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In 2016, Cat Fanciers’ Association ranked the Sphynx cat as the 8th most popular cat breed due to its unique look and loving temperament. Hairless cats are fun, affectionate, loving and very intelligent. They do take a lot of upkeep and need weekly bathing and skin conditioning treatments.
Genetics and breeding
Sometimes called a Don Sphynx or Russian Hairless, the Donskoy is a bit unusual as hairless cats go. While other cats get their baldness from a recessive gene, this breed owes their coat — or lack thereof — to a dominant gene mutation. Despite their name and hairless appearance, they’re not related to Sphynx cats. This cat has a very striking white coat with unique markings on its head and tail, and it often has deep amber or blue eyes.
Special Considerations for Hairless Cats
The descendants of Bambi, Punkie, and Paloma in Canada, along with the descendants of Epidermis and Dermis in Oregon, became the foundation of today’s Sphynx. However, the degree of hairlessness tends to vary among Peterbald cats. Some are entirely hairless, others have a fine down, while a few sport a suede-like coat.
They Aren’t Really Bald
The World Cat Federation recognized the breed in 1987, and the Donskoy was recognized by the International Cat Association in 2005. Apart from a lack of hair, hairless breeds are ordinary cats, meaning they behave like any other felines. Although the Lykoi is often only partially hairless, this unique cat deserves a place on our list of hairless cat breeds. The Lykoi’s uncanny looks are derived from a naturally occurring gene in the feral cat population. They were bred to look like a werewolf with their hairless face, leathery skin, and gleaming silvery-black coat. One hairless cat breed, the Donskoy or “Don Sphynx,” can even grow a “winter coat” consisting of fine wool on the chest and hairs on the end of the tail, which is shed after the weather warms.
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Cat is losing her fur, and it's not growing back - The Washington Post
Cat is losing her fur, and it's not growing back.
Posted: Tue, 15 Aug 2017 07:00:00 GMT [source]
This is because the lack of hair promotes the buildup of oil and debris on their skin, which can trigger skin problems. They may look a little quirky, but underneath all those wrinkles lie personalities that are affectionate, curious and good-natured. You can find out more by checking out a few hairless cat breeds below.
If cat hair is your archnemesis, then you likely want to steer clear of breeds that are fluffy or shed a lot. Some of the highest shedding felines include the Persian, Maine coon, Norwegian forest cat, Himalayan, Manx, and Cymric. They enjoy the company of their human family members as well as other pets in the home. Sometimes described as “reminiscent of aliens,” the Donskoy has very elastic skin that is hot to the touch. They have pronounced wrinkles on their cheeks, jowls, and under the chin.
Are hairless cats hypoallergenic?
While it gets quite cold in Canada, these hairless cats originated from the country, specifically in Ontario. Eventually, the breed popped up in the United States, and since then, these cats have been popular among cat lovers. While most fanciers have welcomed the Sphynx as unique and exotic, some members of the cat fancy wish that the Sphynx would put on some clothes. Like other breeds that have diverged from the basic design, the Sphynx has drawn some negative attention. In addition, the gene that governs hairlessness can be considered a genetic disorder, since the cat is more susceptible to both heat and cold. On the other hand, fanciers argue that we humans are more or less hairless compared with our closest relatives, and with a dap of sunscreen we manage to get by just fine.
Interesting facts about hairless cat breed
The Sphynx cat is known for their highly social, attention-loving, and inquisitive personality. They are affectionate, needy, and not very independent—so if you adopt a Sphynx cat, be prepared to meet their demands. The Peterbald is a mixed breed cat, created by crossing a Sphynx and an Oriental Shorthair. This Russian-native cat is extremely loyal, according to Catster, and, depending on the individual cat, its level of hair can range from absolutely none to a felt-like coating. You are also expected to buy some sweaters for cats since they have dry skin and can quickly get sunburn.
For the best results, they should start socializing with other animals when they are kittens. If they get too used to living alone and without other animals around, they may resist meeting new animals as time passes. They do need quite a bit of attention, though, and are not suited to a home where the family is gone for many hours during the day.
The Sphynx is sweet-tempered, lively, and amenable to handling. Additionally, hairless cats are susceptible to temperature extremes. Too much time in the sun can result in sunburns, while below-average temperatures are highly uncomfortable for the cat for obvious reasons. The Peterbald is among the most expensive, as well as rarest cat breeds in the world.
The adorably named Elf is another new hairless cat breed that came about in 2004 by crossing a Sphynx and an American Curl. The Elf is very soft to the touch and they usually have some sort of ‘peach fuzz’ all over their body or this may just be isolated to light patches on their ears, nose, paws or tail. This hairless cat breed is quite rare but if you’re lucky enough to find one, they’re very sociable, friendly, affectionate and love nothing more than being the centre of attention. Additionally, they’re big climbers so you’ll need to provide lots of taller surfaces so they can satisfy this need. That’s our guide to how to care for hairless cats and the current breeds that exist!
In either case, they lack long hair to absorb oils from their skin, so they need regular baths. Lykoi cats are warm and loving companions with an almost werewolf-like appearance, according to DailyPaws. They are friendly towards humans and other pets, so if you already have a family of furry friends, the Lykoi breed may be the hairless cat for you. The Donskoy cat is another relatively new Russian breed that’s known by a few different names.
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