Hairless cats are part of a group of fairly recent breeds that stormed the world with their unusual looks. They might seem funny to some (and straight up ugly to others), but their lovely and caring nature eclipses all negative prejudices in no time! 😻 Playful and more attached to humans than regular furry cats, they make great companions and fill our lives with tenderness and laughs. However, there’s darkness in their dark… Get ready to know these bald friends!
Where did hairless cats come from?
There have been reports of hairless cats throughout history, with stories dating as far back as the Aztec period. Nevertheless, they were mainly considered an abnormality. Many were shunned from society and even tortured due to their bald nature. 🤢
Although people tend to think of hairless cats as one single breed, they are actually separated in two main groups: the Sphynx and the Donskoy. Both breeds share innumerous features, which makes it hard to distinguish them at first sight. However, their stories are different and separated by thousands of miles!
To understand where hairless cats come from is to know their stories. Let’s begin!
The Sphynx cat is the result of a spontaneous mutation and the consequence of a recessive gene. When two normal furry cats (carring this gene) mate, chances are 1 in 4 kittens will be born hairless.
That’s basically what happened in Toronto in 1966, and in Minnesota in 1975. The former is considered to be the birthplace of hairless cats, while the latter marks the beginning of breed crossing. An Oregon breeder experimenting with lineage crossings between the Canadian cats and their American counterparts was the first to start the breeding fever.
Breeders across the world have paired different haired and hairless cats, selecting only the stronger specimens (both mentally and physically). Despite their fame, the Sphynx was actually only officially accepted as a breed in 2002. 😮
The Donskoy cat might look like a Sphynx doppelganger, but they are a completely different breed from Russia!
These cats were first discovered in 1987, when Elena Kovaleva saved a kitten being tortured in the streets. This feline, named Varvara, later lost all her hair… Thinking it was due to a disease, Elena tried several treatments to no avail. 🤔
The story took a turn when professional breeder Irina Nemikina came into action, adopting one of Varvara’s hairless kittens. Irina then started a breeding program, eventually discovering that the hairless feature was the result of a single and particular dominant gene – not a disease.
One thing that sets apart the Donskoy cat from the Sphynx is the former’s ability to grow small hairs in winter, shedding it on warmer days. Some specimens might also have tiny hairs, that can either be permanent or shed naturally with age.
Hairless cats are generally very healthy and are not prone to any particular ailment. Their average life expectancy is about 15 years!
There is only one thing you may need to pay attention to: their skin. Since it is bare and unprotected, they can easily get sunburnt. Likewise, they’re also vulnerable to temperature changes and can easily get overheated or cold. 🌡️
Hairless cats can still visit the outside world… But they are definitely the indoor type!
This may sound strange at first, but hairless cats are high maintenance! ✨
For starters, they need a bath once a week to clean their skin oil. Otherwise, a greasy film can form on their skin, making them icky and sticky.
Hairless cats also have hairless ears, meaning there is no barrier to prevent the accumulation of dust and dirt in these cavities. Owners must make sure to clean their ears thoroughly a couple of times a week, using cotton swabs and ear cleaner.
Are they hypoallergenic?
Contrary to popular opinion, they are not hypoallergenic… Because, well, there are no hypoallergenic cats!
All cats produce Fel d 1, and hairless cats are no exception. This protein is present in cats’ saliva and skin, and is responsible for most allergic symptoms.
Nevertheless, their lack of fur also means less pollen and dust gets attached to them. This explains why less people have allergies with hairless cats. 🐱
During the experiments crossing the lineage of hairless cats with furry cats, many hybrids were born. Although most disappeared after one or two generations, some are still going strong… And ready to take over our hearts!
A hybrid between the American Curl and the Sphynx. This lovely cat gets his name due to his curly and pointy ears that resemble elves.
A cross between a Sphynx and a Munchkin cat. Their cutest and most remarkable feature is their stumpy short legs. They also look and behave almost like little monkeys!
The Peterbald is a hybrid between a Donskoy and an Oriental Shorthair. These hairless cats have a very distinctive body type with a long and narrow head, long thin tail and webbed feet.
