TOP 7 breeds of hairless cats

Cats without hair are renowned for their unusual looks and lively dispositions. These furry felines can nevertheless be cuddly and loving companions. They have a striking appearance that many cat lovers find fascinating due to their smooth, sleek skin.

Although some people might believe that cats without hair need less maintenance, in order to keep their skin healthy, they actually need extra attention. There are specific duties associated with having a hairless cat, such as giving it regular baths and providing sun protection. Nonetheless, their affectionate disposition and hypoallergenic characteristics frequently justify the additional work.

The top 7 hairless cat breeds, each with unique traits, will be discussed in this article. There is a breed of cat for everyone, regardless of your cat-related interests, be it a devoted friend or simply an interest in these unusual animals.

Breed	Description
Sphynx	Known for their wrinkled skin and playful nature, Sphynx cats are affectionate and social.
Bambino	A mix of Sphynx and Munchkin, Bambinos have short legs and hairless bodies, making them unique and friendly.
Peterbald	Elegant and slim, Peterbalds are active and enjoy being around people.
Don Sphynx	Native to Russia, these cats are known for their strong bodies and loyal personalities.
Elf Cat	A rare breed with curled ears and a loving, playful disposition.
Donskoy	Very similar to the Don Sphynx, Donskoys are loyal, intelligent, and enjoy attention.
Lykoi	Known as the "werewolf cat," they have a unique patchy coat and are energetic and curious.

History of the appearance of hairless cats

Over several centuries and in a range of cat litters, the hairlessness gene emerged as a result of mutations. This phenomenon was seen as an anomaly rather than being associated with any particular nation or breed.

Francis Simpson writes of a hairless cat and a female cat that Mr. Shinnick purchased from the Aztec Indians near New Mexico. The peculiar pets’ owner described their specific traits, even though he was unable to carry on their family tree. These occurrences sparked new hypotheses and more thorough investigation.

Over time, South American animals were associated with Mexican cats. This was first noted in the writings of German scientist Jozan Rudolf Renger in 1830. He proposed that the wool shortage was caused by a sudden shift in climate and that they had been brought over from Europe in the fifteenth century.

Cats without hair started to appear from Siamese in France in the middle of the 20th century, but their crossing also produced no useful offspring. Hence, a 1966-born cat from Canada is regarded as the breed’s progenitor.

His offspring eventually started to be referred to as sphinxes, for which there are numerous theories. Some think this was because it attempted to convey an unusual aura and extraterrestrial appearance, and it looked like the sculpture of the same name. Others are certain that hairless cats are mentioned in Egyptian literature, and that ancient temple sculptures and wall paintings were inspired by this elegant image.

Bald cats are "aliens" in the animal kingdom, with a distinct grace and beauty all their own. We suggest reading an article about some of the most exquisite cat breeds in existence, both short- and long-haired, and naturally hairless.

Bald cat breeds

Hairless cats eventually gained official recognition and a set of standards. Thanks to their ability to breed, new varieties of Sphynxes, including Canadian, Donskoy, and Petersburg varieties, as well as Ukrainian Levkoy, Elf, Bambino, and Hawaiian hairless (Kohona), are now available. Not only do they all look different from one another, but they also have different hairlessness genes that can be recessive or dominant.

For instance, Canadians have skin that feels more like soft velvet and has small hairs, whereas Hawaiians have no hair follicles, giving their skin the appearance of wax.

Description and standards of breeds

Official recognition was granted to three breeds of sphinxes: Canadian, Donskoy, and Peterbald. For each of them, standards were developed, and to support them, specialized organizations were established. The International Sphynx Fanciers and Breeders Association (ISBFA), which is registered in the USA, is the biggest of them.

These cats typically have the following appearances:

• medium-sized body with unusual grace, sophistication and developed muscles;
• almost complete absence of hair, too short and feels like velvet;
• the location of the folds on the skin suggests the species of the animal;
• eyebrows, whiskers or woolly tassels on the tail, paws and ears are possible.

Different cats have different head and body outlines, which makes it possible for felinologists to tell one representative from another with accuracy. What unites them all, however, is their exceptional temperament and unwavering loyalty to their owner—qualities that are unique to dogs.

Colors

These animals exhibit skin pigmentation, which can come in any color:

• solid black, white, red, gray-blue, brown, pinkish or lilac;
• two-color gray with white or lilac, black with chocolate;
• tabby black, red, cream, blue, lavender, cream;
• tortoiseshell black or brown with red spots, or blue-cream, lilac-cream;
• van, harlequin, bicolor with clearly defined boundaries of the main color and white;
• Siamese colorpoint of different shades.

Sphinxes lack smoky color due to hair loss, but this is more than made up for by their diversity. Every cat has skin patterns that are unique to them. Furthermore, sunbathing in moderation will intensify and brighten the colors.

