Cats with no fur are a sight to behold. First of all, they’re rare, so you won’t see them every day. There are also various recognized breeds, each of which is unique in its own manner. Some hairless cats have delicate peach fuzz, while others are completely smooth.
In fact, some people believe that hairless cats are hypoallergenic, but this isn’t always true. Many hairless breeds develop skin issues, causing them to shed dead skin instead of hair, which is problematic for allergy sufferers.
CHARACTERISTICS OF BREEDS
Hairless breeds are the outcome of genetic abnormalities that have rendered their protective coats obsolete. These kitties require special attention. They frequently struggle to stay warm, necessitating the use of sweaters and other cold-weather clothing. And if your cat spends any time on a window sill, its skin will benefit from sunscreen.
In addition, some hairless cats will require bathing on a regular basis to avoid oil buildup on their skin. Hairless cats are also more active and have a faster metabolism, necessitating a little more high-quality food to meet their energy requirements.
Here is the list of ten hairless cat breeds you might be interested to adopt.
1. BAMBINO
The bambino, whose name means “baby” or “kid” in Italian, is a pint-sized hairless cat. The sphynx and the munchkin have mated to create this diminutive feline. Some may have a small amount of fur on their face, ears, legs, and tail. Others are completely bald.
These cats are gregarious, affectionate, and a lot of fun.
2. DONSKOY
Donskoy, also known as the Russian hairless, Don hairless, or Don Sphynx, is unlike any other sphynx. A recessive genetic mutation causes the sphynx to be hairless. Meanwhile, a dominant gene causes the Donskoy to be hairless. When the weather cools, some Donskoy cats develop a partial winter coat, which they lose once the weather warms up.
3. DWELF
The munchkin, American curl, and sphynx cat breeds were crossed to create the dwelf. The hairless, tiny, and elf-like look of this breed was the result of several mutations, which contributed to health difficulties such as bone disorders. Despite this, these cats are typically extroverted and involved with their families. They enjoy having fun and playing with the humans.
4. ELF
The loving and playful elf cat, a larger variant of the dwelf, is the result of crossing a sphynx with an American curl breed. The smooth skin of these cats has a downy feel to it, similar to peach fuzz. Some have light hair patches on their ears, noses, paws, and tails.
5. LYKOI
The Lykoi, sometimes known as the werewolf cat, is not typically hairless. Some Lykoi cats have the breed’s unique black-gray coat completely covered, while others are mostly hairless. The majority of these cats have no hair on their faces, backs of their ears, legs, or feet.
6. MINSKIN
The Minskin is a hairless, short-legged cat that is a mix between a Munchin and a Sphynx. Later on, the Devon rex and Burmese cat breeds were combined to form this breed. These cats’ bodies are generally covered in a scant, fine fur, especially at the “points” (the nose, ears, legs, and tail). Almost always, their bellies are bald.
7. PETERBALD
The Peterbald is a graceful feline with long limbs and prominent features. It was created by crossing the Donskoy and Oriental shorthair breeds. Peterbalds are not all born hairless. Some kittens have a downy coat that they either shed or keep for the rest of their lives.
A Peterbald may be born with a complete coat, similar to that of a conventional cat.
8. SPHYNX
The sphynx is the most well-known hairless cat breed, having emerged in Canada in the 1960s. The sphynx was formed through crossbreeding with shorthair cats to establish a healthy, broad gene pool, as a result of a naturally occurring recessive genetic mutation. The face, legs, and tail of some Sphynx cats have a downy coat or patches of fur.
9. SPHYNX HYBRIDS
Sphynx cats with hairless mutations are still being used by breeders to create novel hybrids. The Sphynxiebob, for example, is a hybrid between a sphynx and an American bobtail that first appeared in 2015. It resembles the sphynx in appearance, however, it is either tailless or has a short, bobbed tail.
Despite the fact that most hybrids aren’t officially recognized breeds, they help to expand the number of hairless cats available.
10. UKRAINIAN LEVKOY
The Ukrainian Levkoy has a striking appearance with its hairless body and inward-folding ears. The Donskoy and Scottish fold cat breeds were crossed to create these felines. They’re usually amiable, intelligent, and playful, and many of them get along with other animals.
If you’re allergic to cat hair, you’ll want to avoid breeds that are fluffy or shed a lot. The Persian, Mainecoon, Norwegian forest cat, Himalayan, Manx, and Cymric are among the most shedding felines.
Do you prefer hairless or haired cats?