They may look snobbish and strange, at first… But all they want is love, attention and a lot of petting to keep them warm and cherished! So, have you fallen in love with these lovely hairless cats? 🐈
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Paka wasio na nywele ni sehemu ya kikundi cha jamii za hivi karibuni ambazo zilitokea ulimwenguni pote kwa sababu ya sura yao isiyo ya kawaida. Huenda wakaonekana kuwa wenye kuchekesha kwa wengine (na wenye kuchukiza kwa wengine), lakini asili yao yenye kupendeza na ya kujali huondoa ubaguzi wote mbaya upesi! <unk> Wenye kucheza na wenye kushikamana zaidi na wanadamu kuliko paka wa kawaida wenye manyoya, wao ni marafiki wazuri na hujaza maisha yetu kwa huruma na kicheko. Hata hivyo, kuna giza katika giza lao... Jitayarishe kujua marafiki hawa wa kipofu! Paka wasio na nywele walitoka wapi? Kuna ripoti za paka wasio na nywele katika historia yote, na hadithi za zamani za kale kama vile kipindi cha Aztec. Hata hivyo, kwa kawaida zilionwa kuwa mambo yasiyo ya kawaida. Wengi walifukuzwa na jamii na hata kuteswa kwa sababu ya kuwa na manyoya mengi. Ingawa watu huona paka wasio na nywele kuwa jamii moja, kwa kweli wao hugawanywa katika vikundi viwili vikuu: Sphynx na Donskoy. Mbwa hao wawili wana sifa nyingi zinazofanana, na hiyo hufanya iwe vigumu kuwatofautisha kwa mara ya kwanza. Hata hivyo, hadithi zao ni tofauti na zinatenganishwa na maelfu ya kilometa! Kuelewa mahali ambapo paka wasio na nywele wanatoka ni kujua hadithi zao. Hebu tuanze! Paka wa Sphynx ni matokeo ya mabadiliko ya ghafula na matokeo ya jeni la kurudi nyuma. Kwa mfano, paka wawili wenye manyoya ya kawaida (wanao jeni hili) wanapozaliana, inawezekana kwamba mtoto mmoja kati ya watoto wanne atazaliwa bila manyoya. Hii ni kwa sababu ya matukio ya Toronto mwaka 1966 na Minnesota mwaka 1975. Mbwa wa kwanza huonwa kuwa mahali pa kuzaliwa kwa paka wasio na nywele, huku wa pili akiwa mwanzo wa kuvuka jamii. Mfugaji mmoja wa Oregon, Marekani, alikuwa akifanya majaribio ya kuunganisha paka wa Canada na wale wa Marekani, na hivyo akaanzisha mlipuko wa kuzaana. Wanyama wengi wanaopanda paka wana rangi tofauti na wana nywele tofauti, na huchagua wanyama wenye nguvu zaidi kiakili na kimwili. Kwa sababu ya sifa yake ya kuvutia, Sphynx ni aina ya mbwa wa asili wa Amerika. <unk> Paka wa Donskoy huenda akaonekana kama Sphynx doppelganger, lakini wao ni jamii tofauti kabisa kutoka Urusi! Wanyama hao walipatikana mwaka 1987 wakati Elena Kovaleva alipomwokoa mtoto wa paka aliyekuwa akiteswa barabarani. Mbwa huyo, aliyeitwa Varvara, baadaye alipoteza nywele zake zote... akifikiri kwamba ilikuwa kwa sababu ya ugonjwa, Elena alijaribu matibabu kadhaa bila mafanikio. <unk> Hadithi hiyo ilibadilika wakati mfugaji mtaalamu Irina Nemikina alipoingia vitani, akichukua mojawapo ya paka wasio na nywele wa Varvara. Kisha Irina akaanza programu ya kuzalisha, na hatimaye akagundua kwamba nywele hizo hazikuwa ugonjwa bali zilisababishwa na jeni moja tu. Jambo moja linalotofautisha paka wa Donskoy na Sphynx ni uwezo wa yule wa kwanza wa kukuza nywele ndogo wakati wa majira ya baridi kali, na kuzitoa siku