Observing cats without fur is intriguing. First of all, they are rare, therefore you don’t see them every day. Other recognized breeds exist as well, and each one is distinctive in some way. Others have extremely fine peach fuzz, while some hairless cats are completely smooth to the touch.
Tip
Although it’s a popular misunderstanding, not all hairless cats are hypoallergenic. On a cat’s skin or in cat saliva, the majority of cat allergens that trigger reactions are normally present. Numerous hairless breeds experience skin problems, which causes them to slough off dead skin instead of hair—a concern for people with allergies.
Features particular to a breed
Hairless breeds are those that, due to genetic anomalies, have lost their protective coats. These cats need to receive extra care. In order to stay warm, they frequently struggle, demanding sweaters and other winter apparel. Additionally, if your cat spends any time relaxing on a window sill, it needs sunscreen on its skin. To prevent oil buildup on the skin, routine washing is also necessary for some hairless cats. Hairless cats frequently need a little bit more high-quality food to meet their energy needs because they are more active and have a higher metabolism.
Here are 10 breeds to consider if you’re looking to adopt a hairless cat.
- Bambino
The bambino, which is Italian for “baby” or “child,” is a little, hairless cat, as implied by its name. Actually, this tiny cat is a cross between a sphynx and a munchkin. On rare occasions, a Peterbald might be born with a full coat, just like a typical cat. Some individuals even have no hair at all. These felines are often warm, affectionate, and quite playful.
Breed Overview
- HEIGHT: 7 to 8 inches
- WEIGHT: 5 to 9 pounds
- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Hairless or light fuzz; stocky body; large ears
- Donskoy
The Donskoy, also known as the Russian hairless, Don hairless, or Don sphynx, differs noticeably from the sphynx. The absence of hair on the sphynx is due to a hereditary genetic anomaly. The Donskoy, on the other hand, are hairless due to a dominant gene. Although it almost identically resembles the sphynx, it either lacks a tail or has a short, bobbed tail.
Breed Overview
- HEIGHT: 10 to 12 inches
- WEIGHT: 7 to 15 pounds
- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Hairless; wrinkles around cheeks; muscular body
- Dwelf
The sphynx, munchkin, and american curl cat breeds were combined to create the dwelf. The numerous mutations that led to this breed’s hairlessness, diminutive size, and elflike appearance also had negative health effects on the skeleton and other areas. These cats are often extroverted and social with their family, too. They like to play.
Breed Overview
- HEIGHT: 6 to 7 inches
- WEIGHT: 4 to 9 pounds
- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Hairless or light fuzz; short or absent whiskers and eyebrows; short legs; curled ears
- Elf
The elf cat, a larger variation of the dwelf, is a result of the mating of the sphynx and the American curl cat breed. These cats frequently have downy, velvety skin that looks like peach fuzz. Some animals have sparse hair patches covering their ears, noses, feet, or tails.
Breed Overview
- HEIGHT: 8 to 10 inches
- WEIGHT: 10 to 15 pounds
- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Hairless; muscular body; prominent cheek bones; wrinkled skin; curled ears
- Lykoi
The lykoi, sometimes known as the werewolf cat, occasionally possesses hair. Some lykoi cats have the distinctive black-gray coat that distinguishes the breed, but others are largely hairless. These cats generally have hairless legs, feet, areas around their faces, ears, and ears’ backs.
Breed Overview
- HEIGHT: 8 to 10 inches
- WEIGHT: 4 to 7 pounds
- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Partially hairless (sparse on face and legs); short tail; black-gray coat
- Minskin
The minskin is a short-legged, hairless cat that was produced by crossing a munchin and a sphynx. Later, the Devon rex and Burmese cat variations included this breed. These cats usually have thin, fine fur on their bodies, especially at the “points” (the nose, ears, legs, and tail). Their bellies are typically hairless.
Breed Overview
- HEIGHT: 7 to 8 inches
- WEIGHT: 4 to 6 pounds
- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Short legs; sparse hair only on the points (ears, nose, legs, tail)
- Peterbald
A beautiful cat with angular features and long limbs, the Peterbald. It is the offspring of a cross between Donskoy and Oriental shorthair. Not all Peterbalds are born hairless. A fragile, downy coat is seen on certain kittens, which they either lose or keep for the rest of their lives. On their noses, ears, legs, and tails, most animals have a little quantity of fur.
Breed Overview
- HEIGHT: 8 to 10 inches
- WEIGHT: 6 to 10 pounds
- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Hairless or short fuzz; almond-shaped eyes; large, pointed ears
- Sphynx
The most well-known breed of hairless cat is the sphynx, which was created in Canada in the 1960s. To create a strong, diverse gene pool, shorthair cats were crossed with other species to create the sphynx. It is a hereditary characteristic with a naturally occurring recessive gene. Some sphynx cats have downy coats or fur patches, mainly on the face, legs, and tail.
Breed Overview
- HEIGHT: 8 to 10 inches
- WEIGHT: 10 to 12 pounds
- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Hairless; wrinkled head; lean build
- Fusions of sphynx
Breeders continue to develop unique hybrids using the hairless gene of the sphynx cat. For example, the “sphynxiebob” from 2015 is actually a cross between a sphynx and an American bobtail. It’s interesting to notice that some Donskoy cats develop a thin winter coat as the temperature drops, which they then shed when it gets warmer. Hybrids increase the variety of hairless cats even though the bulk of them aren’t recognized breeds.
Breed Overview
- HEIGHT: 8 to 10 inches
- WEIGHT: 10 to 12 pounds
- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Hairless; wrinkled head; bobtail (sphynxiebob)
- The Ukrainian Levkoy
The body of the Ukrainian levkoy is totally hairless, and its ears curl inward, giving it a peculiar appearance. These cats were created through the breeding of Donskoy with Scottish fold cats. They usually exhibit great levels of sociability, intelligence, and vigor, and many even get along with other animals.
Breed Overview
- HEIGHT: 7 to 10 inches
- WEIGHT: 8 to 12 pounds
- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Hairless or light fuzz; inward-folding ears; slender, long body
Species to Avoid
If cat hair is your enemy, you should probably stay away from fluffy or heavily haired breeds. The cats that shed the most are the Persian, Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest Cat, Himalayan, Manx, and Cymric.
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