Catster is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

6 Best Cat Foods for Your Sphynx Cat in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Written by: Christian Adams

Last Updated on March 1, 2024 by Catster Editorial Team

sphinx cat

6 Best Cat Foods for Your Sphynx Cat in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

VET APPROVED

Dr. Paola Cuevas Photo

REVIEWED & FACT-CHECKED BY

Dr. Paola Cuevas

MVZ (Veterinarian)

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

Learn more »

sphinx cat Despite its exotic looks, the Sphynx breed is just like any other cat in that it needs a quality, nutrient-packed diet to flourish. These tiny carnivores are biologically made to eat meat. A superb source of protein should be the main ingredient in anything you feed your pet.

Secondly, you need to ensure that your Sphynx’s diet supports their skin health. While all cats produce natural oils to help lubricate the skin and keep their coats shiny and soft, the Sphynx cat’s excess oils can clog their pores and cause chronic skin issues. The better your cat’s food is, the less excess oil its skin will produce, so always be on the lookout for natural, wholesome ingredients.

We’ve reviewed our top six picks for best Sphynx cat food to help you find a recipe that’s purr-fect for your hairless companion.

A Quick Comparison of Our Winners in 2024

Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free
  • 100% grain-free
  • Made in the USA
  • Loaded with vitamins and minerals
  • Best Value
    Second place
    Sheba Perfect Portions Grain-Free Multi-Pack Sheba Perfect Portions Grain-Free Multi-Pack
  • Grain-free
  • Affordable
  • Mess-free containers
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free
  • High in easy-to-digest proteins
  • Contains omega-3 fatty acids
  • Great for kittens
  • Instinct Original Grain-Free Pate Instinct Original Grain-Free Pate
  • Grain-free
  • Yummy flavor
  • Contains omega fatty acids
  • Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Ziwi Peak Air-Dried
  • Won’t go bad
  • Plant free
  • Your cat can eat it at will
  • The 6 Best Cat Foods for Sphynx Cats

    1. Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Pate Canned Cat Food – Best Overall

    Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Pate Canned Cat Food

    Nourish your Sphynx cat’s primal essence with this delicious and protein-packed cat food. With turkey and duck as the main ingredients, Wellness CORE boasts a grain-free recipe that contains everything your cat needs to thrive. With flaxseed, salmon oil, antioxidants, and more, this food helps your Sphynx cat prosper from the inside out. Best of all, this product is made in America!

    While overflowing with nutritional value, some finicky cats may turn up their nose at this product. Additionally, it is a bit on the pricey side of the spectrum when it comes to canned cat food.

    But, all in all, we think this is the overall best cat food for Sphynx cats.

    Pros
    • 100% grain-free
    • Loaded with vitamins and minerals
    • Main ingredients are meat
    • Made in the USA
    Cons
    • Persnickety eaters may not like the taste
    • Expensive

    2. Sheba Perfect Portions Grain-Free Cat Food – Best Value

    Sheba Perfect Portions Grain-Free Cat Food

    If you’re on the lookout for the best cat food for Sphynx cat for the money, then check out Sheba’s Perfect Portions Grain-Free Cat Food. Cats crave the gourmet flavors including Roasted Chicken, Tender Turkey, and Salmon. Farm-fresh ingredients help promote your cat’s health while the natural recipe doesn’t include anything their body won’t need, including grain, wheat, corn, and soy. While your cat enjoys this healthy Sheba entrée, you’ll love the mess-free convenience the snap-and-peel lids provide!

    While the variability of flavors and ingredients is great for some cats, this product is not ideal for animals with sensitivities or allergies who benefit better from a limited ingredient diet.

    Contains animal plasma in the ingredients without being specified what species it belongs to.

    Pros
    • A variety of flavors
    • Grain-free
    • Affordable
    • Mess-free containers
    Cons
    • Not ideal for Sphynxs with sensitivities
    • Contains unspecified animal plasma

    3. Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Canned Cat Food – Premium Choice

    Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

    Your Sphynx cat needs tons of protein, calories, and fat when they are young. Luckily, Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Canned Cat Food is specially formulated to support this rapid stage of growth. However, Nulo also has the nutritional gusto to keep your cat lively and healthy for their entire life.