TOP-10 breeds of hairless cats

There are currently nine known species of hairless cats, only three of which—the Donskoy, Canadian Sphynx, and Kohona—came about naturally. They developed as a consequence of spontaneous mutation, for which there are various genes involved in each instance.

By crossing these delegates with additional ones, the following could be obtained:

• Peterbald from Donskoy and Oriental;
• Bambino from Canadian and Munchkin;
• Levkoy from Donchak and lop-eared Scottish Fold;
• Minskina from Munchkin, Canadian, Devon Rex and Burmese;
• Elfa from American Curl, and Dwelfa with the addition of the Munchkin gene.

Canadian Sphynx

The Canadian Sphynx enjoys the highest level of popularity among amateurs and felinological organizations worldwide.

It can be described in the following ways:

• thick skin is dense and soft to the touch, sometimes has fluff;
• folds on the forehead, neck, paws slightly smooth out with age;
• muscular pear-shaped body with thin paws;
• whip-like long tail curled in a semicircle;
• wedge-shaped head with prominent cheekbones;
• large rounded ears;
• expressive eyes resemble lemons in outline.

The Canadian is regarded as one of the most exquisite examples of the hairless breed and is frequently referred to as the "moon cat" due to its otherworldly appearance.

Read the article on Canadian Sphynxes as well.

Don Sphynx

The Rostov-on-Don catsFor a while, Don were referred to as "Russian hairless." The diversity of hair types is one characteristic that sets them apart:

• its complete absence;
• thin fluff "flock" (like a peach), disappearing by two years;
• more noticeable hairs "velour" 2-3 mm long;
• short-haired "brush" with rare hard hairs.

They can also be recognized by their medium-sized bodies, which have folds on the legs, forehead, groin, and neck. The short wedge-shaped head has large, slightly pointed ears, serious almond-shaped eyes, and expressive cheekbones.

Peterbald

This St. Petersburg cat has soft suede skin and undercoat, and its physique is reminiscent of an elegant Oriental. As a result, it is regarded as the most refined hairless representative and is a member of the oriental cat species.

The lean body is long and thin with long limbs, developed muscles, fine bones, and a proud stance. The muzzle is high cheekboned, narrow, and has large ears and slanted green or blue eyes. The scalp is where folds are most common, and while the fur can have various types, such as Donchaks, it is typically dark in color.

Ukrainian Levkoy

Through crossing, a hairless, lop-eared kitten was acquired in Kiev. Its peculiar features include a wedge-shaped head with five faces, an elongated neck, slanting green eyes, and, most strikingly, bent ears that resemble flowers and are held in a left-handed manner, giving rise to the name.

Such a cat has a slender body and limbs and is graceful and flexible. Small fluff and moderately deep folds on the head, neck, and stomach are acceptable.

See the article on Levkoys from Ukraine for more information.

Did you know, by the way, that Levkoys can become aggressive if they don’t receive enough attention? Visit our website, Mr. Cat, to learn more about this and other potentially evil cat breeds.

Elf

The Elf, in contrast to the previous representative, has round ears that are bent backward rather than forward, giving it a mythological appearance. Wool tufts on the paws of cashmere folded skin without hair are possible.

The body type is typical of cats without hair. The almond-colored eyes are slanted, and the wedge-shaped head is devoid of whiskers.

There are only a few catteries in North America that have this cat because it was bred in 2006 and has not yet gained popularity.

He and Dwelf turned out to be quite similar, with traits of the Munchkin with short legs shared in the same gene pool. Its appearance is very funny and cute due to its short limbs, ears bent to the back of the head, and nearly total lack of fur. However, this breed is still in its experimental stages as it was only introduced in 2009.

Bambino

A bambino that has short legs and a long body is very similar to a dachshund. The name comes from the slightly childlike expression that a large lemon-shaped eye and rounded muzzle take on. Like all hairless cats, the ears are big and taper down slightly at the tips. There is no fur on the skin; instead, it is entirely covered in gentle folds.

These cats are tiny on their own, weighing no more than 4 kg. In addition, they are surprisingly nimble and playful despite their peculiarity.

Minskine

Minskine is a recognized experimental variety that shares a striking resemblance in appearance with Bambino. As a result, most experts concur that it is merely an analog of what was previously acquired. Its short fur, which is somewhat longer around the ears, paws, tail, and muzzle, is the only characteristic that sets it apart. It’s always just the belly that stays bald.

Kohona

One of the rare cats whose hairlessness gene was acquired naturally is the Hawaiian hairless cat. Rubber is another name for it because of the unique way that its skin feels—like wax. You can see for yourself what is not shown in the pictures.

The cat has no fur at all and no hair follicles in it because of a mutation. It cannot, therefore, have eyebrows, whiskers, or other vegetation. The paws, neck, forehead, and cheeks all have highly expressive folds. eyes the shape of almonds.

