Donskoy - Don Sphynx Cat

A pretty donskoy kitten with a long skinny tail

A muscular donskoy cat with a wrinkled face

A cute little donskoy kitten with big ears

A beautiful donskoy cat with a lithe body

A sleek donskoy cat with curled whiskers

History

The Donskoy cat breed had its beginnings in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, in 1987. Breeder Elena Kovaleva found herself with an unusual-looking kitten, hairless, but no relation to the Sphynx, the most famous of the hairless cat breeds. The Sphynx gene is recessive, but the one that causes hairlessness in the Donskoy is dominant.

The breed was officially recognized by World Cat Federation (WCF) in 1997, and by The International Cat Association (TICA) in 2005. The breed standard describes the cat as medium-sized and muscular, with large ears, almond shaped eyes and distinctive long, webbed toes.

Despite their lack of hair these cats need regular grooming and bathing, to keep their skin oil free.

Behaviour

The Donskoy is active, playful and affectionate, making it a great family pet. Being hairless, they feel the cold more than other breeds, and love a warm cuddle in winter and some good indoor exercise and games to warm them up.

They are robust cats, though, in spite of the issue of temperature. They are muscular, and highly intelligent too. They are always inquisitive, and love exploring their surroundings, doors and out.