    Chock-full of chicken and turkey, these easy-to-digest proteins promote good gut healthy while the omega-3 fatty acids aid in eye and brain development.

    A bit on the pricey side, this food does contain some plant ingredients.

    Pros
    • Great for kittens
    • High in easy-to-digest proteins
    • Contains omega-3 fatty acids
    Cons
    • Pricey
    • Contains plant-based ingredients

    4. Instinct Original Grain-Free Pate Wet Canned Cat Food

    Instinct Original Grain-Free Pate Wet Canned Cat Food

    For a protein-packed, grain-free meal, look no further than Instinct Original Grain-Free Pate Real Duck Recipe Wet Canned Cat Food. Featuring a creamy pate texture and omega fatty acids, this food is made up of 95% duck and turkey liver and 5% veggies. It does not contain artificial colors or preservatives.

    While your Sphynx cat will thrive on a protein-heavy diet, some vegetables are essential for their wellbeing as they are full of antioxidants and nutrients to promote a long life. Ensure to only feed your cat food with low plant contents, such as this product.

    Pros
    • Rich in protein
    • Yummy flavor
    • Grain-free
    • Contains omega fatty acids
    Cons
    • 5% plant-based ingredients

    5. Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Beef Recipe Cat Food

    Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Beef Recipe Cat Food

    If you’re a busy bee and cannot dish out several meals to your Sphynx throughout the day, consider a non-perishable cat food that you can leave out for hours.

    This air-dried cat food delivers plant-free nutrition with a hardy mix of organs, bones, and muscle meats. The air-dried process keeps all of the nutrients intact while killing pathogens. This gives your cat a safe, healthy meal it will crave.

    However, you’ll have to shell out a pretty penny for this food.

    Pros
    • Your cat can eat it at will
    • Won’t go bad
    • Plant free
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Doesn’t contain enough water to keep your cat properly hydrated

    6. Feline Natural Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

    Feline Natural Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

    As your Sphynx cat gets older and enters its late teens, it’s critical to feed a highly-digestible, quality protein diet. This will help to keep their body lean and reduce stress to their vital organs.

    This freeze-dried cat food is meat focused and doesn’t contain excess phosphorus, providing plenty of nutrition for your cat. It also contains green-lipped mussel to help keep your cat’s skin supple and reduce inflammation.

    Be prepared to get your wallet ready as this is one of the most expensive cat foods available on the market.

    Pros
    • Easy to digest
    • Great for senior cats
    • Contains green-lipped mussels
    • Rich in protein
    Cons
    • Extremely expensive

    Buyer’s Guide

    Your Sphynx cat needs the same high-quality cat food as every other breed. Their odd lack-of-fur doesn’t alter their nutritional needs. However, Sphynx cats differ slightly from other breeds in what they should eat.

    What does this mean exactly? Let’s take a closer look at a Sphynx cat’s ideal diet.

    • A Slow Burn: Just like you need to burn more calories when you’re freezing, a Sphynx cat needs to burn more to make up for their lack of fur. Did you know that your Sphynx’s skin temperature is about four degrees higher than the average cat’s? That’s takes a lot of energy to keep that interior furnace running.
    • Smaller Portions Are Best: Due to their need to quickly burn calories, it’s best to split up your Sphynx cat’s food into three or four tinier meals every day.
    • Efficient and Clean: Sphynx cat owners will be the first to tell you about their litterbox horror stories. From reeking odors to poop-filled paws, the nightmare only continues to get worse. Judging by these stories in the Sphynx cat community, your feline friend may have a harder time with its digestive tract than other cats. By cutting the fluff from the diet, you’ll ensure more of the food will nourish your cat and less of it will go to waste.

