Donskoy
Other names: Don Sphynx, Don Hairless

People’s reaction when first meeting a Donskoy is often something like: “What the heck is that?!” Indeed, their appearance is most unusual. But if you get to know these cats, you can only fall in love with them - as much for their physique as for their personality, Donskoys are endearing cats that deserve to be known and loved. Their almond eyes and the special texture of their skin and all its folds will either charm you or repulse you - but if we can be sure of one thing, it’s that no one can be indifferent when faced with so much uniqueness.
Key facts about the Donskoy
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Origins and history
These cats are from Russia and their history dates back to 1987, the year that the original cat was discovered in the city of Rostov-on-Don. Elena Kovaleva found a kitten in a pitiful state and took her in, naming her Varvara. As Varvara grew up, she began to lose her hair gradually and Elena tried giving her treatments to stop it but nothing worked. A few years later, Varvara gave birth to a litter of kittens, some of which were completely naked and others had hair. Then, the kitten with hair began to lose it just like his mother. Elena contacted Irina Nemikina, a renowned Russian breeder, who adopted one of the kittens and made various crosses. As fully naked kittens appeared in each litter, Irina quickly understood that this was a dominant genetic mutation (unlike for the Sphynx) and the Donskoy was born.
Physical characteristics of the Donskoy
Adult size
Female : Between 10 and 12 in
Male : Between 10 and 12 in
The Don Hairless reaches adult size between the ages of about 9 and 12 months.
Weight
Female : Between 4 and 7 lb
Male : Between 9 and 11 lb
Coat colour
GCCF recognises all colours in the traditional and pointed categories, in any divisions except with the colour amber. TICA recognises all colours and all categories, in all divisions.
Type of coat
nude, but sometimes with light down on the nose, ears, tips of the paws, tip of the tail and genital area
The Donskoy carries a dominant gene that causes the loss of any hair that they may have when they are born. There are 4 types of nudity:
- ‘Rubber bald’: the cat is born completely naked and will remain so all their life.
- ‘Flock’: the cat appears to be naked, but actually has a very light down that gives their skin the texture of a very soft chamois. This down may disappear over time, taking the chamois texture with it, so that the cat becomes officially nude.
- ‘Velvet’: the cat is born with a bald spot like a monk’s hat on top of the head, and a woolly coat that becomes rough and gradually disappears within a year. However, residual hairs may persist on the face, legs and tail. Velvets may equally lose all of their hair and gradually become completely nude.
- ‘Brush’: the cat will slowly go bald over time, but only some of their hair will disappear. The hair that remains can be soft, wavy or more often rough, with bare areas on the head and upper parts of the neck or back.
One of the special features of the Don Sphynx is that in the winter season, they can grow a coat! It consists of a fine wool on the chest, along with hairs at the end of the tail. They then lose it later on when the temperature gets milder again.
Eye colour
There is contradiction between sources on this point. TICA and GCCF, both agreed on the fact that all colours are allowed: blue / aquamarine, golden yellow, green, odd / dichroic
Description
While their nakedness might make them seem fragile and delicate, Donskoys are far from frail. They are sturdy, strong and agile.
Good to know
Just like humans, these naked cats sweat through their skin.
Do you know the difference between a Sphynx and a Donskoy? The Sphynx is from Canada, while the Donskoy is from Russia. Both breeds carry a gene that is responsible for their nudity, but in the Sphynx this gene is recessive (meaning it is not always expressed), whereas in the Donskoy it is dominant. This also affects the shape of their face, eyes and muzzle. It is believed that the more pronounced the nudity of the kitten when they are born, the more pronounced their facial features will be.
Temperament
Behaviour of the Donskoy
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Price
We do not have enough data to set an average price for a Donskoy, however it will vary according to the lineage, breeding, age and even the sex. For your monthly budget you should allow on average £35 per month to cater to your cat’s needs, by offering them a quality diet and ensuring they stay healthy.
Grooming
Because they lack fur to absorb excess oil, Donskoys’ skin can be oily to the touch. It is recommended that you bathe them no more than once every 6 months, as the more you wash them, the more sebum they will produce. To clean the accumulated sebum between baths, you could use a damp flannel or something similar. Their ears will also require special attention - it is advisable to clean them every week. And don’t forget to clean between their toes and on the underside of their paws between the pads.
Shedding
It pretty much goes without saying that these cats don’t lose any fur. You can rest assured that your sofas and your floors will always be flawless. Or at least, there won’t be any fur, but you may find little traces of sebum on pale surfaces.
Nutrition of the Donskoy
Your Donskoy will need to eat a little more than a standard cat as their lack of fur causes them to lose heat quickly. On that basis, they’ll need more calories to raise their body temperature and keep them protected from the cold.
Health of the Donskoy
Life expectancy
They can live for between 12 and 15 years.
Strong / robust
As you’d imagine, these cats are not built for the cold. That said, they are very good at withstanding heat, and they particularly enjoy basking in the sun. However, it’s important that you’re careful to ensure they don’t get painful sunburn.
Tendency to put on weight
It is advised that you calculate their food portions carefully with the help of your vet in order to ensure that your cat doesn’t end up overweight - they are susceptible to being on the greedy side after all.
Common illnesses
- This breed is not predisposed to any diseases in particular, although some sources mention a significant incidence of pulmonary diseases.
- Donskoys may also develop the same conditions as any other cat eventually, such as oral diseases.
Reproduction
On this point there are contradictions: TICA authorises pairings with the Domestic Shorthair, whereas LOOF only recognises pairings between Donskoys.