zenye joto. Baadhi ya spishi hizo zaweza pia kuwa na nywele ndogo-ndogo, ambazo zinaweza kuwa za kudumu au kuanguka kwa kawaida kadiri zinavyokua. Kwa kawaida paka wasio na nywele huwa na afya nzuri na hawawezi kuugua ugonjwa wowote. Wastani wa maisha yao ni miaka 15 hivi! Kuna jambo moja tu ambalo huenda ukahitaji kukazia fikira: ngozi yao. Kwa kuwa hazina kitu na hazina ulinzi, zinaweza kuchomwa na jua kwa urahisi. Vivyo hivyo, wao pia ni dhaifu kwa mabadiliko ya joto na inaweza kwa urahisi kupata overheated au baridi. ️ Paka wasio na nywele bado wanaweza kutembelea ulimwengu wa nje... Lakini kwa hakika wao ni aina ya ndani! Huenda hilo likasikika kuwa jambo lisilo la kawaida mwanzoni, lakini paka wasio na nywele huhitaji utunzaji mwingi! <unk> Kwanza, wanahitaji kuoga mara moja kwa juma ili kusafisha mafuta ya ngozi yao. La sivyo, ngozi yao inaweza kuwa na mafuta mengi, na hivyo kuwa na rangi mbaya na yenye kunata. Paka wasio na nywele pia wana masikio yasiyo na nywele, ikimaanisha kwamba hakuna kizuizi cha kuzuia vumbi na uchafu usikusanye katika mashimo hayo. Wamiliki wanapaswa kuhakikisha kwamba wanasafisha masikio yao kwa uangalifu mara kadhaa kwa juma, wakitumia vijiti vya pamba na dawa ya kusafisha masikio. Je, hazisababishi mzio? Kinyume na maoni ya kawaida, wao si hypoallergenic... kwa sababu, vizuri, hakuna paka hypoallergenic! Paka wote hutokeza Fel d 1, na paka wasio na nywele si tofauti. Protini hii iko katika mate na ngozi ya paka, na ni wajibu kwa dalili nyingi za mzio. Hata hivyo, ukosefu wao wa manyoya pia humaanisha kwamba chavua na vumbi huambatana nao kidogo. Hilo laeleza kwa nini watu wachache hupata mzio kwa paka wasio na nywele. <unk> Wakati wa majaribio ya kuvuka ukoo wa paka wasio na nywele na paka wenye manyoya, wanyama wengi waliozaliwa walikuwa mchanganyiko. Ingawa wengi wametoweka baada ya kizazi kimoja au viwili, wengine bado wana nguvu... na wako tayari kuteka mioyo yetu! Mchanganuo kati ya Curl ya Marekani na Sphynx. Paka huyu mrembo alipata jina lake kwa sababu ya masikio yake yenye manyoya na yenye ncha ambayo yanafanana na masikio ya kipepeo. Msalaba kati ya Sphynx na paka Munchkin. Sifa yao yenye kupendeza na yenye kutokeza zaidi ni miguu yao mifupi yenye kunata. Pia huonekana na kujiendesha karibu kama nyani wadogo! Peterbald ni mchanganyiko wa Donskoy na Oriental Shorthair. Paka hao wasio na nywele wana mwili wa kipekee sana wenye kichwa kirefu na chenye nyembamba, mkia mrefu mwembamba, na miguu yenye utando. Huenda wakaonekana kuwa wenye kiburi na wa ajabu, mwanzoni... lakini wanahitaji tu upendo, uangalifu na mapenzi mengi ili waendelee kuwa wenye joto na kupendwa! Kwa hiyo, je, umependana na paka hawa wazuri wasio na nywele? <unk> Maven ni wote kuhusu proactive pet huduma. Kuwa rafiki wa karibu wa rafiki yako kwa kuwapa huduma ya 24 7, ubora wa juu, huduma ya mnyama wa kuongoza sekta ili kuboresha afya yao ya akili, afya ya mwili na zaidi. Hakuna zaidi ya googling frenetic au ziara unnecessary stressful kwa daktari wa mifugo <unk> Maven husaidia kuokoa mamia wakati pia kuhakikisha pet yako anaishi maisha bora iwezekanavyo. Kupata kit yako sasa!