Information on the Hairless Cat Breed

"Hairless" is not a particular breed of cat, but a category of cat breeds that have the hairless characteristic. Hairlessness is a recessive gene, meaning a cat with hair might produce some hairless kittens if both parents possess the gene. The first known hairless kitten was born in 1966. Since then, efforts to protect and strengthen the gene pool of hairless cats have been successful in producing healthy hairless cats with a good temperament.

  1. Breeds of Hairless Cats

    • The Sphinx, or Canadian Hairless, was made popular in the Austin Powers movies. It is not truly hairless but has a fine peach fuzz all over its body. The skin color emulates what color the fur would have been on a haired cat, that is, solid color, tabby, patched or tortie.

      The Peterbald is a newer breed of hairless cat that originated in Russia in the 1980s. Its hairlessness is a dominant gene rather than a recessive one.

      The Bambino is a new hairless breed still being developed. It has shorter legs than the Sphinx, but the same wonderful energy and disposition

    Characteristics

    • Hairless cats can be slender to muscular. Their heads tend to be wedge-shaped, and their skin falls into wrinkles. They are energetic, mischievous, friendly and outgoing. They love to be the center of attention and will clown around deliberately to amuse you. They often seek warm places to sleep, like on TVs, computers or other electronics.

    Care

    • A cat's coat serves as the skin's protection against injury and irritation, so the owner of a hairless cat must take extra care to make sure the cat's environment is safe and free of drafts. Hairless cats are strictly indoor cats. They are not truly hypoallergenic, as their skin still sheds cells and their saliva leaves flakes that can cause allergic reactions. Their skin continues to create oil like haired cats' does. So the oil may need to be wiped away with a cloth or the cat bathed more frequently than a cat with a normal coat. When outdoors, hairless cats need to be protected from sunburn with sunscreen.

    Health Problems

    • Because they appear so exotic, you might expect hairless cats to have more health problems, but they have been carefully bred to produce sturdy individuals that have few health issues. With normal veterinary care, hairless cats can be trouble-free pets.

    Where to Find Hairless Cats

    • When purchased, hairless cats should be bought from reputable breeders. They are very expensive, sometimes costing up to $3,000, and you may be put on a waiting list to get a kitten. It might be easier to get your cat from a hairless cat rescue group.