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11 Best Cat Foods for Sphynx Cats – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Kristin Hitchcock

By Kristin Hitchcock

sphynx eating

Sphynx cats are famous as the “hairless” cat breed. Many of them do have a small amount of hair, but it is akin to nothing more than “peach fuzz.” Some are born completely hairless, but these are on the rarer side of things.

While they are hairless, the Sphynx’s nutritional needs aren’t all that different from your average feline. Still, it is extra important that their skin is protected since they don’t have the extra fur to protect it like most breeds.

In this article, we’ll review some of the best cat food for Sphynx cats. Many of these foods are simply high-quality for cats in general. However, they are also specifically good for Sphynx cats.

Disclaimer: The foods reviewed here were chosen because they have certain characteristics that might help with some of the causes or consequences of this medical condition. However, they are not a medical treatment or a substitute for medical treatment. Keep in mind that each medical case is different and what works for some pets may not work for others. Your veterinarian is the right person to advise you on the best diet for your pet’s individual case.

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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Smalls Fresh Cat Food Subscription Smalls Fresh Cat Food Subscription
  • High-quality proteins
  • Made with USDA-certified ingredients 
  • Arrives at your door in regular intervals
  • Budget Buy
    Second place
    Purina ONE Skin & Stomach Dry Cat Food Purina ONE Skin & Stomach Dry Cat Food
  • Turkey as the first ingredient
  • Inexpensive
  • Omega fatty acids added
  • Third place
    ACANA Indoor Entrée Dry Cat Food ACANA Indoor Entrée Dry Cat Food
  • 65% animal ingredients
  • L-carnitine for a healthy metabolism
  • High in omega fatty acids
  • Nulo Freestyle Turkey & Duck Wet Cat Food Nulo Freestyle Turkey & Duck Wet Cat Food
  • High protein content
  • No grains, wheat, or artificial ingredients
  • Meat-based ingredients
  • Wellness CORE Chicken Wet Cat Food Wellness CORE Chicken Wet Cat Food
  • Antioxidants and taurine included
  • Lots of animal-derived ingredients
  • Flaxseed and salmon oil for added omega fatty acids
  • The 11 Best Sphynx Cat Foods

    1. Smalls Fresh Cat Food Subscription Service – Best Overall

    smalls freeze-dried raw and human-grade fresh cat food on a tray

    First Five Ingredients: Chicken thigh, breast, liver, green beans, peas, kale
    Crude Protein: 15%
    Crude Fat: 6%

    Smalls is a subscription meal service for cats that delivers high-quality recipes full of protein and void of any fillers or artificial ingredients. Smalls provides the overall best cat food for Sphynx cats thanks to its nutrient-dense meals chock full of vitamins and minerals that promote skin health for your Sphynx.

    Smalls’ fresh recipes include three flavors (beef, turkey, and chicken) that are available in two textures so even the pickiest Sphynx should have a formulation that they like.

    Every Smalls recipe is loaded with high-quality protein without any of the empty calories that are often found in commercial cat foods. This protein-rich formulation can help your Sphynx stay satiated for longer while ensuring they’re still getting all the nutrients they need for their active lifestyle.

    We love the convenience of this subscription and the high-quality, vet-developed recipes. There are so many protein and texture options, and they are all packed with nutrients. All in all, we think Smalls is the best Sphynx cat food on the market.

    Pros
    • One-stop-shop for all your cat food and accessories
    • High-quality proteins
    • No artificial ingredients or fillers
    • Made with USDA-certified ingredients
    • Arrives at your door in regular intervals

    Cons
    • Can get expensive
    • Customer service could be better


    2. Purina ONE Skin & Stomach Dry Cat Food – Budget Buy

    Purina ONE Sensitive Skin & Stomach Dry Cat Food

    First Five Ingredients: Turkey, Chicken By-Product Meal, Rice Flour, Corn Gluten Meal, Soybean Meal
    Protein: 34%
    Fat: 13%

    If you’re searching for a good budget option, take a look at Purina ONE Sensitive Skin & Stomach Dry Cat Food. This brand is specifically made for cats with sensitive stomachs. However, nearly any cat can benefit from the ingredients, especially if you’re on a budget.

    The first ingredient is turkey, which provides your feline with lean protein. In fact, each cup includes 36 grams of protein – perfect for your hairless feline.

    While this formula starts with high-quality ingredients, it goes downhill quickly afterward. Corn gluten meal and soybean meal are both included. These are plant-based ingredients that bulk up the protein content of the food at a much lower price than meat.

    However, this is one of the major reasons that this brand is so cheap. For the value, the high protein and whole turkey is worth the money.

