The Best Cat Food for Sphynx to Ensure Health

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The Sphynx breed has exotic looks, but it is just like other breeds in that it requires a nutrient-rich diet to flourish. Biologically, cats are made to consume meat. Therefore, it is essential to feed your cat foods protein-rich foods. Furthermore, you should ensure that your cat’s diet supports her skin health. All cats produce natural oils, which help in lubricating the skin and keeping their coats soft and shiny. However, the excess oils that Sphynx breed produce can clog its pores, leading to chronic health problems. The higher the quality of your cat food, the less the amount of oil she’ll produce. Therefore, it is essential to look out for wholesome, natural ingredients.

To satisfy your cat’s metabolism and keep her gut healthy, feed the feline with a diet that delivers a lot of energy with minimal waste and fillers. The most-appropriate cat food for Sphynx cats is minimally processed are made from animal ingredients. Plant ingredients do not weigh it down. The following are the best cat food for Sphynx cats and are available on Chewy

🐱 Quick Answer: Sphynx cats have fast metabolisms and big appetites, so they do best on a high-protein, calorie-dense food with real meat as the first ingredient. Many owners feed a mix of high-quality wet and dry food, or add wet food for extra moisture. Grain-free and freeze-dried raw options suit their energy needs. Feed measured meals to avoid overfeeding.
Key Takeaways
  • Sphynx cats have a high metabolism and need calorie-dense, high-protein food to fuel their body heat and energy.
  • A named animal protein like chicken, turkey, or fish as the first ingredient matters more than any single food format.
  • Feeding some wet food adds moisture that supports a Sphynx cat’s digestion and urinary health.
  • Freeze-dried raw and grain-free foods are popular for Sphynx cats because they’re rich in animal protein.
  • Sphynx cats love to eat, so measure meals to prevent weight gain despite their fast metabolism.

Related reading: Sphynx cat guide. best wet cat food. freeze-dried cat food.

Our Top Picks

Wellness CORE Pate Chicken, Turkey & Chicken Liver Natural Grain-Free Wet Cat Food, 3-oz can, case of 12

Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Pate Canned Cat Food

Sheba Perfect Portions Seafood Pate Variety Pack Grain-Free Adult Wet Cat Food Trays, 2.6-oz, case of 24

Sheba Perfect Portions Grain-Free Cat Food

Nulo Minced Turkey & Duck in Gravy Grain-Free Canned Cat & Kitten Food, 3-oz, case of 24

Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Pate Canned Cat Food

Wellness CORE Pate Chicken, Turkey & Chicken Liver Natural Grain-Free Wet Cat Food, 3-oz can, case of 12

This is a protein-rich cat food that can nourish the primal essence of your Sphynx cat. The main ingredients are duck and turkey. It contains all the nutrients your Sphynx cat needs to remain healthy. Wellness CORE contains antioxidants, flaxseed, and salmon oil, among other ingredients, and it is made in America. It is a bit pricey when compared to other cat foods, but it is among the best cat foods for Sphynx cats.

Pros

  • Rich in minerals and vitamins
  • 100% grain-free
  • Meats are the main ingredients
  • Made in the U.S.A

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Persnickety cats might dislike the taste

Sheba Perfect Portions Grain-Free Cat Food

Sheba Perfect Portions Seafood Pate Variety Pack Grain-Free Adult Wet Cat Food Trays, 2.6-oz, case of 24

This is one of the best cat foods for Sphynx, and it offers value for money. Cats love the gourmet flavors of this food, which include Tender Turkey, Roasted Chicken, and Salmon. Farm-fresh ingredients help in promoting the health of felines, while the natural recipe does not include anything our cat’s body won’t need. The ingredients include corn, wheat, grain, and soy. As your Sphynx enjoy the healthy Sheba entrée, you will love the snap-and-peel lids and mess-free convenience offered. Although this cat food if filled with high-quality ingredients, you need to combine dry and wet cat food to keep your Sphynx cat at a healthy weight. Too much food can lead to joint problems and obesity in the days to come.

