Hairless Cat Breeds

When people hear the term "hairless cat breeds," they tend to think that the cat is completely bald. This is not true as this type of cat actually has a coat of fine down hair that covers its body.

Even though these cats have less hair than other types of cats, it does not mean that it is a hypoallergenic cat breed. People are allergic to a protein that is present in the saliva of a cat and not the actual hair.

One of the most well known hairless cats is the Sphynx. In Toronto in 1963 a litter of kittens were discovered that had been born without hair. A breeding program was started with these kittens but was discontinued in the late 1970's. In 1978 the last breeding pair was sent to Holland but they did not produce any litters. Kittens that were born without hair due to natural mutations were bred to the Devon Rex - a cat with almost no hair. This established a new interest in the Sphynx and today this different cat breed is recognized for shows by cat fanciers worldwide.

Another of these strange looking cats is the Peterbald cat breed that has the elegant look of the Siamese but without the hair. The coat of this cat is divided into two groups: bald and hairy. A kitten that falls into the bald category is born without any hair, whiskers and eyebrows and stays like this throughout its entire life.

These cats require special care and grooming. Ideally, they should be kept as indoor cats. If allowed to go outside, an animal-friendly sunscreen has to be applied to prevent sunburn.

In the cold winter months, they have to be protected against the cold. This can be done by providing fur-lined baskets and tunnels or by dressing the cat in a soft coat.

This is one cat breed that actually requires a bath. As there is no hair to absorb skin oils, the skin will be greasy to the touch and breeders recommend a bath twice a week to keep the skin in good condition. When bathing this type of cat, use only a veterinary quality product (never human shampoo!) and make sure that there are no drafts. Dry the cat with a soft towel.

Before choosing such a cat, think about the extra care and grooming that they require. You have to be able to make the commitment to ensure that your hairless cat is happy and healthy.

People who love cats come in all shapes and sizes, as do cat breeds. Being informed about the different cat breeds and their needs will ensure that you and your cat have a mutually beneficial relationship.

If you would like to learn more about cat breeds and how to take care of your cat, visit http://www.cat-breed-info.com

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Different Cat Breeds - Types of Cats

Surely, you must know that there are different types of cats. And the number of breeds can be overwhelming. But, if there is one way to categorize domesticated felines, it will be based on the length and type of their coat. Other famous categories used are on their physical features and size.

Longhaired Cats. These are mostly found in areas with cold climates. Their long hair allows them to keep warm despite the very low temperatures of their surroundings. The most famous examples of felines that belong to this category are Persian cats, Siberian Cats, and Birman cats. Of course, there are still several more felines that have long hair and that belong in this category.

Rexed Cats. These have curly hair. Their hairs remain as such because of mutation in the genes that happened naturally. These cats and their curly hair features can be passed on from one offspring to another but the characteristic can either be visible or not as these are held by either dominant or recessive genes.

Examples of cats that have rexed coats are Cornish rex, Devon rex cat, and the skookum.

Hairless Cats. There are also hairless. This feature separates them from other cats that have coats. These felines appear bald and such a feature is also believed to be a result of natural mutation of their species. If there is one famous hairless cat, it will be the Sphinx. Other hairless felines include the Bambino, the Dwelf, and the Minskin.

Short tailed. Cats are also classified according to their physical features. There are short tailed that are made up of the American Bobtail, the Cymric, the Manx, and a few more. These are very noticeable because their tails are almost like lumps and are not anymore a long extension at their ends.

Short legged. If there are short tailed cats, there is also a group of that are made up of those that have short legs. The Munchkin cat is a famous short legged. The Bambino, the Genetta, and Lambkin also have short legs.

These group of animals are sometimes known as dwarf cats because of their short height as a result of their short legs.

Cats with unusual ears. These have ears that are either curled or folded. Their ears sometimes appear asymmetrical. Examples of cats that have unusual ears are the American curl and the Scottish Ford.

Hypoallergenic cats. People who easily develop allergic reactions are advised to avoid pets. But, there can be cats that are acceptable for these people to have. There are also so-called hypoallergenic cats like the Bambino cat, Donskoy, Peterbald, and La Perm. Although these can still make the person develop allergic reactions, the gravity by which these reactions occur is lesser.

Hybrid cats. These days, due to experimentation and the advancement of science, hybrid cats have added to the list of feline breeds. These cats are considered results of cross-breeding of one feline species to another.

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