Donskoy Breed History

The Donskoy (also known as the Don Sphinx), is a truly unique feline breed that originated in 1987 near the Don River, which is found in southwest Russia. A woman had seen children abusing a kitten, so she stopped them and rescued the kitten by taking it home with her.

It became apparent pretty quickly that this kitty was unlike any other because it started shedding its fur. While the woman originally thought it was due to the stress that the cat had been through, it turned out that this was actually the way the cat was meant to be.

Later on, that kitten grew up and had babies of her own, and they were either born bald or with fur that soon fell out. At this point, local breeders realized that this was a newly evolved breed.

The Donskoy (also known as the Don Sphinx), is a truly unique feline breed.

Breed Traits

The Donskoy is known for being a great family pet because it’s playful and active. It’s an inquisitive, social breed that’s very friendly, intelligent, and loving.

These cats are also gentle, making them easy to handle and groom, and they like having companionship, so they shouldn’t be kept as a single pet.

Overall Description

The Donskoy is a hairless cat breed. Some kittens are born bald, while others are born with fur and become bald over time.

These cats have soft, warm skin, but they do need to be protected from exposure to too much sunlight, and they’ll also benefit from additional warmth when the temperature drops in the winter.

Donskoy cats were initially referred to as Don Sphynx, but they’re actually quite different from the Sphynx breed. For example, this kitty features skin that’s elastic, and you’ll note that there are large wrinkles under the chin, cheeks, and jowls. The breed also features long, slim toes with webs of skin separating each toe, so it gives their feet a unique appearance.

Overall, these cats are medium sized, with plenty of muscle, and they’re strong-boned. They also have a distinctive pear-shaped, fat belly.

The coats are Velour, Rubber Bald, Brush, and Flock:

Donskoy cats can also develop a fine wool-like winter coat on the chest, as well as hairs on the end of the tail, but this fur will end up falling out once it gets warm again.

Colors

This breed comes in all colors.

Grooming Requirements

Despite being hairless, the Donskoy requires regular grooming. The oil on this cat’s skin will accumulate, attracting a lot of dirt. A weekly bath is necessary, and you also have to focus on the nail beds, nose, and ears of a Donskoy, which can also attract dirt.

The Donskoy is also a breed that’s susceptible to gum disease and tooth decay, so regular oral hygiene is necessary. To protect the skin while outside, apply sunscreen.

Photo credit: Jagodka/Bigstock; Andrey_Kuzmin/Bigstock