    Pros
    • Turkey as the first ingredient
    • Inexpensive
    • Omega fatty acids added
    • Decent protein

    Cons
    • Some low-quality ingredients


    3. ACANA Indoor Entrée Dry Cat Food

    ACANA Indoor Entrée Adult Dry Cat Food

    First Five Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Herring Meal, Oatmeal, Whole Peas
    Protein: 36%
    Fat: 14%

    If budget isn’t a serious problem, then ACANA Indoor Entrée Adult Dry Cat Food may be a solid option. This food is made up of 65% animal ingredients, starting with deboned chicken and chicken meal. Herring meal is also included, which increases the omega fatty acid content.

    As we’ve stated, the omega fatty acid content is essential for Sphynx cats, as it protects their skin.

    L-carnitine is added to help your feline maintain a healthy weight. This additive may improve cell metabolism, which can help your feline maintain a healthy weight.

    Some organ meats are also included. For instance, the liver is added to improve the flavor and overall nutrition of the food.

    Many people reported that this recipe is perfect for those with picky cats, as it seems to be quite flavorful.

    Pros
    • 65% animal ingredients
    • High in omega fatty acids
    • L-carnitine for a healthy metabolism
    • Flavorful

    Cons
    • Expensive


    4. Nulo Freestyle Turkey & Duck Wet Cat Food

    Nulo Freestyle Minced Turkey & Duck in Gravy Grain-Free Canned Cat & Kitten Food

    First Five Ingredients: Turkey, Turkey Broth, Duck Broth, Turkey Liver, Dried Egg Whites
    Protein: 10%
    Fat: 5%

    With both duck and turkey, the Nulo Freestyle Turkey & Duck Canned Cat Food is another high-quality option. Duck and turkey broth are both utilized instead of water, which increases the protein and moisture content of this canned cat food.

    It also makes the formula much yummier than others out there. If you have a picky cat, this factor can be paramount.

    This formula has a relatively high protein content. Much of this protein appears to come from animal-sourced ingredients as well. Therefore, it is exceptionally high-quality and better than the plant-based protein some cat foods use.

    It also includes no grains, wheat, or any artificial ingredients. In fact, it is mostly animal meat.

    Omega fatty acids and taurine are both added, as you would expect from high-quality cat food.

    With that said, this formula is pretty expensive. It isn’t for those on a budget in the least. There are also a few reports of quality-control problems. Sometimes, the moisture content is obviously not the same from can to can.

    Pros
    • High protein content
    • Meat-based ingredients
    • No grains, wheat, or artificial ingredients
    • Uses duck and turkey broth

    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Quality control problems


    5. Wellness CORE Chicken Canned Cat Food

    Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Chicken Turkey & Chicken Liver Pate Canned Cat Food

    First Five Ingredients: Chicken, Turkey, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Chicken Meal
    Protein: 12%
    Fat: 7%

    Wellness CORE Natural Grain-Free Chicken Canned Cat Food includes nothing but meat ingredients, including chicken and turkey. Instead of water, chicken broth is utilized to add extra nutrients and protein to the cat food.

    For the most part, this cat food just contains animal ingredients. Potatoes are included, but they are much further down on the ingredient list. Therefore, the added starchy veggies don’t actually take up much of the food.

    This recipe also includes flaxseed and salmon oil. These ingredients add extra omega fatty acids to the formula, which can help keep your cat’s skin in tip-top condition. For Sphynx cats, this is especially important since their skin is exposed to more elements than the average feline.

    Antioxidants and taurine are also added. These are essential for combating a wide range of diseases. In particular, taurine is a vital amino acid that is important for heart health.

    This formula doesn’t include any wheat, corn, or soy. Peas are also not included.

    Pros
    • Antioxidants and taurine included
    • Flaxseed and salmon oil for added omega fatty acids
    • Lots of animal-derived ingredients
    • Chicken broth instead of water

    Cons
    • Somewhat expensive


    6. Instinct Original Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

    Instinct Original Freeze Dried Raw Coated Dry Cat FoodInstinct Original Freeze Dried Raw Coated Dry Cat Food

    First Five Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal, Peas
    Protein: 41%
    Fat: 21%

    Instinct Original Grain-Free Recipe Dry Cat Food is one of the better brands for Sphynx cats on the market. It provides a very high protein content. However, not all of the protein content comes from meat.

    Animal-based ingredients are included in higher amounts. For instance, chicken and chicken meals are included as the first two ingredients. However, peas are also added. Peas are high in protein, though it is plant-based and doesn’t include all the amino acids that animal-based protein includes. But

    81% of this food is made from animal ingredients.

    Probiotics are included as well. They improve the digestive health of your cat, which may also help with their skin health as well. Omega fatty acids and antioxidants are also added, which improve your cat’s overall health.