    Hepper 360 Cat Feeder, Stainless Steel, Anti-Chew...
    • NO MESS - The 360° tray on this cat food and water bowl set has a raised design to catch and...
    • WHISKER FRIENDLY - Shallow and wide metal containers with flat bottoms ensure your kitty can enjoy...
    • CHEW-SAFE MATERIALS - Kittens and cats love chewing on silicone and soft rubber - but it's a choking...

    Choosing the right food and water bowls for our feline companions can pose certain challenges for pet owners. The Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl provides a chic and innovative solution that supports cat specific needs, such as shallow bowls and a subtle elevation that fosters whisker relief, posture comfort, and improves digestion. It features an elegant contemporary design with a wide wrap-around tray aimed at minimizing any messes from ending up on your floor! Furthermore, this bowl is entirely dishwasher safe, so pet owners are able to spend more time with their cats instead of cleaning up after them. Discover why the Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl is right for both you and your kitty by clicking here.

    At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!

     

    How to Select the Best Food for Your Sphynx Cat

    Now that you understand a bit more about your Sphynx cat’s needs, you probably know that all cat foods are not created equal. You need to be super selective when picking out a cat food for your hairless friend. Keep in mind that the food should be brimming with protein, fat, and calories.

    Here are some things to consider when buying cat food for your Sphynx.

    • Natural, healthy ingredients: As we stated before, wholesome, healthy ingredients instead of junk can work wonders for your Sphynx cat’s digestive issues. Additionally, the quality of your cat food will determine how well your cat’s body is able to digest and properly absorb the vitamins and minerals. Always read the label and keep an eye out for recipes with no fillers.
    • Premium proteins: Proteins from animals, including meat, seafood, and poultry should make up at least 30% or more of your Sphynx cat’s diet. They are more nutritionally valuable than plant-based proteins.
    • High fat and calorie content: As stated earlier, your Sphynx cat needs plenty of fuel to keep its internal heater operating. Look for recipes that contain 12% to 15% fat or more from animal sources such as salmon oil or chicken fat.
    • Low carb content: Your Sphynx’s cat food should be as low in carbs as possible. This allows them to easily digest the food and not have litterbox troubles.
    • Beneficial supplements: Supplemental sources of omega-3 fatty acids can promote skin health in your Sphynx cat. Also, keep an eye out for chelated minerals to help your kitty absorb as many nutrients from its food as possible.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Do Sphynx cats need a special type of food? Generally speaking, they do not. However, they do need a high-quality cat food that is a good source of protein and calories that also leaves out fluff and carbs.

    Do Sphynx cats have food allergies? Many folks assume that the Sphynx cat will have weird food allergies due to its lack of fur. However, this isn’t the case. They’re like all breeds of cats in that some will suffer from food allergies, and some won’t. Keep an eye on your cat’s skin condition if you think your cat has allergies, and take it to your vet for routine checkups to keep your cat in tip-top shape.

    How much should I feed my Sphynx cat? This will depend upon your cat’s age, activity level, and age. Most indoor cats, need about 20 calories per pound to maintain their body weight. However, Sphynx cats burn energy at a faster rate than other cats, so it’s best to feed them a calorie-dense recipe and follow the feeding instructions on the label. It is easier to visually judge weight loss or gain on Sphynx cats, however regularly weighing your cat can help you find the right amount of food to keep a healthy weight.

    How often should I feed my Sphynx cat? You should aim to feed your cat three to four small meals throughout the day.

    cat + line divider


    Conclusion

    In order to live their best life, your Sphynx cat needs a high-quality, high-protein food that is made up of natural ingredients and is packed with fat and calories, but low in carbs. For this reason and based on our reviews, we think that the Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Pate Canned Cat Food is the best overall food for your Sphynx and that the Sheba Perfect Portions Grain-Free Cat Food is the best bang for your buck.

    Hopefully, with all of the info we provided you with, we’ve made it easier to find the best cat food for your special Sphynx.


    Featured Image Credit: Freepik

    Get Catster in your inbox!

    Stay informed! Get tips and exclusive deals.
    Catster Editors Choice Badge
    Shopping Cart

    Pangolia

    © Pangolia Pte. Ltd. All rights reserved.