Donskoy Cat Breeds – All Information, Facts, Care and Price
It is believed that the Donskoy cat breed originated in Russia in the 1980s when it was introduced as a completely new breed. Friendly, playful, and affectionate, these felines are known for their friendly nature and playful behavior.
Another name for the Donskoy is the Don Sphynx or Don Skeenx. You might be able to find these purebred cats in shelters and breed specific rescues, so keep in mind that you should always adopt! There is no point in shopping if you are interested in adding one of these kitties to your home
About the Donskoy Cat
Donskoy cats are also known as Russian Hairless cats, or Don sphynxes. These cats are known for their playfulness and affection, and are fond of cuddling up with family members – especially during the cooler months of the year!
The donskoy cats are known for their even temperament, and for their ability to make friends with anyone who seems interested in them even though they are of a different breed. In addition to their sociable and friendly nature, they are ideal for families with kids and other pets as they are friendly to all.
The Don Sphynx / Donskoy cat is an extremely curious and mischievous cat with a quirky side and an inherent sense of mischief. There are a number of special skills that these adorable, intelligent cats display in their daily living, including climbing, opening cupboards, and investigating the contents of bags and boxes.
This type of cat is also called the Donskoy (Russian Hairless) or Don Sphynx (Don Sphynx) and is a medium-sized, muscular cat with, just like the Sphynx breed, a lack of hair due to a genetic mutation. In addition to being friendly and active, these cats are well known for being loyal to their owners. In fact, some people often compare their loyalty to that of a dog, and they are also intelligent and affectionate.
These playful, curious cats love to cuddle, but they don’t have a problem being mischievous as well. As most of the cats are somewhat outgoing and even-tempered, they are a good choice for households with children, other cats and even dogs since they are generally quite outgoing and even-tempered. It is important to remember that they need a lot more grooming than one might expect, and they are not happy to be left alone long periods of time.
Donskoy Cat Breed.xlsx
| NAME | Donskoy Cat |
| ORIGIN | Russia |
| HEIGHT | 13 to 15 inches |
| WEIGHT | 6 to 15 pounds |
| LENGTH | 13"-16" |
| LIFE SPAN | 12 to 15+ years |
| GOOD WITH | children, seniors, dogs, cats, families |
| TEMPERAMENT | Curious, intelligent, talkative, playful |
| INTELLIGENCE | medium |
| SHEDDING AMOUNT | occasional |
| PLAYFULNESS | high |
| HYPOALLERGENIC | No |
| EYE COLOR | Any color found in felines |
| COAT LENGTH | Bald or slight fuzz |
| COAT COLORS | Skin can be any color found in felines |
| PATTERNS | Skin can have any pattern found in felines |
| PERSONALITY | Affectionate, curious, playful, intelligent, and friendly |
| OTHER NAMES | Colorpoint, Longhair, Javi |
| OTHER TRAITS | Don Sphynx, Russian Hairless |
| PRICE | between $2000 and $3000. |
Donskoy Temperament
It is apparent that this breed thrives on companionship because of its affectionate nature and good nature. There are many family activities that Donskoys enjoy participating in and they are friendly towards other pets and children as well. In order for them to feel comfortable, they need to be around people who really enjoy interacting with them. There is a reason why they shouldn’t be left alone for long periods of time as they are so social animals. It may be a good idea to purchase a “sibling” pet for your Donskoy if you regularly have to be away for long periods of time.
They enjoy playing and even come up with their own games to entertain themselves when they are off duty. These active, frisky cats are always active. Additionally, donskoys are known for their insatiable curiosity, which makes them an excellent choice for homes that have plenty of exploring spaces. As well as keeping their bodies and minds entertained, interactive or puzzle toys will also keep them occupied.
Donskoy Characteristics
A Donskoy cat’s appearance is one of the first things you will notice about it when you first meet one. Its personality is likely to be very outgoing, friendly, and curious in addition to its outgoing and friendly nature. In terms of their enthusiasm for the time they spend with their humans as well as their ability to be trained to come to their names, walk on a leash, or even perform simple tricks, these cats seem almost like dogs in the way they enjoy spending time around their humans. They are also very affectionate, too, and enjoy cuddling with their owners, being petted, or slipping into their beds for naps.
