The don sphynx cat, also known as the donskoy cat, comes from Russia and was found in the 1980s 0, when a kitten was found that was losing her hair little by little and that had a litter made up of kittens that ended up losing it too. These cats were he althy, the only thing that had occurred was a dominant character mutation, which is easily passed on to offspring. This is what clearly differentiates them from the sphynx, whose lack of hair is due to a recessive mutation. It is a medium-sized, fine, affectionate, friendly and intelligent cat. Due to the absence of hair, a series of special care must be taken into account with these cats.
Continue reading to learn more about the characteristics of the Don Sphynx cat, its origin, character, care, he alth and where to adopt a specimen.
Origin of the don sphynx or donskoy cat
The don sphynx cat is a breed of Rusto origin, specifically from Rostov-on-Don, hence the name. The cat appeared in 1987 as a result of the discovery by Elena Kovaleva of a kitten from a litter that she had picked up days before and that was losing her hair. This news reached a cat keeper and she began to study the cat and came to the conclusion that she did not have any endocrine or dermatological disease, but that she was a completely he althy cat who was losing her hair due to a genetic mutation. When this kitten had her first litter, several of her pups lacked hair and those that did have lost it as the weeks went by, so it was deduced that it was a dominant mutation and not a recessive one as it happens with sphynx cats.
This feline breed was recognized in 1997 by the WCF, in 2005 by the TICA and in 2011 by the FIFE.
Characteristics of the don sphynx or donskoy cat
The donskoy cat is a medium-sized, with a height of 25 to 35 cm and a weight of 4 to 5 kg in the males and 2 to 3 kg in females. His body is muscular, despite appearing fine and delicate due to the absence of hair Due to the latter, the folds of his skin are well marked and his fingers can be seen long and well differentiated. The legs are long and strong and the tail is thin and long.
The head of the sphynx don is wedge-shapeda The cheekbones are well developed and they have a strong chin and a flat, heavily wrinkled forehead. The ears of these cats are large, wide and set high, directed somewhat forward. The eyes of this cat breed are almond shaped and have a serious, yet calm expression. As for color, his eyes can be of any shade, but always bright and clear, according to the color of his skin or how little hair he has.
Sphynx cat colors
The don sphynx is a cat of the group of cats without hair, although the skin can be of various colors and patterns. Depending on the amount of hair and how long it lasts until they run out of it, we can differentiate 4 varieties of don sphynx:
- Don sphynx brush: they have the most hair, since they are born with it but lose it little by little on their heads, neck and upper back.
- Don sphynx velour: they are born with woolly hair that ends up disappearing during their first year of life, leaving some short hairs on the tail, legs and face.
- Don sphynx flock: they are born without hair, but with a kind of down that gives them a velvety touch that can disappear over time, being totally without hair or hair.
- Don sphynx rubber bald: These cats are born hairless and will never grow out.
Cat character don sphynx or donskoy
The Don Sphynx has an affectionate, friendly and loyal temperament They are very sociable cats, so they tend to get along with others animals, with strangers and with people of all ages, especially if they are willing to play with them, as they are very playful. They are also very active, so they need to be in constant movement, climbing, jumping and running around the house.
Something to note about this breed is that they don't like to stay home alone, they are dependent and faithful to their caregivers, in a way that tend to suffer in their absence, especially if they lack environmental enrichment.
Don sphynx or donskoy cat care
Regarding the hygienic care that donskoy cat keepers should have, due to the amount of sebaceous secretion they produce daily on their skin and that is not distributed through the hair due to the lack of it, it will be necessary clean it with damp cloths or wipes specially designed for it, without being irritating. The bath can also be done with a mild shampoo for cats if they tolerate it well. Hygiene of the eyes, ears and teeth is key to preventing diseases and infections that can affect these body structures.
Related to the absence of hair, these are cats whose skin is highly exposed to damage from the sun's UV rays, so they should use sunscreensThey are also sensitive to low temperatures, so the house should always be heated. Likewise, in very cold climates, it is worth using coats or blankets for cats to help them not lose temperature.
The diet must be complete, balanced and intended for the feline species. Donskoys have a fast metabolism, so they need to eat more every day than other calmer cat breeds with slower metabolisms. However, the amount should always be adjusted to each Sphynx gift in particular according to their individual characteristics. Water should always be available and food should be given in several small daily intakes.
They should have interactive toys and other environmental enrichment measures, especially for when they are home alone. In addition to scratching posts, it is convenient to have a good litter box with a litter of your liking, which is not irritating to the skin of these cats and preferably not perfumed.
He alth of the don sphynx or donskoy cat
The life expectancy of the Don Sphynx cat is between 10 and 15 years They are strong and he althy cats that have no predisposition to any particular disease. However, due to the absence of hair, they can suffer sunburn in summer, be more prone to skin infectionsbefore any scratch or trauma and allergies and other dermatological problems. Learn about the most common skin diseases in cats in this other article.
Without a doubt, what will condition the cat to have a good life expectancy and be happy and he althy will be the correct care and good preventive medicine. To prevent infectious and parasitic diseases, it is advisable to go to the veterinary clinic to establish a vaccination and deworming schedule, respectively, as well as routine check-ups. It is also important that they are sterilized to prevent diseases and tumors of the reproductive system of males and females don sphynx.
Where to adopt a sphynx or donskoy cat?
Adopting a Don Sphynx can be difficult, since they are usually cats that are highly sought after by breeders. However, it might be possible to find a donskoy cat in a protective or shelter If this is not the case, you can also look for sphynx cat rescue associations, where they can also include don sphynx specimens for their resemblance.
