Don Sphynx: Russian with alien appearance

Don Sphynxes are hairless cats with large ears, folded skin and a distant look. Their pretentious appearance makes a lasting impression.

A good-natured and gentle disposition, as well as affection for the owner, make these animals real couch physiotherapists. To make life with a Donchak comfortable for both the cat and the owner, you need to understand the specifics of the breed.

Brief history of the breed

The small homeland of these hairless cats is Rostov-on-Don.

In the late 1980s, city resident Elena Kovaleva picked up a stray cat. The woman named the foundling Varvara and treated her for baldness for a long time. When it became clear that the therapy was not bringing results, it was decided to leave the cat alone.

Having matured, Varvara gave birth to babies from the local cat Vasily. One girl from the litter turned out to be as hairless as her mother. The unusual cat was named Chita and began to be used for breeding purposes.

In 1992, an experimental breed standard was created. In 1997, the Donetsk team received recognition from the WCF. Today, the Rostov Sphinx is recognized by all major felinological organizations.

Varieties

Depending on the type and structure of the coat, representatives of the Don Sphynx breed are divided into types:

• velor: at birth, such cats are covered with hair 2-3 mm long. As they grow older, the hairs fall out, completely exposing the skin;
• Brush: The body of these Don Chaks is covered with long, hard, curly hair. Usually, by the age of two years, Don Sphynxes of this type become completely or partially bald;
• flock: A cat's skin is covered with fine, short hair that looks more like down. Over time, the hair falls out;
• hairless (“rubber”): these Don Sphynxes are born completely hairless, and their bodies are covered with hot, wrinkled skin.

On a note. Donchak dogs with brushed wool are not allowed for exhibitions, but are quite suitable for breeding.

In turn, the velor sphinx type has varieties:

• light velor - with wool no longer than 2 mm;
• velor point - with short pile on the paws and muzzle up to 4 mm long;
• downy velor - with soft fur all over the body.

Brash Don Sphynxes are also divided into:

• brush velor: with hair no longer than 0.5 cm. As the cat gets older, the cover changes to a thin flock in the neck, back and sides;
• brush point: at birth, babies have thick fur. By the age of one and a half years, the cover of such Donchak becomes thinner. The tail and muzzle of the sphinx are overgrown with short, thick hair. The remaining parts of the cat's body are covered with light velor;
• dense brush: with thick hair, under which the Donchak skin is not visible.

What is the difference between the Don Sphynx and the Canadian Sphynx?

The Russian hairless Don cat has an overseas almost twin brother - the Canadian Sphynx. But in fact, these two breeds are very different. Apart from the obvious difference that the Donetsk man has a wedge-shaped head, and his eyebrows and cheekbones are clearly defined, there is a more important difference - genetics. A feline compatriot and a foreigner are incompatible, for this reason they are not crossed.

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A Canadian hairless kitten with a full set of standard qualities will appear only if both parents are carriers of the recessive gene responsible for the characteristic features of the breed. Otherwise, only part of the litter will have the required cover, the rest will be completely or fragmentarily fluffy. But it’s worth considering that there are no completely bald Canadians.

Donskoy, on the contrary, does not have such problems, since he has a dominant gene. That is, brush, flock and hairless cat can be safely crossed with each other. With any mating, cubs with the expected parameters can be born. This simplifies the process of breeding Rostov cats. In addition, Donetsk residents have a healthier cardiovascular system and stronger immunity.

Interesting Facts

Fans who are not indifferent to the Don Sphynx cat breed discover interesting facts when getting to know her:

• These hairless animals need constant communication with people and do not miss the opportunity to touch them. Because of this feature, they are often called “kissing” cats;
• The skin of Don sphinxes is comparable to human skin. Under the influence of the sun, a tan appears on it, sweat appears in the heat;
• Don Sphynxes were used to develop a new breed called the Peterbald. For this purpose, hairless cats were bred with Turkish Angora, Siamese and Russian Blues.

Breed description, standards, appearance

The Don Sphynx is a harmonious cat with strong bones and hot, velvety skin. She has a memorable appearance that evokes associations with an alien.

The anatomical characteristics of the Donchak are specified in detail in the breed standard.

Dimensions and weight

The Don Sphynx cat is considered a medium-sized animal. It grows to 25-30 cm at the withers. The weight of an adult female is 3.5-5 kg. The Donchak cat weighs up to 7 kg.

