What breeds of cats do not have fur?

When you think of cats, you think of long or short haired cats with patterned fur that is soft and cuddly. But there is a third category that takes a bit of getting used to: hairless cats that are hairless in the traditional sense.

Sphynx

The Sphynx is perhaps the best known of the hairless breeds and was developed in the 1960s. While it is known as hairless, it actually has a very fine and smooth coat that is said to feel like suede. The fur follows the pattern that would have been on their fur if they had any, so they can be solid colors, spiky, brindle, or any other variation. They have a wedge-shaped head and large lemon-shaped eyes with large ears. They are medium in size and have a very muscular body. They are known to be outgoing and outgoing who like attention and are affectionate towards their owners. They also need protection from extreme climates due to their lack of hair.

Donskoy

The Donskoy is a breed of hairless cat that originated in Russia and was first recorded in 1987 when a hairless cat was bred in Rostov-on-Don. Their hairlessness is caused by a different gene than the Sphynx and the breed was officially recognized as an international breed in 1997. They are medium-sized cats that have large ears, almond-shaped eyes, and are muscular in build. They need their owner’s care because their lack of hair makes their skin oily, so they need to be groomed to deal with this.

Ukrainian levkoy

The Levkoy is perhaps the strangest looking cat on the planet! Not only is it hairless, it also has ears that fold inward similar to breeds like the Scottish Fold. This combination of genetic traits makes a cat very different from all the others. It is only recognized by Ukrainian and Russian cat clubs and is not found outside of this area in large numbers.

Lykoi

The Lykoi is a breed of cat that developed in Memphis Tennessee and is a natural mutation of the domestic shorthair. He is generally practically hairless and his markings are said to resemble a werewolf, hence his name. It is black in color with a wedge-shaped head and a graceful, lithe body shape.

Bambino

The Bambino is a recent breed of cat, first registered with the International Cat Association in 2005 as an experimental breed. Cats combine the stature of the Munchkin’s short legs and large upright ears with the Sphynx’s lack of fur. Their skin tends to be white or pink, which means that they must be protected from sunlight and are vulnerable to low temperatures.

Peterbald

The Peterbald is another newly created breed that was first observed in 1994 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It was created by mating a Donskoy with an Oriental Shorthair to create a hairless cat that had the appearance and body shape of an Oriental breed. He was accepted onto the world stage in 2009. These cats are lean and muscular with almond-shaped eyes, a wedge-shaped muzzle, and large ears that are set wide apart.