Sphynx Cat Price: Why Are They So Expensive?

There’s no denying that, despite their charm, Sphynx cats can be quite expensive. 

The minimum price you can expect to pay for a well-bred and healthy Sphynx kitten is at least $1,500 (roughly £1,000). 

However, a more typical price for a well-bred, healthy Sphynx kitten is $3,000-$3,500 (£2,100-£2,500).

Why are Sphynx cats so expensive?

Sphynx cats are rarer compared to other breeds, although you might be able to find them in almost any country these days. 

The most important factor that influences the cost of a Sphynx kitten is their health. 

Unfortunately, the breed is predisposed to developing a number of medical issues, some of which can be transmitted from the parents to the kittens. 

For this reason, breeders have to be extremely careful what cats they use for reproduction. Moreover, they need a constant flow of money to care for the cats that they no longer breed. 

While potential owners might think that the cost of a Sphynx cat doesn’t make sense, the truth is that breeders need that kind of money for their and to ensure that all of their cats are in good health. 

1. Breeder reputation

The reason some of these cats started to suffer from genetically transmitted diseases is that at one point in their history, they weren’t bred correctly. 

They were merely bred for their physical appearance, not their health. 

So, how can you make sure that you get your cat from the right breeder? First of all, you can look for information regarding them online. 

There are many Sphynx cat forums and groups on the Internet these days, where cat owners express their opinions on the breeders they themselves have used. 

Besides online research, you can call the breeder and ask them whether you wouldn’t be allowed to visit their cattery. 

This gives you the chance to see what conditions the cats are kept in. Do not be afraid to ask them what documentation you will receive when you buy the pet.

Respectable breeders almost always include the health documents of the kitten’s parents. For example, they could include tests that the parents were performed on in the past 12 to 24 months. 

This at least allows you to rest assured that the kitten is less likely to suffer from health problems for a number of years. 

Sphynx cats that you purchase from respectable breeders are almost always more expensive, whether their reputation is based on the health of the kittens or their pedigree. 

So, while the broad range of sphynx cat prices is somewhere between $1,500 and $4,500 and more, a well-bred and healthy kitten can set you back at least $3,000 to $3,500. 

2. Cat health

As previously mentioned, Sphynx cats are prone to developing a number of different health conditions.

For this reason, their breeders constantly have to monitor the health of the kittens’ parents and test them for the following diseases:

• Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

Sphynx cats can also get FeLV and FIP.

Typically, responsible breeders are not going to allow too many of their sires and queens to come in contact with the rest of the cats living in the same environment. 

They will do their best at separating their living spaces so as to minimise any risk of infection. 

But this means that a Sphynx cattery cannot be small — the rooms have to be located at a distance from one another, and they need to be cleaned and disinfected properly on a regular basis. That, too, costs a lot of money. 

3. Sphynx cat rarity

The less common a cat breed is, the higher the price you can expect to pay for a kitten. 

Unfortunately, for the reasons we have listed above, Sphynx cats aren’t preferred by many breeders. 

Given the effort that goes into breeding this type of cat and its rarity, they’re anything but cheap. 

Rare colours can cost more, so it’s not uncommon for some to be as expensive as $9,000 or more.

4. Gender and reproductive status

Unspayed and unneutered cats are more expensive than their ‘fixed’ counterparts. 

It’s quite likely that you are not going to be interested in breeding your cat, but even in this case, breeders usually ask for more money if there is the possibility of you doing so. 

Unspayed females are more expensive than unneutered cats — this is a universal rule for most breeds, not just the Sphynx cat. 

How much does it cost to own a Sphynx cat?

While the average annual cost of owning a cat (no specific breed) is under $300, that is not the case for this breed. 

Given that Sphynx cats can develop a series of health complications and they’re also more likely to suffer from hereditary disease, vet check-ups are going to cost more.

You are not only going to be paying for the clinical and blood exams that all cats require, but the vet could recommend additional tests just to be on the safe side of things. 

Here are some factors that increase the average ownership cost of a Sphynx cat. 

1. Keeping a Sphynx cat warm

This breed is not equipped with the same mechanisms to . 

If you live in a cold climate, you will have to keep your thermostat on for pretty much the entire year. 

The ideal temperature for a Sphynx cat is somewhere between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit. 

If the temperature is any lower than that, not only will your cat feel uncomfortable, but they could also become sick. 

A good idea to keep your Sphynx cat warm, especially if you don’t want your heating bills to be outrageous, is to invest in a quality heated cat bed. 

Some cat owners keep their feline companions clothed most of the time, so that might be another solution if your cat has nothing against it. 

2. Annual health checks

A typical annual check-up at the animal hospital can set you back anything from $75 to $150.

For this breed, however, it can go up to $250 and more. 

3. The right diet

Sphynx cats do not do well when there is too much fat and oil in their diet.

Some pet food varieties have a somewhat high-fat content, and they’re made so because they have to be palatable — cats like the consistency of fat.

But a Sphynx cat can easily develop skin problems in the lack of an appropriate and breed-specific diet. 

It probably comes as no surprise, but this type of diet costs more than a regular one. 

4. Skincare 

Besides making sure that your Sphynx kitten is eating what she’s supposed to, you will also have to create a skincare routine and use the right products. 

Some pet owners apply pet moisturiser on their cats’ skin since they have different characteristics, and their epidermis doesn’t secrete the same amount of sebum.

Also, while cats with a regular coat spread their sebum through the rest of their hair by grooming, Sphynx cats do not have this luxury. 

This means that you’ll have to clean your pet’s skin with wipes or a high-quality every once in a while and then apply moisturiser. 

5. Living situation

Due to their specifics, Sphynx cats have to be kept . 

As you probably know, caring for a partly indoor/partly outdoor cat is much easier, albeit risky for the pet given that they’re exposed to a number of dangers in the great outdoors. 

This means that you will have to invest in a lot of accessories to keep them as entertained as possible (especially if you’re away from home for several hours for work). 

Also, you will have to get a and the right kind of (opt for a safe , one that doesn’t create too much dust as it can end up on your Sphynx cat’s skin). 

Finally, Sphynx cats thrive when they have some company, and they do not want to be left alone for long periods of time. Ideally, they should have another Sphynx friend.

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Are Sphynx cats worth the price?

If you can afford this breed, then it is worth the money. They have an amazing personality, with some pet owners claiming that they behave more like dogs rather than cats. 

They’re also very rare, so that’s why they are so expensive. 

However, before becoming a Sphynx cat owner, do consider that most tend to live for at least a decade or more, so you will be making a long-term commitment and the expenses are going to be accordingly.