Dr. Cauthen tells Parade Pets, “There are several types of hairless cats, with the Sphynx and the Donskoy being the most common two.” She continues, “Other varieties include breeding a Sphynx with a Munchkin, resulting in a Bambino, or breeding a Donskoy with a Scottish Fold, resulting in the Ukrainian Levkoy.”
What are other characteristics of hairless cats?
Although the most distinctive feature of this breed of cat is obvious from its name, there are other traits that can help you determine whether or not these cats are a good fit for your home and, if so, which particular breed best suits your lifestyle. While some of these hairless breeds can grow to weigh up to 14 pounds, others are smaller cats that are ideal for apartment living, like a Devon Rex. While every breed is different in appearance, nearly all of them have lean, muscular bodies and either pointed or curled ears. It’s also important to note that some of the cats on this list have sparse hair, so you can choose a kitten that has some fur and is less allergen-prone.
Are hairless cats hypoallergenic?
Although they lack the gorgeous fur of some cat breeds, such as Black cats, hairless cats are nonetheless quite adorable and sometimes receive less attention than other cat breeds. Furthermore, it is simpler for allergy-stricken cat owners to coexist with their new pet due to their shorter coats or lack of fur. Cat allergies are caused by an allergen that the cats create when they lick their fur, not by the hair of the cats. Hairless cats lick their fur less and shed less because they have less hair, if any. Though no cat is completely hypoallergenic, they are more so than, say, a Ragamuffin or Persian cat.
Breed Characteristics
Breeds without hair are the outcome of genetic mutations that have eliminated their fur, which served as protection. These cats need specific care. They frequently struggle to stay warm and need sweaters and other cold-weather clothing. Additionally, your cat’s skin needs sunscreen if they spend any time lying outside on a window sill. Some hairless cats will also require routine baths to avoid greasy skin buildup. In addition to having a faster metabolism and being more active, hairless cats frequently need high-quality food to meet their energy needs.
Consider one of these ten breeds if you’d like to adopt a hairless cat.
- The sphynx, which originated in Canada in the 1960s, is the most well-known breed of hairless cats. Chaloemphon Wanitcharoentham/EyeEm/Getty s The sphynx was developed through crossbreeding with shorthair cats, which resulted from a naturally occurring recessive genetic mutation. This created a broad, healthy gene pool. Certain Sphynx cats have hair patches or a downy coat, usually on the tail, legs, and face. Breed Overview: 8 to 10 inches in height, 10 to 12 pounds in weight, loving and gregarious temperament, hairless, wrinkled head, lean build, high energy level, 8 to 14 years life span
- 02 of 10 Bambino Peterpancake/Getty Images The bambino, which means “baby” or “child” in Italian, is a small, hairless cat. This small cat is a hybrid of the munchkin and the sphynx. While some animals have fur on their face, ears, legs, and tail, others have no hair at all. Breed Overview: 6 to 8 inches in height; 5 to 9 pounds in weight; gregarious, loving, and playful temperament; medium energy level; stocky build; large ears; hairless or light fuzz; life span of up to 12 years
- Donskoy Yolya/Getty s, sometimes referred to as the Russian hairless, Don hairless, or Don sphynx, is distinct from the sphynx. The sphynx gets their hairlessness from a recessive genetic mutation. Meanwhile, the Donskoy gets their hairlessness from a dominant gene. It’s interesting to note that some Donskoy cats grow a partial winter coat in the fall and then lose it in the spring when the weather warms up. Breed Overview: 10 to 12 inches in height, 7 to 15 pounds in weight, playfulness, curiosity, intelligence, medium energy level, wrinkles around the cheeks, muscular body, and 12- to 15-year life span
- Page 4 of 10 Dwelf Thomas Leirikh / Getty’s The dwelf is a crossbreed of the American curl, munchkin, and sphynx cat breeds. This breed’s compact, hairless, elf-like appearance was the result of multiple mutations that also caused skeletal issues and other health problems. However, these cats typically have a close relationship with their families. Breed Overview: 6 to 7 inches in height, 4 to 9 pounds in weight, playful and gregarious temperament, and high energy level. Physical characteristics include hairlessness or light fuzz, short whiskers and eyebrows, short legs, and curled ears. Life span is approximately 12 years. Continue to 5 of 10 below.
