Feeding a Sphynx cat in winter

Sphynx cats are genuinely different to feed — their lack of fur means they burn significantly more calories just maintaining body temperature, and in a cold indoor environment that demand goes up further. Cats are obligate carnivores with specific nutritional requirements many commercial foods don't fully meet, and wet food is almost always the better choice for hydration, which matters enormously for long-term kidney health. To give you a solid recommendation: how old is your Sphynx, are there any health issues or dietary restrictions I should know about, and what are you currently feeding them?

That mix is understandable but the dry kibble is likely letting her down on two fronts — hydration and calorie density from quality protein. Sphynx cats at rest burn roughly 13% more energy than a coated cat of the same size, and in a cold flat that gap widens. Kibble tends to be calorie-dense but from the wrong sources — often too much carbohydrate, not enough animal protein. Can I ask what brand of wet food you're using in the evening, and roughly what size pouches? That'll help me understand whether she's getting enough protein and fat to cover her thermal overhead.

It's genuinely not all the same, and this is one situation where the difference matters. Whiskas pouches typically contain around 4% meat derivatives with a lot of gravy and thickeners — for a standard cat that's not ideal, but for a Sphynx who needs more calories from real animal protein just to stay warm, it really falls short. One 85g pouch in the evening isn't close to covering her needs. What are you spending roughly per month on food at the moment, and are you open to switching to all wet, or would you prefer to keep something dry in the morning?

All wet is the right call for a Sphynx, and it doesn't have to be complicated. My recommendation is Animonda Carny Adult — it's a German brand widely available on Amazon UK, typically around £20–25 for a 24-pack of 200g tins. The meat content is high and named — beef, chicken, turkey — with no grain, no sugar, and a realistic ingredient list. For a 3-year-old Sphynx in a cool environment, I'd suggest two 200g tins per day, split into two meals. That gives her the protein and fat she needs to generate body heat, keeps her hydrated, and the calorie profile actually matches what an active hairless cat requires in winter. It puts you right at the top of your budget but you're getting a substantially better product.

Transition gradually over about a week — mix a small amount of the Carny in with her current food and increase the ratio each day. Cats can be suspicious of new textures and flavours, and abrupt switches sometimes cause loose stools even when the new food is better. Start with roughly 25% new food for the first two days, then 50%, then 75%, then full switch. Since you're also dropping the dry kibble, do that step gradually too — reduce the morning portion as the wet food intake increases. Once she's fully on the Carny, keep an eye on her weight for the first few weeks. Sphynx cats can gain quickly if you slightly overfeed, so two tins a day is a starting point — adjust by a quarter tin either way depending on what you see.