The Hairless Donskoy Cat

[FamTimes reporter Jennylyn Gianan] When you think of a hairless cat, the Sphynx breed probably comes to mind.

However, the Sphynx is not the only cat breed without fur. There is also a breed called the Donskoy.

The Donskoy is one of only a handful of hairless cat breeds. Other hairless breeds include the Peterbald and the Sphynx. Unlike the Sphynx, Donskoy cats carry a dominant hairlessness gene and therefore produce hairless kittens.

The Donskoy has beautifully wrinkled skin that feels moist and velvety. It also has many wrinkles on other parts of its body.

Donskoy cats are not entirely hairless. A little fur grows on their bodies during the cold winter months, then falls out again when the weather warms. Unlike most cats, Donskoys sweat through their skin like humans.

The Donskoy cat originated in Russia. In the late 1980s, a woman named Elena Kovaleva found a stray kitten near the Don River in the Russian city of Roskov.

She adopted the kitten, but all of its fur fell out when it was exposed to warm indoor temperatures. She consulted a veterinarian, but there was nothing the veterinarian could do. The cat grew up hairless.

Kovaleva named the kitten Varvara and continued raising her. Two years later, Varvara gave birth to hairless kittens.

The newborn kittens had health problems, and most did not survive. A cat enthusiast named Irina Nemykina adopted one of them and used the cat for breeding. After successfully establishing the breed, Nemykina named it the Don Sphynx after the Don River.

The breed was later renamed and recognized by the International Cat Association, becoming known as the Donskoy.

Donskoy cats are affectionate, sociable, intelligent and distinctive. Above all, they tend to form strong bonds with their owners, making them good companions for people.

For these reasons, the Donskoy cat breed is gaining recognition worldwide.

Jennylyn Gianan fam1@pcss.co.kr