    This canned food is quite expensive, though. Much of this is because of the high-quality animal ingredients. They are expensive, after all.

    Pros
    • High in animal ingredients
    • Probiotics included
    • Omega fatty acids and antioxidants

    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Tends to crumble


    7. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Dry Cat Food

    Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe Dry Cat Food

    First Five Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Pea Protein, Tapioca Starch, Peas
    Protein: 40%
    Fat: 18%

    Usually, Blue Buffalo is counted as a high-quality brand, with Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe Cat Food included on this list. However, this formula generally isn’t worth its price.

    Deboned chicken and chicken meal are both included as the first two ingredients. However, pea protein is included as the third ingredient. This ingredient obviously increases the protein content by quite a bit.

    Therefore, just because the protein content of this food is way up at 40%, much of this protein is coming from the peas – not the meat. Don’t confuse an increased protein content with increased meat. They often don’t mean the same thing.

    Based on the price, the fact that this food doesn’t include higher amounts of meat is disappointing.

    With that said, this formula is completely grain-free. It also doesn’t include any corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives. It does include a blend of antioxidants, which are essential for combating a variety of diseases.

    Pros
    • Grain-free
    • Animal meats as the first ingredient
    • High in protein

    Cons
    • Pea protein as the first ingredient
    • Expensive


    8. American Journey Turkey & Chicken Cat Food

    American Journey Turkey & Chicken Recipe Dry Cat Food

    First Five Ingredients: Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Tapioca Starch, Dried Egg Product
    Protein: 40%
    Fat: 15%

    American Journey Turkey & Chicken Cat Food is pretty decent cat food. However, it isn’t the best on the market.

    The first ingredient is deboned turkey, with turkey meal and chicken meal following close behind. All of these ingredients are high-quality and a good source of protein for your feline. As long as your cat isn’t sensitive to chicken, this food is wonderful.

    This formula is completely grain-free. However, they do include a variety of starchy veggies, which aren’t much better than grain.

    While this food does contain 40% protein, much of this protein is actually from peas. Pea protein is the sixth ingredient – plenty high enough to add a significant amount of plant-based protein to this food. This protein isn’t exactly bad, but it doesn’t include all of the amino acids your cat needs to thrive. For instance, they are quite low in taurine, an essential amino acid for heart health.

    We did like that this formula does not include corn, wheat, soy, or artificial preservatives.

    Pros
    • Grain-free
    • Many different animal proteins
    • Antioxidants included

    Cons
    • Pea protein included
    • Some problems with dust


    9. Purina Beyond Chicken & Egg Dry Cat Food

    Purina Beyond Simply White Meat Chicken & Egg Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

    First Five Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Pea Protein, Pea Starch, Cassava Root Flour
    Protein: 35%
    Fat: 14%

    Purina is a budget brand, though their Beyond line is of higher quality than most of their other foods. You will pay more for the Purina Beyond Chicken & Egg Recipe Dry Cat Food than other foods out there on the market.

    However, this food does include chicken and chicken meal as the first two ingredients. These are high-quality options and much better than the plant-based ingredients other Purina formulas tend to use.

    With that said, these are about the only two high-quality ingredients in this food. For instance, pea protein and pea starch are both included high on the list. The inclusion of both of these ingredients is known as “ingredient splitting.” If the company had listed them as peas instead, they would likely be much higher on the ingredient list.

    This formula doesn’t include any artificial ingredients and is high in nutrition. However, it doesn’t include added omega fatty acids, which Sphynx cats often benefit from.

    Pros
    • Chicken as the first ingredient
    • No artificial ingredients
    • Inexpensive

    Cons
    • Lots of peas included
    • No added omega fatty acids


    10. Rachael Ray Nutrish Chicken & Rice Dy Cat Food

    Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Cat Food

    First Five Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Brown Rice, Brewer’s Rice
    Protein: 34%
    Fat: 14%

    Nutrish is often advertised as a high-quality diet. Therefore, you may consider Rachael Ray Nutrish Chicken & Brown Rice Cat Food to be a solid option for your feline. However, it does include some controversial ingredients.

    Corn gluten meal is the third ingredient, for instance. Basically, this ingredient is the gluten part of the corn removed and concentrated. This part of the corn is especially high in protein, which increases the formula’s protein content by a lot.

    However, this protein is plant-based, making it lower-quality.

    This formula does include chicken and chicken meal as the first two ingredients. These are high-quality options for any feline. However, their protein is overshadowed by the inclusion of protein-heavy veggies and grains.

    With that said, this protein is high in corn, wheat, soy, fillers, artificial flavors, and preservatives. It also provides a complete diet for adult cats with plenty of added nutrients.