Mr. Cat recommends: character traits of bald cats

Every hairless cat has a friendly nature and a charming personality. Whether this was a product of research or a natural tendency, many people associate these kinds of pets mainly with dogs, who are consistently dependable, loving, and caring. They grow attached to their owner very quickly, struggle with long distances or changes in environment, and are perpetually alone.

These are intelligent, curious, and gregarious cats. Some are easy to train and have the ability to carry small objects. They are highly perceptive of human speech and the tone at which their owners converse with them. They are fond of affection and reciprocate it.

When small children or other animals are present in the home, the kindness of pets will come in handy. They are not aggressive, so they won’t hurt kids and they won’t bite or scratch them. Find out which cat breeds are best for children.

Additionally, some people believe they improve people’s mental and physical health.

Care and maintenance

These unique animals will need more self-care, and their hairless state does not make their owners’ lives any simpler. In other words, you should be ready for your pet to frequently perspire, release a brownish coating, sunbathe during the summer, and freeze during the winter.

The fundamental guidelines for their upkeep are related to this:

• several times a week, wash off the specific brown coating that accumulates near the ears, claws and paw pads with a special lotion;
• regularly clean the eyes and ears with a cotton pad or cotton swabs;
• at least once every 2 weeks, bathe using shampoos or baby products intended for this purpose, and dry thoroughly with a soft towel;
• trim the claws with a claw cutter to avoid injury to the animals themselves.

Taking good care of your pets can result in the most devoted and affectionate family members.

Health and allergies

Hairless cats are more prone to dermatitis and colds due to their lack of hair. You should abide by the following advice to prevent this:

• it is necessary to maintain a temperature of 20-25 ° C in an apartment or house, since their body temperature reaches 40-42 degrees;
• in the summer, monitor the time spent in the sun to prevent burns or heat stroke;
• ensure the absence of drafts, special clothing for the winter period, and limit access to hot batteries, heaters;
• regularly perform hygiene procedures, while checking the ears for ticks, eyes for signs of lacrimation and eversion of the eyelids;
• organize the diet to prevent obesity and stomach problems;
• vaccinate according to the vaccination calendar at 8 weeks, and annually after a year.

The pet will live for ten to seventeen years if you follow these recommendations. Some lived to be 20 years old, and others even longer.

Often, hairless cats are chosen by allergy sufferers, asthmatics and people with similar problems. It is important to remember that there are no hypoallergenic cats among them, although they tried to breed them. As scientists have established, in 80% of cases, an allergic reaction is provoked by the Fel D1 protein, which is produced in the sebaceous glands of cats of all breeds. It is contained in cat saliva, urine, keratinized skin cells, and gets on the fur during washing. Therefore, if a person is allergic not to fur, but to this protein, then the best way to combat the disease is to limit contact with the animal. Read the article about hypoallergenic cats.

Nutrition

Hairless cats need twice as much energy to regulate their body temperature because they have no fur. They therefore require far more substantial food than typical pets do.

The following needs should be considered when creating a balanced diet:

• Special granules of the super premium or holistic class should not contain many vitamins. Active substances necessary for the growth and maintenance of the fur can only harm hairless beauties. Read the review of the best food for cats and kittens.
• Any food should have a large amount of fats necessary to maintain body temperature. And only proteins and carbohydrates remain at a normal level. So before you buy ready-made food for kittens, you should carefully read its description.
• Natural food is selected taking into account all the requirements, and contains raw beef or poultry, boiled meat, liver and vegetables, fermented milk products. They can be mixed into liquid food, made into pate or given in pure form.

Breeds of cats without hair have a distinctive appearance and captivating personality that makes them stand out from other feline friends. They are a wonderful option for people looking for a devoted, loving pet because of their reputation for being affectionate and having a close relationship with their owners.

Their lively and amiable nature more than makes up for the fact that they might need a little more attention, particularly when it comes to skin care and temperature regulation. These cats frequently exhibit a strong bond with their humans and thrive on attention. They also love being a part of the family.

Any one of the top 7 hairless cat breeds could be the ideal fit for your home if you’re searching for a breed that stands out in terms of appearance and personality. They are a fantastic addition to any cat lover’s life because of their charm, intelligence, and loving disposition.

For pet owners seeking an eye-catching, hypoallergenic, and low-shedding companion, hairless cats are an intriguing and unusual option. The top 7 hairless cat breeds will be discussed in this article; each has a unique personality, set of traits, and maintenance requirements. These breeds, which range from the well-known Sphynx to the less well-known Peterbald, provide an interesting blend of playfulness, affection, and intelligence, which makes them perfect for people looking to form a unique bond with their feline companion.

Video on the topic

The best breeds of hairless cats