Believe it or not, not all cats shed their fur, mainly because some come with little fur while others none at all. These special cat breeds come in all forms, sizes and colors, and can be a great addition to a family with fur related allergies, or busy individuals that don’t have much time to groom their pets.
If you’re interested in adopting a non-shedding cat breed, read on to learn more about some of the most interesting and unique varieties there are. True wonders of nature they are.
Benefits of Having a Cat That Doesn’t Shed
- They don’t need as much grooming attention as a shedding cat
- These cats look unique and are one of a kind
- Ideal for allergy prone cat lovers
- Perfect for busy families and individuals that don’t always have the chance to regularly groom their pets
- They’re usually more affectionate and enjoy socializing more than regular cats, which is easy to do as they don’t shed
List of Cats That Don’t Shed
Here’s my favorite list of cats that don’t shed, in no particular order. Enjoy.
The Egyptian Sphynx
As the name suggests, the Sphynx is of Egyptian origin, and has distinct features that make easily identifiable. They have a fine down layer instead of a fur coat and they often require external sources of warmth such as blankets and throws to keep them warm, especially during the cold winter months.
These unique cats also come in a variety of colors and interesting patterns, and unlike most cats that have a nonchalant disposition, the Sphinx can be very loving and intelligent.
The Donskoy
The Donskoy, which looks eerily similar to the Sphinx, is a Russian breed with a smooth hairless appearance- feature that usually compromises its ability to regulate their temperature.
The Donskoy is a warm-blooded animal that uses perspiration to cool themselves down when experiencing warm temperatures. If you have other cats, the you’ll love the fact that this breed of cat has a very sociable personality and can get along very well with other pets.
The Cornish Rex
Unlike the previous two, the Cornish Rex does have a coat of fur, albeit very thin and short. N fact, if you were to add two more layers of fur to their coat and they’d be a regular cat, however due to a bizarre genetic mutation, their coat takes on a distinctive pattern which is also what keeps it so short and thin.
Similarly to the Sphinx, the Cornish Rex is a very affectionate animal and has no problems in socializing with both humans and other pets.
Peterbald
This particular Russian breed is just another version of the Donskoy, and can be a bit of a wild card. While a vast majority of them are born without hair, some are, but then they typically shed it all and become bald as they age.
They come in various patterns and colors, but they’re easily distinguishable by their large ears, bright eyes and svelte physique. Like the Donskoy, they’re very companionable and intelligent.
Javanese
The Javanese is not exactly bald and features a thin layer of fur on their coat, known as guard hairs. This gives them the appearance of being lie a regular cat, except they don’t shed. Javanese are also big foodies and enjoy being in communion with their owners and other pets.
The Bengal
At first glance, you might confuse a Bengal cat’s fur with that of a regular cat, but in fact theirs is a very thin coat which requires very little grooming when compared to traditional cats.
Bengals are of Asian origin, and a mix between the wild and domestic cat, a feature which is evidenced by their large stature and appearance. They also feature beautiful patterns and don’t mind being stroked and showing affection to their owner.
Devon Rex
Although they have similar names, the Devon Rex is not connected to the Cornish Rex in any way. Their coat consists of a very thin layer of down fur, which causes to shed much less than regular cats.
Some of their most distinguishing features include large and weirdly shaped ears that have earned it the nickname, “alien cat”. They can easily adapt to a new environment and are very energetic, preferring to jump around and follow their owners throughout the house.
The Laperm
Although the Laperm has a very thick and curly coat, they hardly ever shed. They’re also agile and very clever, often learning tricks like ‘fetch’ very easily. But I enjoy it’s various colors and patterns the most.
Russian Blue
Another breed hailing from Russia, the coat on these cats tends to take on a unique bluish gray tint, with wide and clear green eyes. Their shedding is quite easy to manage, as they only shed once or twice in a year.
The Siamese Cat
Over the years, the Siamese cat has gained a reputation as the ‘poster child’ for low-shedding cats. Although you wouldn’t be able to tell from their appearance, Siamese cats actually have a thin layer of fur as well as a fur-trapping coat which they use to prevent from shedding all over the place.
This means that you might have to groom them every now and then, maybe a few times a year. Other than that, they’re fairly low maintenance and are friendly, loyal and sociable. Distinct features include bright big eyes and a very slender and lithe physique.
Conclusion
Although this list provides some of the most popular breeds of non-shedding cats, it is by no means exhaustive. So if you haven’t yet found your favourite among these breeds, in suggest you look into others like the Birman, Oriental, Exotic Shorthair, Bombay, the Tonkenese, Japanese Bobtail and Korat to name but a few.
All have pretty exotic names, I know. But their features are equally unique and most of them have surprisingly friendly dispositions when compared to regular cats. Just be sure to do some research into the breed and make sure that you pick one that your entire family will fall in love with. But then again with these cuties, what’s not to love?