It is a medium-sized cat with a muscular build that is not normally covered in fur, making it not a hypoallergenic breed, despite not normally having fur. Despite their good nature, they are friendly animals who get along well with both young and old people, other cats, and most dogs as well. Despite their affection and need for lots of time and attention, dogs do not make the best pets for homes that often go empty, as they require a lot of time and attention.
| Affection Level | High |
| Friendliness | High |
| Kid-Friendly | High |
| Pet-Friendly | Medium |
| Exercise Needs | Medium |
| Playfulness | High |
| Energy Level | Medium |
| Trainability | High |
| Intelligence | High |
| Tendency to Vocalize | Medium |
| Amount of Shedding | Low |
History of the Donskoy Cat
Elena Kovaleva, who taught at the State Pedagogical Institute in Rostov-on-Don, Russia in the late 1980s, was the first to discover the Donskoy cats when she was a faculty member at the institute. During the course of her rescue, Kovaleva was able to save a kitten from the mistreatment of a group of boys. Her name was Varvara and she took the kitten home with her. It didn’t take Varvara long to begin losing her hair after a few months. In an attempt to treat her kitten’s baldness, Kovaleva tried multiple treatments on her kitten’s skin without success, thinking that it might be a health problem.
Some years later, Varvara mated with a local tomcat and a few years later, a litter of kittens was born. The litter contained both hairless and haired kittens, and Varvara was one of the females in the litter. As a result of this phenomenon, the kittens which had hair started to lose them over time, leading people to believe that their hair loss was the result of some sort of illness. Since the cats seemed to be unhealthy, a lot of people encouraged Kovaleva to get rid of them since there was little interest in them.
During the breeding program run by Irina Nemikina, a professional breeder who rescued one of the kittens and began breeding with it, the hairless coats continued to appear in subsequent litters, proving that the hairlessness is a result of an inherited genetic mutation, and not an illness. She was also able to create a new breed of hairless cat called the Don Sphynx in response to her breeding efforts, a cat breed which has the same characteristics as the other breed of hairless cat and is named after the adjacent Don River.
Donskoys were recognized as a breed by the World Cat Federation in 1987, and by the International Cat Association in 2005 the breed was acknowledged as a breed.
The Donskoy cat also helped to create one of the other hairless breeds, the Peterbald cat, which was created through the crossbreeding of the Donskoy cat with the Oriental Shorthair cat. There has been a ban on breeding the Donskoy with the Peterbald since 2000. It is also illegal to outcross the Donskoy with any other breed (except for the domestic shorthair), due to the dominant hairless mutation of the Donskoy.
Donskoy Cat Care
Grooming
Because Donskoys have no hair (or nearly no hair), they have particular grooming needs that need to be met. Unlike cats with long hair, Donskoys don’t need to be brushed on a regular basis, but must be wiped down every day in order to prevent them from getting greasy, as their body produces oils, but does not possess enough hair to absorb them. It is recommended that you give your cat a complete bath once every month or two, using a gentle shampoo that is specially formulated for cats.
Donskoys are all cats, and as with any cat, you should keep their claws trimmed regularly; their teeth should be brushed or wiped at least a few times a week; and if wax or other debris accumulates in their ears, make sure to wipe them gently with a cotton ball.
Exercise
As you can imagine, they are very active cats, and they enjoy playing, running, and jumping all the time. Donskoy breed cats tend to take care of their own exercise requirements, so long as you provide lots of different toys for them to play with, cat trees or similar climbing opportunities, boxes or tunnels for them to dive, leap, and explore, and plenty of toys for you to provide for them to play with. In any case, taking the time every day to interact directly with your cat in a vigorous play session is something that is always fun, and is a good opportunity for bonding between you and your cat as well. In addition to chasing a thrown crinkle ball, your Donskoy will love to leap for a feather on a string that represents a “cat dancer”, or run after you while you drag a ribbon behind you while running around your house.
Since Donskoy cats do not have fur on their heads, they are prone to sunburn, overheating, and becoming chilled easily. Therefore, it is suggested that you keep your Donskoy indoors only or venture outside only when it is safe or enclosed, such as a porch or a catio for outdoor activities.
Training
It is possible to teach your Donskoy many simple tricks, such as coming to its name, walking on a leash, and performing simple tricks with patience, repetition, and plenty of small treats. Cats with similar intelligence are quick learners and eager to interact with their owners in a sense that is similar to a dog.
Common Health Problems
It is fair to say that Donskoy cats are generally healthy cats. Because of their hairless bodies, they are prone to sunburn, and they are also sensitive to cold and hot weather, in addition to other skin problems. As a result, dental issues such as cavities and gum disease have also been associated with these cats, so it is very important to brush their teeth regularly.