    Pros
    • Chicken and chicken meal as the first ingredients
    • No corn, wheat, or soy

    Cons
    • Lots of plant-based protein
    • Lower in protein than other formulas
    • Kibble easily breaks


    11. Hill’s Science Diet Stomach & Skin Dry Cat Food

    Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Chicken & Rice Recipe

    First Five Ingredients: Chicken, Brewers Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Whole Grain Corn, Chicken Fat
    Protein: 29%
    Fat: 17%

    Hill’s Science Diet is one of the more expensive cat foods out there. Their Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dry Cat Food is sometimes recommended for Sphynx cats since it helps support their sensitive skin.

    However, we generally find this food to be lower quality than other options, especially when you consider the price of the food.

    It does include chicken as the first ingredient, which is high in both protein and fat. However, the next ingredient is brewer’s rice, which is a bit controversial. Ingredients like corn gluten meal and whole grain corn are all also included.

    While these ingredients aren’t bad in small amounts, they make up the bulk of this food. When you count all the grain ingredients together, it is very likely that they make up more of the food than the chicken.

    Plus, this food is a bit low in protein at only 29%. Much of this protein is from plants, as well.

    Pros
    • Chicken as the first ingredient
    • Omega fatty acids and vitamin E included

    Cons
    • Low in protein
    • High in plant-based ingredients
    • Lower-quality ingredients throughout

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    Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Sphynx Cat Foods

    When you’re purchasing cat food for your Sphynx, there are several factors you need to keep in mind.

    It is very easy for the cat food search to become quite complicated. After all, there is a lot to think about. However, with some basic background knowledge, you can easily choose the best cat food for your feline.

    While providing our feline companions with high-quality food is paramount, selecting the right food and water bowl is equally important. The modern yet practical design of our Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl combines cat-catered features, like whisker-friendly shallow dishes and slight elevation, with a contemporary style aimed at protecting your floors from messy eating and drinking. The NomNom is entirely dishwasher safe and was thoughtfully created with your cat’s health and well-being in mind. 

    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...

    Below, we’ll discuss everything you need to know to select the perfect food for your feline.

    Sphynx Dietary Needs

    The Sphynx breed does require some special considerations when you’re choosing food.

    Firstly, because these cats don’t have fur, they often burn many more calories trying to stay warm. In fact, a Sphynx’s body temperature often runs hotter than your average feline. Therefore, they will often need more food than most felines.

    In many cases, it is in your best interest to choose a protein-rich food to ensure their diet is calorie-dense.

    Secondly, this breed’s skin is exposed to the outside world more than cats with hair. Therefore, their skin often needs a bit of extra care and consideration.

    Omega fatty acids and vitamin E are both helpful for improving your feline’s skin condition. If your cat has skin irritation or other problems, these ingredients can be paramount for their overall health.

    Thirdly, it’s best to feed sphynx cats multiple times a day. For this reason, it may be best to choose a dry food that can be left out or paired with a scheduled feeder. After all, if you aren’t home, it can be difficult to feed your cat three to four meals a day otherwise.

    sphynx cat in wooden cat tree
    Image By: everytime, Shutterstock

    Macronutrient Content

    Like all cats, Sphynx cats are obligate carnivores. In other words, they evolved to thrive on a diet mostly containing meat. They need to eat plenty of protein and fat, while far fewer carbohydrates are necessary.

    Therefore, you should choose a cat food that is as high as possible in protein and fat. Your cat will thank you for it.

    With that said, the source of the protein does matter. Preferably, you want protein to come from animal sources. Often, this includes meat, but it can also mean things like eggs.

    To cut costs, many companies fill their food with plant-derived proteins, which are often much cheaper than simply adding more meat. These ingredients often include different types of gluten and pea protein. Look for these ingredients carefully in your cat’s food, and be sure to interpret them for what they are – fillers to increase the protein content.

    Furthermore, you shouldn’t misinterpret a high protein content to mean a high meat content. One doesn’t always point to the other.

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    Final Thoughts

    For most Sphynx cats, we highly recommend the Smalls Human Grade Fresh Food. This cat food includes a range of top-quality meat ingredients and is high in protein. Plus, it includes high amounts of omega fatty acids.

    If you need something a bit more budget-friendly, we recommend the Purina ONE Sensitive Skin & Stomach Dry Cat Food. This food does include some lower-quality ingredients, but it is also very inexpensive. Plus, it can help support your cat’s skin health thanks to the added omega fatty acids.

    We hope that this article helped you decide on the perfect cat food for your feline. Our reviews should help give you an idea of what’s available, while our buyer’s guide provides specific information about what your cat likely needs.


    Featured Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock

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