9 Hairless Cat Breeds: Sphynx, Elf, and More

9 Most Popular Hairless Cat Breeds

9 Most Popular Hairless Cat Breeds

Are you thinking of adding a new feline friend to your family? If so, you may want to consider one of the many hairless cat breeds.

Hairless cats are the perfect pet for anyone looking for a cuddle companion. Hairless cats are often very affectionate and thrive on human companionship.

These unique animals are virtually shedding-free, meaning that you’ll never have to deal with hairballs or stray hairs on your furniture.

Here’s a look at some of the most popular hairless cat breeds.

Are Hairless Cats Hypoallergenic?

Despite popular belief, hairless cats are not completely hypoallergenic. Most people with cat allergies are actually allergic to cat saliva and dander, not their hair.

Some allergy sufferers do report they react less to hairless cats. This may be because hairless cats are bathed more regularly and the saliva and dander are removed from their skin.

Caring for Hairless Cats

Hairless cats are affectionate and make great cuddle companions, but be prepared to dedicate a lot of time to their care. They are very high maintenance, compared to other breeds.

Hairless cats require a lot of attention and can be quite needy. They do not handle being left alone for long periods of time well, so it is important to provide them with other cats or pets to interact with if you will be gone for several hours every day.

Their lack of fur makes their skin more vulnerable to the weather and means they have trouble maintaining their body temperature. They get cold very easily and need to wear jumpers in winter.

They are prone to sunburn and overheating in summer so they need to be kept cool and in the shade. For these reasons, it is best that your hairless cat lives indoors.

Grooming hairless cats involves regular baths to remove the build-up of oils on their skin. If not cleaned off, these oils can cause skin irritations. They are also prone to ear infections and need their ears regularly cleaned out.

In addition to regular grooming, hairless cats need their own space to play and explore.

That’s why Coops and Cages offers a variety of cat enclosures and scratching posts designed specifically for cats.

Our scratching posts are sturdy and have multiple levels, so your cat can stay active and engaged.

Hairless Cat Breeds

The following breeds of cats are hairless…

Bambino

Bambinos have wrinkled skin

Bambinos are a very special breed of hairless cat that was first created in 2005. They are the result of a deliberate cross breeding of a hairless Sphynx and a Munchkin.

The Bambino gets its unique shape from its Munchkin heritage. Bambinos have a long, low body with short legs. Their shape is similar to a dachshund dog.

Bambinos have wrinkled skin and are hairless with a short and thin layer of velvety fuzz. Some will also have hair on the end of their tail, similar to a lion.

Bambinos are very active and love to play with their humans, despite their tiny legs. They are friendly and love to cuddle. Bambinos have kitten-like personalities and don’t get too attached to one human; they’re happy to share their love between all family members.

Donskoy

Donskoy Skinless Cat Breed

Donskoys are one of the most unique and interesting cat breeds available. They will often grow fur in the colder months and shed it completely once it gets warm.

The breed originated by a natural gene mutation in Russia in 1987. Unlike many other hairless cat breeds, the Donskoy is not connected to the Sphynx breed.

Donskoys are medium sized, muscular cats with wrinkled skin and large oval-shaped feet.

They are known for their friendly and loving nature, as well as their loyalty to their family.

Dwelf

Dwelf Skinless Cat Breed

The Dwelf is a rare breed. They are highly sought after due to their unique appearance.

They were created recently by cross breeding a hairless Elf with a Munchkin cat.

Dwelves are very cartoonish in appearance. Their Elf heritage makes them hairless with outwards curling ears. Their Munchkin heritage makes their legs short, body long and stomach hang low. Their skin has some wrinkles and comes in different colours and patterns.

Despite having short legs and a small body, the Dwelf can run and climb things just as well as other cat breeds. They are very playful.

Elf

Elf Skinless Cat Breed

The Elf cat breed gets its name from its distinctive, outward curling ears which make it look like a pixie or elf.

The Elf was created in the USA in 2007 by cross breeding a hairless Sphynx with an American Curl.

Their skin is wrinkly, particularly around their head and neck. They have a slender body and tail which is pointed. Their head is long and their eyes are big and walnut-shaped.

They are very gentle and love to be around their humans. They are an active breed and particularly enjoy climbing. Providing your Elf with a Cat Scratching Post will keep it happy and also protect your furniture from being climbed instead!

Lykoi

Lykoi Hairless Cat Breed

The Lykoi is a relatively new cat breed, first originating in 2011 by a natural gene nutation from a domestic shorthaired cat.

They have a medium-sized, slender body and perky ears.

Their fur can vary greatly. Some Lykoi are completely hairless. Others have short, black and grey fur with patches of hair missing around their faces, legs, feet and ears. This can give them a scruffy, wild appearance, earning them their nickname ‘werewolf cat’.

Like most other hairless cat breeds, Lykoi are said to be friendly and affectionate. While their appearance can seem a little scary at first, their loving nature makes them great pets for children or the elderly.

Minskin

Minskin Kitten Hairless Cat Breed

The first Minskin was created from cross breeding a Bambino (Munchkin x Sphynx) with a Burmese and Devon Rex. In 2008, the Minskin became an officially recognised breed.

Their Munchkin heritage gives them adorable short legs with a long body – similar to a sausage dog! They have wide, erect ears and very expressive eyes.

They appear hairless however most will have a very thin, short layer of peach fuzz hair. Their belly is usually completely hairless. Some Minskins will have patches of thicker fur on their face, tail, legs or ears.

Peterbald

Peterbald Cat Breed

The Peterbald is a very energetic and healthy breed.

They were first created in Russia in 1988 by the intentional cross breeding of a hairless Donskoy with a Siamese cat.

Their Donskoy heritage gives them their peach-fuzz skin whilst their Siamese heritage gives them an Oriental appearance. The breed has a small head, a skinny body and big ears that stand out. It is less wrinkled than other breeds of hairless cat.

They typically make a lot of noise and love to ‘talk’ with their humans.

Sphynx

Sphynx Skinless Cat Breed

The Sphynx is the most common and famous breed of hairless cat. It was also the first hairless cat breed in existence. It is sometimes called the ‘Canadian hairless’ cat.

It was created when a Canadian domestic cat gave birth to a hairless kitten in 1966. This occurred because of a natural mutation that prevents hair growth. They named the kitten Prune. Many of the other hairless cat breeds came from crossing Sphynxes with other breeds of non-hairless cats.

They have wrinkly skin that comes in different colours and patterns. They are skinny with a big, round stomach. They have long, pointed ears. Their large eyes are often mismatching colours (such as one blue and one green eye).

Their friendly nature makes them easy to handle. They get along well with humans and other pets. They are playful and can be quite clumsy sometimes.

Ukrainian Levkoy

Ukrainian Levkoy Hairless Cat Breed

The Ukrainian Levkoy is a newer breed of hairless cat and isn’t officially recognised by many cat associations and groups.

It was created in 2005 by deliberately cross breeding a hairless Sphynx with a Scottish Fold.

The mix of Scottish Fold gives the Ukrainian Levkoy its distinctive and adorable ears. Their ears curl forward without touching their head. They have almond-shaped eyes and a wedge-shaped head. Their body is thin with some wrinkles. They can come in different colours.

They are very friendly without being as needy as other breeds of hairless cat.


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