Pros

  • Grain-free
  • Different flavors
  • Mess-free containers
  • Cost-effective

Cons

  • Cats can become obese from a wet-food only diet

Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

Nulo Minced Turkey & Duck in Gravy Grain-Free Canned Cat & Kitten Food, 3-oz, case of 24

Young Sphynx cats require tons of fat, calories, and protein. This grain-free cat food is formulated specially to offer to support the first twelve months of growth which is a fast stage of growth. Nulo also has the nutritional advantage to keep your pet healthy and lively for its entire life. It is full of turkey and chicken, which are easy to digest and enhance gut health. It also contains omega-3 fatty acids that help in brain and eye development. Nulo also has some plant ingredients. This product is also formulated for every life stage, meaning that it contains the nutritional gusto to keep Sphynx cats sprinting.

Pros

  • Has omega-3 fatty acids
  • Contains proteins that are easy to digest
  • Low carb content
  • Formulated for cats of all ages

Cons

  • Has plant-based ingredients
  • Costly

Instinct Original Grain-Free Pate Wet Canned Cat Food

Instinct Pate Real Chicken Entree Grain-Free Wet Cat Food, 3-oz can, case of 4

This brand of Sphynx cat food is grain-free and protein-packed. It has omega fatty acids and a creamy pate texture. It is made of 95 percent duck and turkey liver and 5 percent vegetables. It does not have preservatives or artificial flavors. Even though your Sphynx cat can thrive on a diet rich in proteins, some veggies are vital for their well-being since they are rich in nutrients and antioxidants to enhance long life. Take the precaution to feed your cat with food containing low plant contents like this product.

Pros

  • Yummy flavor
  • High protein content
  • Has omega fatty acids
  • Grain-free

Cons

  • Can enhance weight gain because it is a wet food
  • Contains 5 percent plant-based ingredients

Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Beef Recipe Cat Food

ZIWI Peak Beef Recipe Air-Dried Cat Food, 35.2-oz bag

If you prefer to serve your Sphynx cat one meal that it can eat throughout the day instead of several meals, you can buy this non-perishable cat food, which can remain fresh for hours. The air-dried cat food delivers plant-free nutrition, along with a hardy mix of bones, organs, and muscle meals. The air-drying process ensures that all the nutrients are intact and that there are no pathogens. This provides cats with a healthy meal that they crave. This product is rich in protein and low in carbs. It contains lamb heart, lamb, mackerel, bone, kidney, lung, liver, and lamb tripe. It also has a New Zealand green mussel that works as a source of omega-3 fatty acid that keep the skin and coat of Sphynx cats healthy, while minimizing inflammation. If you want to feed your pet dry food, it is a great option, but do not accept carbohydrate-laden kibble.

Pros

  • Your feline will eat the food at will
  • Non-perishable
  • Plant-free
  • Contains efficient-burning, highly digestible nutrition like organs, muscle meat, and bones.
  • Contains omega-3 fatty acids for healthy, soft skin
  • It is a low-carb, meat-rich alternative to conventional dry foods.

Cons

  • Pricey
  • Does not contain enough water that can keep your feline properly hydrated
  • Feline Natural Chicken & Lamb Feast Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

Feline Natural Chicken & Lamb Feast Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

Feline Natural Chicken & Lamb Feast Grain-Free Canned Cat Food, 6-oz, case of 12

As Sphynx cats get older, it is vital to feed them with a protein-rich diet that is highly digestible. Such a diet helps them stay lean and minimize stress to their vital organs. This product is freeze-dried and meat-focused. It also does not contain excess phosphorous, meaning that it provides cats with adequate nutrition. It also has green-lipped mussel that keeps the skin of cats supple, reduces inflammation, and potentially supports joint health. Fresh, meat-focused food that does not have excessive phosphorous is ideal for a majority of senior cats. It offers many nutrients from animal sources and not many animal by-products. It is not much processed, and this leaves more of the meat’s magic intact.

