DonskoyCharacteristics, history, behaviour and care

The breed descends from a single kitten. In 1987, breeder Elena Kovaleva from the city of Rostov-on-Don rescued a small blue tortie kitten called Varvara. At about 4 months, Varvara began to lose her coat.

Varvara had kittens with a local tomcat: some were born hairless, others lost their coat later, like their mother. They became the foundation of the breed, which was then crossed with European cats. WCF recognised the breed in 1987, TICA in 2005 and FIFe in 2011.

How the breed developed

• 1987 – Elena Kovaleva rescues the kitten Varvara, in Rostov-on-Don.
• 1987 – recognised by WCF.
• 2005 – recognised by TICA.
• 2011 – recognised by FIFe.

• People who spend a lot of time at home and want a “clingy” cat. It follows its owner everywhere.
• Indoors only. Being non-aggressive and coatless, it cannot defend itself against animals outside.
• People who can look after its skin. Without a coat, it needs warmth and protection.
• Check the law. In the Netherlands, breeding hairless cats has been banned since 2014.

The standard describes it as a medium-sized, muscular cat, with large ears, almond-shaped eyes and long toes. The head is triangular, and the large ears and eyes give it an elfin look.

General appearance

The skin is very wrinkled, especially on the face, neck, chest and at the base of the tail. Some cats grow a thin down in the cold months, which falls out again in summer.

The skin and eyes can be many colours; skin colours usually look muted. The eyes can be blue, green, amber, orange, yellow or hazel.

Related breeds and how to tell them apart

The Canadian Sphynx looks similar, but its hairlessness comes from a recessive mutation of the keratin 71 gene. The Peterbald was created from the Donskoy and Oriental cats and has the same dominant gene.

Wikipedia describes it as extremely sociable, very curious and gentle. It is active and needs a lot of stimulation. French Wikipedia adds that it is lively and playful and follows its owner all the time, like a dog.

Socialisation

It is very sociable with people and animals, but because it is not aggressive it cannot defend itself against cats or dogs outside.

A kitten gets used to new people, noises and other animals most easily in its first months of life.

Habits at home

Like all cats, it sleeps a lot: usually 12–16 hours a day. It is most active early in the morning and in the evening, but partly adapts to the family's routine.

Cats instinctively bury their droppings, so it quickly learns to use a litter tray. It scratches rough surfaces to shed the old outer layer of its claws, so it needs a scratching post or board.

It is active and moves around a lot; it needs daily play.

Tips for a balanced life

• Keep it indoors, in the warm.
• Protect it from strong sun: its skin is not shielded by a coat.
• Play with it every day; it needs stimulation.

Coat care

It has no coat to brush, but its skin needs care: the skin's oils are no longer absorbed by hair, so it is cleaned regularly, following the vet's advice. The cat must be kept warm and out of the sun.

Common health problems

French Wikipedia says it has no known genetic problems and can live up to 19 years, but it can often get lung infections. Wikipedia warns that the dominant mutation that makes it hairless could cause, in cats with two copies of the gene, ectodermal dysplasia: weak teeth and problems with nursing or sweating.

Recommended genetic tests

There is no genetic test required for the breed. Ask the breeder how pairs are chosen, so that no kittens are born with two copies of the gene.

Is it hypoallergenic?

Cat allergy is caused mainly by the Fel d 1 protein, found in saliva and skin glands; it is behind the allergy in 90% of people who are allergic to cats. Kittens, females and neutered males produce less of it, but still enough to trigger symptoms. No breed is completely hypoallergenic.

Other care

• A check-up at the vet once a year.
• Vaccinations and parasite treatment on the schedule set by the vet.
• Trim the claws if they do not wear down on their own.
• Clean its teeth or give it food that helps keep them clean.

The cat is a carnivore: it needs animal protein. Unlike a dog, it must get vitamin A, arachidonic acid and taurine from its food. Water is very important, because cats usually drink little; several water bowls around the house encourage it to drink.

Tips for a healthy diet

The table gives a starting estimate, calculated with the formula from the Merck Veterinary Manual for a healthy adult cat. The last column shows what this means in dry food with 3,500–4,000 kcal per kilogram. If you also feed wet food, reduce the dry portion.

• Adjust the portion to its weight: neutered cats put on weight easily.
• Weigh it monthly; the ribs should be easy to feel under your fingers.
• Kittens need more calories: Merck recommends 2.5 times the resting energy requirement.

Dangerous foods and substances

Some common household items are dangerous for cats:

• Lilies (and daylilies): they can destroy a cat's kidneys. Even the pollen or the water in the vase is dangerous.
• Paracetamol: extremely toxic to cats, which lack the enzyme that breaks it down. Never give it human medicines.
• Flea spot-ons and collars for dogs containing permethrin: the concentration meant for dogs is dangerous for cats.
• Foods: chocolate, coffee, alcohol, onions, garlic, grapes and raisins.

Maturity

Females usually reach sexual maturity at 5–10 months, and males at 5–7 months. The age varies from breed to breed.

Mating and pregnancy

Pregnancy in cats lasts 64–67 days, 65 on average. A first litter usually has fewer kittens than later ones. Only healthy cats that match the breed standard are used for breeding.

Blood type

Cats have blood type A, B or AB. Type A is the most common: in a study from England, 87.1% of non-pedigree cats and 54.6% of pedigree cats had type A. This matters for breeding: if the mother is type B and the kittens are type A, the antibodies in her first milk (colostrum) can destroy their red blood cells. The condition is called neonatal isoerythrolysis. That is why breeders test the blood type of both parents.

We found no published data on how common type B is in this breed; the test is done before mating anyway.

Caring for the kittens

Kittens are weaned at 6–7 weeks. They are ready to go to their new home at about 12 weeks, when they can be separated from their mother.

Neutering

Neutering used to be done at 6–9 months, but it is more and more often done before puberty, at around 3–6 months. It prevents unwanted kittens, urine marking in males and the loud “calling” of females in heat. A 2024 study found that neutered cats live one year longer on average. After the operation, the metabolism slows down and appetite increases, so the portion has to be reduced.

How to choose a kitten

• Ask for the pedigree from a recognised cat association (for example, a FIFe member).
• The kitten leaves its mother at about 12 weeks.
• Look at the mother and at the place where the kittens are raised: it should be clean, with kittens used to people.
• Ask about vaccinations, parasite treatment and the blood type of the parents.

• It loses its coat as it grows. Some cats are born with hair and lose it over time.
• Winter down. Some grow a thin down in winter, which falls out in summer.
• Monkey-like toes. German Wikipedia says its long toes look like a monkey's fingers.
• Banned from breeding in the Netherlands. Since 2014, hairless cats can no longer be used for breeding there.

Is it related to the Canadian Sphynx?

No. The hairlessness comes from a different mutation, dominant in the Donskoy and recessive in the Canadian Sphynx.

Does it feel the cold?

Yes, easily; it needs a warm home and soft beds.

How long does it live?

French Wikipedia says it can live up to 19 years.

Can it go outside?

It is not recommended: it has no coat to protect it and cannot defend itself.