| Country of Origin: | Russia |
| Colors: | Rubber Bald (the ideal), Flocked, Velour and Brush. |
| Average Size: | Weight: 6-12 lbs (2.7- 5.44 kg), Length: Medium |
| Life Span: | 12+ years |
| Coat: | Hairless |
| Personality: | Very friendly, highly intelligent and very loving |
| Characteristics: | Energy: High Talkative: high Kid Friendly: Yes Allergic: No |
Donskoy or Don Sphynx cats are of Russian origin and they are hairless cats. This cat breed appeared in the 1987 and was actually a discovery of one Russian cat breeder Elena Kovaleva. This cat breed shouldn’t be mixed with the Sphynx (Canadian hairless) cat that is also hairless but whose hairlessness is caused by a recessive gene, because the hairlessness of the Donskoy or Don Sphynx cats is caused by a dominant gene.
The truth is that very few people manage to stay indifferent at the sight of this cat breed. Donskoy cats remind of extra terrestrials –this is how most of the people might describe them. The most important trait is their WRINKLES – the more they have, the more valuable they become.
Donskoy or Don Sphynx cats are smart, waggish, and very lively, and they tend to take on their owners personality.
The Donskoy or Don Sphynx cat was recognized by TICA in 2005 and by WCF (World Cat Federation) in 1997. This cat breed, however, is not recognized by all cat registries, due to the fact that they might have genetic health issues. It is suspected that the gene responsible to hairlessness can cause problems with poor dentition and their ability to lactate.
The Donskoy or Don Sphynx cat is a medium sized cat, very muscular, with almond shaped eyes, large ears and long webbed toes. These cats require regular grooming, even though they don’t have much of coat. However, you need to be careful with their hygiene, as over-bathing can be the cause of their skin becoming very oily. The skin of these cats is very similar to human skin: it sweats when they are hot, it burns if the sun and it sun-tans. During the cold season, their bodies accumulate fat in the fatty belly and it only disappears once the warm seasons return.
Because of their high body temperature, the Donskoy cats require more food than other cat breeds. Their high body temperature also helps them to resist infections. Adults possess high immunity to most diseases; however it is still very important to keep them away from draughty/cold places.
