keeps felines hydrated
Cons
Contains plant ingredients
Match your feline’s high energy needs with the Instinct Original Real Duck recipe. The pate comprises 95% duck and turkey liver, 5% carbohydrates from fruits and vegetables, and 0% grain.
Suitable for kittens and adult cats
Grain-free recipe
Formulated with whole-body healthy nutrients
Broth-based gravy keeps felines hydrated
- Suitable for kittens and adult cats
- Grain-free recipe
- Formulated with whole-body healthy nutrients
- Broth-based gravy keeps felines hydrated
Contains plant ingredients
- Contains plant ingredients
Proteins: 9%
Fats: 7%
Calories: 106 kcal/3 oz. can
Fiber: 3%
This meat-based pate is highly digestible for your sphynx. The cage-free duck protein supports your pet’s strong and lean muscles, while the omega fatty acids promote a healthy coat.
The canned food is free of preservatives and artificial colors.
Pros
Protein-rich diet
Grain-free
Delicious pate
Moisture-rich
Cons
May promote weight gain
Wellness Core brand produces high-quality cat food, including this natural grain-free food. The kibbles are formulated with meat and natural nutrients like cranberries, flaxseed, and probiotics to promote your sphynx’s optimal health.
Protein-rich diet
Grain-free
Delicious pate
Moisture-rich
- Protein-rich diet
- Grain-free
- Delicious pate
- Moisture-rich
May promote weight gain
- May promote weight gain
Proteins: 45%
Fats: 18%
Calories: 497 kcal/cup
Fiber: 3%
This cat food promotes your pet’s healthy skin and coat with omega-rich ingredients like salmon oil and flaxseed. It also supports lean body mass without the risk of obesity, thanks to its high-quality protein ingredients.
This dry food is grain-free and enriched with fruits and vegetables. In addition, it has no known food allergies.
Pros
Free of food allergies
Grain-free
Enriched with proteins
Promotes optimal health
Made with natural ingredients
Cons
Not best for kittens and pregnant cats
Free of food allergies
Grain-free
Enriched with proteins
Promotes optimal health
Made with natural ingredients
- Free of food allergies
- Grain-free
- Enriched with proteins
- Promotes optimal health
- Made with natural ingredients
Not best for kittens and pregnant cats
- Not best for kittens and pregnant cats
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Cat Foods for Sphynx Cats
It is essential to keep these three factors in mind:
1. Sphynx Have a High Metabolism
Sphynx cats have no fur. This means that the feline’s metabolism has to overcompensate to keep the kitty’s body warm. In fact, your cat’s skin temperature is four degrees higher than other cat breeds. Due to this, sphynx cats have insatiable appetites and are less picky eaters. They need to eat multiple small servings of food, at least three of four meals, throughout the day.
Besides, this cat breed is active and energetic. Therefore, you need to find high-quality, calorie-dense, and protein-rich cat food.
2. Sphynx Cats are Susceptible to Digestive Problems
Sphynxes have sensitive tummies and intestines and are prone to digestive problems. They have loose bowels and reeking litter boxes. If your cat has these symptoms, it is best to look for a low-residue diet that is easily digestible and moisture-rich. This will reduce the amount of waste your kitty produces and reduce the work of its digestive system.
3. The Diet Should Maintain the Cat’s Healthy Skin
Since this cat breed has little fur, it needs a healthy diet that maintains the health of its skin. If your sphynx does not consume a high-quality diet, its skin may overproduce oils and result in skin problems.
What to Look for in the Best Cat Food for Sphynx Cats
Before you pick a sphynx cat food, ensure that it has the following:
A Protein-Rich Diet
A high-quality sphynx cat food should contain real meat as its first ingredient. Keep in mind that cats are carnivores and need a high-protein diet to thrive.
Besides, sphinxes have a large appetite. This means that they need a high-protein diet to keep them satiated and full. The food should contain at least 26% crude protein for adults and 30% for kittens.
A Low-Carb Diet
The best sphynx cat food should also contain low carbohydrates from high-quality sources like vegetables and whole grains. A low-carb diet will improve your kitty’s body mass, reduce muscle loss in senior cats, and support a healthy immune system.
It Should Contain Moderate Fat
The sphynx needs fats to compensate for its lack of fur. Fats also help with the absorption of vitamins while providing a source of energy. Moreover, they improve skin quality, control hormones, and keep your feline satiated for longer.
But where can you find excellent sources of fat? Look for fish oil, krill oil, flaxseed, soybean, sunflower, corn oil, poultry, beef, or pork. A minimum of 9% crude oil in the cat food is suitable for both kittens and adults.
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Beneficial Supplements
You will also want to look for supplemental sources like omega fatty acids in the food. They promote skin health and fur quality. Also, look for chelated minerals to improve nutrient absorption.
Ingredients to Avoid in Sphynx Cat Foods
It is crucial that you refrain from purchasing cat foods with chemicals and fillers. Here’s why.
Chemicals
Some cat food manufacturers use chemical preservatives like BHT, BHA, and ethoxyquin to keep food fresh and tasty. Sadly, these preservatives may contain cancer-causing agents. Furthermore, they can damage your pet’s liver and kidneys.
Fillers and Fake Ingredients
It would be best to avoid foods with meat by-products, rendered meat products, cornmeal, and carb fillers. Meat byproducts have low protein content, and it is not always clear where there were derived.
Rendered meat, on the other hand, is inferior and of low quality. The rendering process destroys the natural proteins and enzymes found in meat.
How about cornmeal fillers and carb filers? They are a cheap alternative to whole grains and muscle meat proteins. Besides, they are not healthy for cats.
Conclusion
Sphynx cats enjoy a happy and long life when they are fed a balanced and nourishing diet. This is why you need to review the ingredients present on a cat food label before purchasing. Moreover, consult your vet about the best cat food for a sphynx cat.
The Smalls Fresh Bird stands out as our favorite sphynx cat food. It is protein-rich featuring real chicken including organ meat. Plus, it is human-grade and mimics a cat’s natural diet.
The Hill’s Science Diet Adult Chicken Recipe offers you value for your money. It is made from natural ingredients, and it is delicious and highly digestible.
We hope that this review helps you find the best diet for your sphynx.
Featured Image Credit: Piskova Photo, Shutterstock