Pros

  • Excellent for senior cats
  • Easy to digest
  • Protein-rich
  • Has green-lipped mussels
  • Minimal carb content

Cons

  • Very expensive

Stella & Chewy’s Duck Duck Goose Dinner Morsels Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food

Stella & Chewy's Duck Duck Goose Dinner Morsels Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food, 18-oz bag, bundle of 2

Stella and Chewy’s food is a freeze-dried product, which delivers everything that pet owners search for in the best food for Sphynx cats. It is made from a nutrient-dense mixture of turkey with ground bone, duck with ground bone, goose meat, turkey liver, turkey gizzard, and goose meat. The protein-rich and nutrient-dense ingredients offer the nutrition that Sphynx cats need in their most digestible form. Biologically available animal ingredients work together with a mix of probiotics to keep the gust of cats working smoothly. This is a freeze-dried product, which is rich in nutrients naturally available in fresh animal parts. Since the body of a cat uses so much of the food and the waste is minimal, this food is an excellent option for cats that have chronic digestive problems or smelly waste. Lower carb content can help minimize inflammation. If your Sphynx cat gets constipated on the food, you can choose to switch to a lower-bone product. This product appears to contain more bone than cats need. Excessive intake of bones may contribute to constipation and minerals that include magnesium and phosphorous, which can make the symptoms of kidney disease get worse.

Pros

  • It does not have fillers, and therefore, your cat’s litter box can be cleaner.
  • Rich in highly digestible animal ingredients.
  • Lower carb content.
  • Has probiotics that support digestive health.

Cons

  • May have too much bone for some Sphynx cats
  • You need to rehydrate the freeze-dried food before serving it to your cat.
  • Smalls Fresh Ground Bird

Smalls Fresh Ground Bird

Since Sphynx cats burn many calories, they need foods that provide them with adequate protein and balanced nutrition without wasting anything. This cat food is a great option for it contains a small amount of high-quality ingredients, and it is served fresh, making it irresistible to felines. It also has a lot of moisture, which is excellent for cats’ skins. The ingredients in this product include fresh chicken breast and chicken thighs as the two main ingredients and chicken organs for extra nutrition. Fresh vegetables such as peas, green beans, and kale help in balancing out the nutrition while the Smalls Fresh Ground Bird cat food fills the rest. It does not contain fillers, artificial additives, or by-products. You can also get this cat food as a subscription service. Just fill your cat’s profile to get customized recommendations and begin getting fresh cat food delivered to your doorstep.

Pros

  • Contains real moisture and animal protein
  • Highly digestible – Does not contain artificial additives
  • It is balanced with healthy fats to ensure calorie density

Cons

  • It’s not proportioned individually for specific felines
  • You need to start a prescription to order it

Primal Turkey Formula Nuggets Grain-Free Raw Freeze-Dried Cat Food

Primal Chicken & Salmon Formula Nuggets Grain-Free Raw Freeze-Dried Cat Food, 28-oz bundle

This is a freeze-dried food with several features which make it great for sensitive Sphynx cats. To begin with, it is a single protein food, which minimizes the chance that it can irritate your feline. Its primary ingredients include turkey necks, turkey, livers, and hearts. Second, the product has a prey-inspired recipe. It contains species-appropriate ratios of meat, muscle, bone, and organs, and honors the biological needs of felines. It contains some vegetables and fruits, which help make it nutritionally complete. It does not contain many carbs, and it appears to reduce potential irritants. To help minimize inflammation and keep cats in excellent condition, the recipe includes both cod liver oil and sardine oil, which are sources of omega 3 fatty acids.

Pros

  • Low carb content
  • Rich in easy to digest and nourishing animal ingredients
  • A single protein recipe can help in avoiding or identifying allergens
  • Contains sardine oil and cod liver oil as sources of omega-3 fatty acids
  • Minimally-processed meat delivers lots of nutrition in bioavailable form

Cons

  • Some cats dislike the way the food tastes
  • Freeze-dried food needs to be rehydrated before a cat eats it.

Buying guide for the best cat food for Sphynx cats

Sphynx cats require the same high-quality food as other breeds. Their lack of fur does not mean that their nutritional needs are different. However, the right food for Sphynx cats differs a little bit from that of other felines. The ideal diet of Sphynx cats should have the following characteristics:

Slow burn

Just like humans need more calories when it is cold outside, Sphynx cats need to burn additional calories to compensate for their lack of fur. The temperature of the skin of a Sphynx cat is about 4 degrees higher than that of the average cat. It takes a lot of energy to say warm.

