If you picture a hairless cat, chances are a Sphynx comes to mind. But the Sphynx is only one of several breeds with little to no fur. From the Peterbald’s varied coat types to the Lykoi’s patchy, wolfish look, these cats differ in their origins, genetic traits, body structures and day-to-day grooming needs.
One caveat before getting into the list: “hairless” does not necessarily mean the exact same thing for each breed. Many cats described as bald have fine fuzz or patches of fur, and recognition varies across cat registries. The Sphynx, Peterbald, Donskoy and Lykoi, for instance, have profiles on The International Cat Association’s (TICA) website, while newer hybrid breeds may have a more limited recognition status depending on the registry.
Sphynx
The sphynx is the star of the show in the world of hairless cats. As briefly mentioned above, sphynxes are not always completely bald. According to TICA’s standards, sphynxes are required to have hair on their noses and may have some on their ears, paws and tails. Meanwhile, the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) allows for soft, peach-like fuzz over parts of the body.
The breed’s modern development traces back to naturally hairless kittens born in North America. Both the CFA and TICA say sphynxes are active, curious and affectionate pets. Because they lack a conventional coat, these cats can accumulate skin oils and need regular, targeted skin and ear care.
Peterbald
The elegant Peterbald first emerged in St. Petersburg, Russia, in the 1990s when an oriental shorthair was crossed with a Donskoy. TICA says the hairlessness gene of the Peterbald and Donskoy is dominant, unlike the sphynx gene.
The Peterbald’s coat is especially notable due to its variety: They can be hairless, lightly fuzzed or coated. In fact, an individual cat’s coat can change over time. The peach fuzz comparison strikes again when petting a flock-coated Peterbald — TICA also described the coat as being made up of “short chamois” hair that has a velvety texture.
"People think, well, with the name Peterbald, they're just all bald, and they're not," said hairless cat enthusiast Lisa Park, who owns Gren, a flock-coated Peterbald. "Peterbalds have five different coat types."
Gren is about 90% hairless and has a flock coat, which Park describes as a peach-fuzz-like texture.
"She's literally like a peach fuzz, or like a newborn baby is how I always describe her to touch," Park said.
The breed was officially recognized by TICA for championship competitions in 2005.
Donskoy
The Donskoy, a.k.a the Don sphynx, is another Russian hairless breed; however, it is genetically distinct from the sphynx of North America. Per TICA, the Donskoy came about following a spontaneous mutation. These cats may be bald, lightly fuzzy or have patches of fur.
Donskoys are often described as social, intelligent and expressive, but keep in mind that individual personalities may vary.
Bambino
A bambino is a cross between a sphynx and a munchkin, pairing the former’s sparse coat with the latter’s short legs. The results is quite the sight to see: A small, low-slung cat with large ears and prominent wrinkles.
Due to the fact this is a relatively new hybrid breed, the bambino’s recognition can vary by registry. At this point, its best characterized as a hairless or nearly hairless breed type, rather than presumed to have the same status as the established championship breeds.
Elf
Once again, the sphynx was crossed with another breed, this time the American Curl, to create the elf’s distinct look. Its ears give the breed its fantasy-inspired name and distinguish it quickly from a typical sphynx.
Another newer hybrid, this breed does not have uniform recognition across the major cat registries. If you’re considering owning an elf, be aware that distinctive physical traits typically come with breed-specific care considerations.
Dwelf
The dwelf takes the elf concept even further: it is a hairless, short-legged cat with curled earls, developed using sphynx, munchkin and American curl ancestry.
This trifecta makes the dwelf quite possibly the most visually unusual cats on our list. As you’ve probably inferred based on the prior entry, this is an even rarer and newer breed, so its registry representation is lacking.
Minskin
The minskin is another small breed developed via sphynx and munchkin roots. Rather than being uniformly hairless, minskins commonly have sparse fur concentrated on “points,” like the face, ears, legs and tail, making it a proper reminder of how the term “bald cat” is more of a shorthand than a 100% accurate coat description.
As the name suggests, the minskin’s diminutive size is one of its calling cards: Adults weigh between 4 to 6 pounds and stand 7 to 8 inches tall.
Ukrainian levkoy
The Ukrainian levkoy is a newer breed known for its folded ears and hairless (or nearly hairless!) body. Developed in (spoiler alert) Ukraine, this breed mixes hairlessness with the Scottish Fold’s distinctive ear shape.
This breed is rarely seen compared to a sphynx, and its recognition status varies among the registries. That said, the Ukrainian levkoy is a prime example of how much body structure, not just a coat, can vary among hairless cats.
Lykoi
To finish off our list, we have our outlier: The lykoi. Often called a “wolf cat,” it’s not bald in the smooth-skinned way a sphynx is. Instead, TICA says this is a partially hairless breed, with a distinct roan coat that can range from nearly bare to much more covered depending on the cat’s hair cycle.
The lykoi is one of the newer breeds recognized by TICA, and its eerie, werewolf-esque look has certainly made it one of a kind.
What to know before bringing home a hairless cat
Whether a cat is fully bare, covered in peach fuzz or has a patchy coat, prospective owners need to remember that hairless cats are not as automatically low-maintenance as their traditionally-furry counterparts. Extra steps for care can include skin, eye and ear cleaning, protection from temperature extremes and sun and regular veterinary attention, all in addition to the same patience, play and love you’d provide any other cat.
For Park, the routine includes daily eye and ear wipes, occasional baths based on Gren's needs and a small heater to keep her comfortable when the air conditioning is on.
"Otherwise, we'd have to have it like 85 degrees in the house," Park said. "And that would not work out well for us humans."
Hairless cats can also be exceptionally people-oriented, thought that personality trait varies from feline to feline. Gren is what Park calls a "velcro kitty," one that wants to accompany her nearly everywhere. For prospective owners, that can mean preparing not only for skincare and warmth, but also for a cat that may want a lot of interaction and enrichment.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The naked truth about 9 'hairless' cat breeds
