Don Hairless

The Look of a Don Hairless

The ideal Don Hairless is medium-sized and has large ears. The cat is muscular, has almond-shaped eyes and long, webbed toes. They have an elegant appearance and strong boning. They come in a variety of colors.

Traits

• Also known as Don Sphinx and Donskoy
• Completely hairless
• Intelligent and active
• Gentle

Ideal Human Companion

• Experienced cat owners
• Families with children
• Singles with other pets
• People who want an indoor-only cat

What They Are Like to Live With

Affectionate and interactive with their owners, they are active and need a lot of attention.

Although they don’t have fur, they still need a lot of grooming to keep their skin healthy. They must be wiped down daily with a damp cloth to remove sweat.

Things You Should Know

Don Hairless need frequent grooming to keep their skin healthy. Overbathing can cause their skin to become oily.

Prone to sunburn, they should be kept indoors. The breed becomes cold easily and should be protected from draughts.

History

The Don Hairless was developed in Russia in 1987 when a breeder named Irina Kovalyova discovered a hairless cat in the city of Roston-on-Don. Kovalyova discovered that the hairless cat she had found was not related to the Sphinx, but resulted from a different genetic mutation.

The cat, named Vayra, was bred to Domestic Shorthairs and European Shorthairs to create kittens that carried the dominant hairless gene.

In 2005, the breed was recognized as the Donskoy in the U.S. by The International Cat Registry (TICA.)

Top Photograph: photo by Volchanskiy/Getty Images