In the modern era, the Donskoy breed is not recognized by all cat registries due to concerns about its genetic health, which are mainly due to a shortage of cat registries. The dominant genetic mutation that causes hairlessness in both Donskoys and Peterbalds could possibly also cause feline ectodermal dysplasia, a condition that can affect both males and females. As well as the inability to sweat, the abnormal development of the teeth and gums, and the inability for female cats to lactate after giving birth, there are other symptoms associated with this complex medical condition. It is also possible for hairless dogs to develop the same dominant mutation that causes the condition.
Appearance
Donskoys are muscular, medium-sized cats with a triangular head, large ears, and big eyes, giving the cat an appearance of being like an elf in appearance. As a result of its lack of hair, it is obvious to point out that it has the most striking characteristic, though some peach fuzz can be seen on the ears and nose of this species. In addition, many Donskoy cats do not have whiskers at all. There are wrinkles on the skin of Donskoys, especially on their face, neck, chest, and tail base. A Donskoy is often compared to a warm chamois cloth when petted.
A light coat of fur can be grown by some Donskoy cats during the winter months, but the fur will usually be lost once the weather begins to get warmer.
There are numerous different colored eyes that can be found on these cats, including blue, green, amber, orange, yellow, brown, or mixed. It is also possible for them to have any color or pattern on their skin, depending on their coloring or pattern. There are many colors that they feature; however, most of them are fairly subdued or “faded,” with most being gray, cream, or white in color.
Diet and Nutrition
Where to Adopt or Buy a Donskoy Cat
Types of Donskoy Cats
In terms of coats, Donskoys can be classified into four types based on their hairiness or lack of it.
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Rubber Bald: As their name suggests, these Donskoys are born bald and continue to be bald throughout their lives.
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Flock Coat: In this variation of Donskoy, the coat is a peach-fuzz that is as silky as chamois cloth and has the texture of microfibers. When these cats grow, they often lose a little bit of the fuzz they used to have, and become completely bald as a result.
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Velour Coat: A kitten with a wavy, short coat of fur over the body and a bald spot on top of the head is born with a wavy, short coat of fur over the body. As soon as a kitten is born, it loses most of its hair within the first year of its life, but a few will still have some fuzz on their head, legs, and tail in the second year. In some cases, the hair is completely lost, and the person becomes completely bald.
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Brush Coat: Usually, Donskoys are born with a short coat of fur that is bristly or wiry, so there is a lot of movement in the coat. It is usually their heads, necks, and backs that are covered in bald spots as they grow, but they don’t lose the rest of their fur as they grow. The type of Donskoy described above is the only type of Donskoy that cannot be shown in shows.
Donskoy Overview
A Donskoy cat isn’t like any other cat. They’re hairless, attractive, and friendly. They’re similar to elves in appearance, but their personalities are outgoing, friendly, and dog-like. Cats enjoy playing with and cuddling with their favorite humans, whether they are young or old, and are usually happy spending time with other cats as well as dogs who are cat-friendly. Even so, they require quite a bit of attention, so they may not be suited for a household where the family is out for long periods of time during the day. In addition, it is important to pay attention to their skin regularly in order to maintain a clean and healthy appearance, and despite the fact that they have no fur, they are not hypoallergenic, although you won’t have to worry about hairballs or shedding.
Frequently Asked Questions?
How much does a Donskoy cat cost?
There is a price range between $500 and $2,500 for Donskoy cats.
How big do Donskoy cats get?
Cats belonging to the Donskoy breed are usually medium-sized cats. The average Donskoy cat may weigh between 8 and 15 pounds at full maturity and might reach a height of around 12 inches to 14 inches at full maturity.
How long do Donskoy cats live?
In general, Donskoy lives between 12 and 15 years on average.
Do Donskoy cats shed?
Besides being considered a hairless cat breed, Donskoy cats do not have coats that need to be groomed or shed.
How much does a Donskoy cat cost?
There is usually a high price tag associated with this rare breed. As a result, a Donskoy kitten of show-quality can cost upwards of a thousand dollars, and even a kitten that is not destined for the show ring can cost upwards of a thousand dollars.
Are Donskoy cats hypoallergenic?
It is important to note that Donskoys are not hypoallergenic even though they lack fur. It is not unusual for them to produce allergenic dander, which will cause symptoms in people who are sensitive to it.
Is it ethical to breed Donskoy cats?
A similar argument can be made about whether or not it is ethical to breed cats with a genetic mutation that may lead to health problems in the future, just like there is an ongoing debate about sphynx cats. The Donskoy is not recognized by some cat registries due to this reason. While there is no clear right or wrong answer to this question, there are a number of different points of view and debates surrounding the issue.
