Are Sphynx Cats Dumb – Measuring Their Intelligence

Sphynx cats look wise beyond their years like they carry the secrets to the universe, and if they could speak, Yoda’s voice would come out. But if you’ve ever noticed your Sphynx cat display weird, embarrassing, or just straight-up dumb actions, you may wonder if they’re as wise as they look.

Are Sphynx cats dumb?

Sphynx cats are not dumb. There’s nothing to indicate that Sphynx cats are any more or less intelligent than other breeds of cats. However, there are undoubtedly many things that make these wrinkly felines unique.

Read on to see just how smart (or not) your Sphynx cat may be.

How smart are Sphynx cats

Sphynx cats are just as intelligent as other breeds of cats. This means that they may be able to be trained to do tricks and perform certain acts on command. Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot of research out there on the overall intelligence of Sphynx cats compared to other breeds. But anecdotal stories and experiences seem to show that these unique felines are incredibly affectionate, intelligent, and devoted pets.

These cats can be so devoted that they can almost become clingy. This could make them especially easy to train because they are so eager to please their owner. It is hard to say whether that ability to learn tricks is due to their intelligence or simply because they want to make people happy.

What makes Sphynx cats unique

Sphynx cats are unique for more than just their hairless, wrinkly appearance and their large eyes. Hairlessness leads to additional considerations for care. You will need to make sure you are bathing these cats at least once a week, ideally with a medicated shampoo that will help keep their skin healthy. You will also need to stay on top of clipping their nails and keeping those big ears clean and free of debris.

They will also need a lot of warm spots to cuddle up. Because they don’t have any fur, they need extra care to stay cozy. While it may be tempting to get them sweaters, you’ll want to be careful with how much (or if) you dress them. If you notice them behaving strangely when you put on the clothes (like if they tip over, freeze in place, or seem to become super withdrawn), then it’s time to take the clothes off. The little bit of warmth they get isn’t worth the discomfort it causes them.

Can I train my Sphynx

Yes, you can work on training your Sphynx to do tricks. While we typically associate training with dogs, cats are just as able to learn how to do things on command (they may be less interested in doing it – they get labeled as aloof for a reason, after all). If you’re interested in training your Sphynx, there are a few things you’ll want to try.

First, you can try a simple game of fetch. Take their favorite toy and throw it across the room. Once they’ve gotten the toy, shake some treats, so they come back to you. If they don’t bring the toy, immediately hide the treats, grab the toy yourself, and try again. Sometimes cats will do this without being trained, in which case you should give them a lot of praise when they do it. This will help reinforce the behavior.

You can even try to teach your cat how to sit. This training is similar to how you would train a dog (or how you would train a cat to play fetch). Sometimes buying a clicker can help with this training process because cats can associate the noise better than the words you’re using. 

Regardless of what you’re trying to train your cat to do, you’ll want to make sure you keep the training sessions short. Cats are very independent and only like to do things when and how they want to. Their attention span is much shorter than ours (or maybe they get bored more easily). You’ll also want to make sure you’re only focusing on one behavior or trick at a time; otherwise, your cat may end up confused and learning nothing, ultimately wasting your time. 

Don’t be discouraged if your cat doesn’t learn something on the first try. If you keep at it, likely, they’ll eventually pick it up. Then it’s just a matter of consistently reinforcing that behavior until it becomes second nature to them. Even if they never learn the trick, it can be a fun way to play with and engage your cat.

When should I be concerned about my cat being dumb

If your cat seems to be confused or getting into situations he can’t get out of on his own, it may be time to be concerned. This could signify that he is experiencing the loss of one or more of his senses, which makes it difficult for him to understand where he is. While some of this happens with old age, sometimes, there can be an underlying cause associated with the change. It is always best to consult your veterinarian as soon as you notice the behavior change, even if it may not seem like a big deal at the time.

If your cat is otherwise behaving normally and doesn’t seem to have any other symptoms, then it’s likely he has too much energy and is using it in strange ways. For example, some cats suddenly become convinced that they can climb walls. Why? Who knows. But they’re certainly determined to try. Maybe they think they see a tiny bug and are on a quest to get it. It can be funny to watch them try and fail over and over again to get any grip on the wall, but it’s not necessarily anything to worry about (unless you just painted, that is). You can find endless videos of cats being weirdos – that’s basically what the internet was created for. A lot of these cats are otherwise normal; they just had a dumb moment. (And, let’s be fair, some cats seem to have more of those than others.)

Things to keep in mind

As with all things that have to do with our fuzzy (or, in this case, fuzzy-less) feline friends, there is a lot of behavior that can seem more concerning than it is. However, you should never hesitate to reach out to your veterinarian if you have any questions about specific behaviors your cat displays, especially if it is a sudden change or seems to be getting worse.