- 05 of 10 Elf R. Tsubin / Getty s The amiable and lively elf cat, a bigger version of the dwelf, is what results from crossing a sphynx and an American curl. These cats usually have soft skin that feels downy, like peach fuzz. Some have sparse hair covering their nose, paws, tail, or ears. Breed Overview: 8 to 10 inches in height, 10 to 15 pounds in weight, intelligent and loving temperament, medium energy level, hairless body, prominent cheek bones, wrinkled skin, and curled ears. Life span: 8 to 14 years.
- 06 of 10 Lykoi / Angela Emanuelsson / EyeEm / Getty s The lykoi, also referred to as the werewolf cat, isn’t always hairless. While some lykoi cats are mostly hairless, others have the breed’s characteristic black-gray coat covering them completely. The majority of these cats are hairless on the backs of their ears, legs, and feet, as well as around their faces. Overview of the Breed: Height: 8 to 10 inches; Weight: 4 to 7 pounds; Playfulness and affectionate temperament; High energy level; Physical characteristics: sparse hair on the face and legs, short tail, black-gray coat; Life Span: 15 to 20 years
- 07 of 10 Paulmcsorley/Wikimedia Commons/Minskin/CC BY-SA 3 0 A short-legged, hairless cat called a minskin was created by crossing a sphynx with a munchin. These cats’ bodies frequently have fine, sparse fur, particularly in the “points” (tail, nose, ears, and legs). Their bellies are almost always hairless. Breed Overview: Physical characteristics: short legs; sparse hair only on the points (ears, nose, legs, tail); Height: 7 to 8 inches; Weight: 4 to 6 pounds; Personality/Temperament: Affectionate, smart, athletic; Energy Level: High
- Page 8 of 10: Peterbald GlobalP/Getty Images The Peterbald is a graceful cat with long limbs and striking features. They are descended from a Donskoy and Oriental shorthair hybrid. Not all Peterbalds are born hairless. Certain kittens have a downy, fine coat that they either never shed or keep their entire lives. Sometimes a Peterbald, like a regular cat, is born with a full coat. Breed Overview: 8 to 10 inches tall, 6 to 10 pounds heavy, affectionate, intelligent, gregarious, medium energy level. Physical attributes include hairless or short fuzz eyes, large, pointed ears, and almond-shaped eyes. Life span is up to 15 years. Continue to 9 of 10 below.
- 09 of 10 Sphynx Hybrids / Linnea Sandbakk / Unsplash Breeders are still using the sphynx cats’ hairless mutation to create new hybrids. For example, the sphynxiebob, which debuted in 2015, is a hybrid of a sphynx and an American bobtail. Although it resembles the sphynx almost exactly, it is either tailless or has a short, bobbed tail. While most hybrids aren’t recognized as official breeds, they increase the variety of hairless cats available. Breed Overview: 8 to 10 inches in height, 10 to 12 pounds in weight, and hairless, wrinkled head with bobtail (sphynxiebob) characteristics
- 10 of 10 Ukrainian Levkoy / Pavlo Vakhrushev / Getty s The Ukrainian levkoy has an unusual appearance due to its hairless body and inward-folding ears. The Donskoy and Scottish fold cat breeds were crossed to create these cats. Many can even get along well with other pets. Breed Overview: 7 to 10 inches in height; 8 to 12 pounds in weight; friendly, intelligent, and playful temperament; medium energy level; physical characteristics such as hairlessness or light fuzz, inward-folding ears, and a slender, long body; life span of approximately 12 years
FAQ
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