Smaller portions are more suitable.

Sphynx cats need to burn calories quickly. Therefore, it is advisable to split up their food into 3 or 4 meals daily.

Clean and efficient

People who own Sphynx cats complain about litterbox horror stories, such as poop-filled paws and reeking odors. From these stories, we can conclude that Sphynx cats might have a harder time with their digestive tracks than other cats. If you can fluff from your cat’s diet, you can ensure that more of the food will nourish your cat, and not much of it will go to waste.

Tips for choosing the most suitable food for your Sphynx cat

Since you understand the needs of your Sphynx cat, you need to be selective as you choose food for your pet. The right food should have high amounts of fat, protein, and calories. Some things to consider as you buy the food include:

Healthy, natural ingredients – Foods with healthy, wholesome ingredients rather than junk can work well for the digestive system of your cat. In addition, the quality of food determines how well the cat’s body can digest and absorb vitamins and minerals properly. Make sure you read the label and watch out for recipes that do not contain fillers.

Premium protein – Proteins from animals like seafood, meat, and poultry should make up 30 percent or more of your cat’s diet. They contain more nutrients compared to plant-based nutrients.

High calorie and fat content – Sphynx cats require a lot of fuel to keep their internal heaters operating. Search for recipes containing 12 to 15 percent fat or ore from animal sources like chicken fat and salmon oil.

Low carbohydrate content – It is essential to choose cat food containing as few carbs as possible for your Sphynx. This way, your pet can digest the food easily and not have any issues with the litterbox.

Beneficial supplements – Supplemental sources of omega-three fatty acids can enhance skin health in Sphynx cats. Also, look out for chelated minerals to assist your cat in absorbing most nutrients for the food.

Conclusion

Sphynx cats need nutrient-rich, high-protein food made up of natural ingredients and contain many calories and fat to live their best life. However, it should be low in carbohydrate content. Bear this in mind as you search for the best food for your Sphynx cat.

This guide is educational and not a substitute for veterinary care. The International Cat Care team and the ASPCA both offer good guidance on feeding active, high-metabolism cats.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the best food for a Sphynx cat?

The best food for a Sphynx cat is a high-protein, calorie-dense formula with a named meat as the first ingredient. Because Sphynx cats burn energy keeping warm, they need more calories than the average cat. Many owners combine premium wet and dry food, and grain-free or freeze-dried raw options work well.

Q: How much should I feed a Sphynx cat?

Most adult Sphynx cats eat a bit more than typical cats, often needing measured meals two to three times a day based on the label’s guidance for their weight. Their fast metabolism means they get hungry often, but free-feeding can lead to weight gain. Ask your vet to confirm the right daily amount.

Q: Do Sphynx cats need special food?

Sphynx cats don’t need a breed-specific food, but they do benefit from a high-protein, calorie-dense diet to match their fast metabolism. Real meat first, plenty of animal protein, and added moisture from wet food are the priorities. Quality matters more than any Sphynx label on the bag.

Q: Should Sphynx cats eat wet or dry food?

A mix of wet and dry food works well for most Sphynx cats. Wet food adds hydration and is gentle on digestion, while dry food is convenient and calorie-dense for their energy needs. If you feed mostly dry, make sure fresh water is always available.

Q: Why is my Sphynx always hungry?

Sphynx cats have a naturally high metabolism and burn extra calories keeping their hairless bodies warm, so they genuinely get hungry more often. Feeding a calorie-dense, high-protein food helps keep them satisfied. If hunger seems extreme or comes with weight loss, check with your vet.

Q: Can Sphynx cats eat raw food?

Many Sphynx owners feed freeze-dried raw or raw-coated foods because they’re rich in animal protein that suits the breed’s energy needs. Commercial freeze-dried raw is safer than homemade raw, which carries a bacterial risk. Talk to your vet before switching to a fully raw diet.

Disclaimer: The content on The Ideal Cat is for general informational purposes only and is not veterinary or medical advice. While we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information is complete, current, or error-free — always consult your veterinarian (or doctor) before acting on anything related to your pet's or your own health, diet, or care. As a Chewy affiliate, I earn commissions for qualifying purchases. If you click a link on this site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.