Anatomical characteristics

A typical hairless cat must conform to the official breed description. A real Don Sphynx looks like this:

• the head is wedge-shaped, with a flat forehead, clearly defined cheekbones and developed eyebrows. The nose is straight, the whisker pads are visualized;
• eyes are medium-sized, almond-shaped. The color of the iris depends on the base color;
• The ears are set wide apart and large. The tips are rounded. The external contours do not protrude beyond the cheek line;
• the body is strong, with developed muscles, a straight back and graceful posture;
• limbs are long and thin. The paw pads are oblong. Fingers extended;
• the tail is long, flexible, without bends.

Skin and color

Don Sphynxes have elastic skin that gathers in folds in the groin, armpits and forehead. The skin is almost hot to the touch.

The color of cats without fur on their bodies is determined by skin pigmentation. According to the Donetsk standard, any colors are allowed. Most often found in the breed:

• ginger;
• lilac;
• black;
• blue;
• white;
• red-pink;
• chocolate;
• cream;
• tabby;
• calico;
• smoky (gray).

Possible breed defects

The disadvantages, in the presence of which the Don Sphynxes will not receive a high expert assessment, include:

• Round eyes;
• undershot up to 2 mm;
• short, narrow or round head;
• complete pubescence;
• short or irregularly ending tail;
• low-set or small ears;
• weak, light or shortened body.

Important! Donchak dogs with an inversion of the eyelids or an underbite of more than 2 mm do not participate in exhibitions and are not used for breeding.

Useful tips

• During pregnancy, you should limit your cat from jumping on high objects. At this time, the center of gravity is slightly shifted, which can lead to falls.
• The tail should be wiped with a special cosmetic product, sold at a veterinary pharmacy, that does not contain alcohol.
• The Don Sphynx always looks forward to the arrival of its beloved owner. Upon arrival, it is always recommended to give your pet at least a little personal time.
• Breeders recommend petting your pet more often. Don Sphynxes have a very strong biofield that calms, heals, and relieves the effects of stress.

Did you like the article? Share it with your friends. As always, we are waiting for reviews, questions, comments, stories about your favorite pets.

Character and temperament

Don Sphynxes are soft and vulnerable cats that require constant communication with humans. They are not prone to aggression and are absolutely not jealous. Good-natured Donetsk people are easy to offend, but difficult to anger.

The gentle, hairless cats love attention and often sit on their owners' laps. At the same time, they are not prone to excessive intrusiveness and will not bother with tenderness to those who do not need them.

Don Sphynxes are moderately lazy animals. They will be equally happy to engage in standard cat activities and spend time sitting comfortably on a warm radiator.

Breed and children

Sociable Don Sphynxes get along well with children of different ages. They never allow themselves to attack children. Donchak people happily take part in funny children's pranks.

Breed and other animals

The character of cats of the Don Sphynx breed is non-conflicting. This allows them to live peacefully in the same territory not only with their relatives and non-aggressive dogs, but also with guinea pigs, parrots and hamsters.

Owner reviews

From the very first days, Koska identified me as his mistress unconditionally. This means constant communication, jumping into arms, grabbing with paws, purring from all sides and an offended, perplexed look if I do not obey. The cat sincerely does not understand how it is possible not to take him in your arms at the first request or not let him sit on your knees. Cat petting around the clock, with short breaks for sleep and food, this borders on intrusiveness.

Vera Golubeva

https://irecommend.ru/content/donskoi-sfinks-koshka-kotoraya-gulyaet-sama-po-sebe-net-neteto-koshka-kotoraya-gulyaet-po-te

Playful, jumping, vocal. She ate, said thank you, meow; I went to the potty, meow - clean it up. And as she walked, there was a completely wild scream. It became easier after sterilization. And as soon as the grandchildren cry, he immediately calls: go calm the kids down, otherwise I will bite you. The character is still the same, I don’t want it and don’t touch me. My beloved mistress is mine alone and I won’t give it all away to anyone. When I get home, he runs around for half an hour cursing: where have you been? Well, the housewife gets her dirty butt after using the toilet. It seems like the cat is licking itself, but its body temperature is 40 degrees, so everything sticks, you have to wash it. So it's fun. And there are no other problems. He sleeps under the owner’s blanket, if it’s cold he climbs onto his stomach, or under his side. She goes into the potty without any problems, that’s clear, she gnawed on the violets a long time ago.

Lucinda0309

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https://irecommend.ru/content/khotite-myt-koshachyu-popu-zavedite-donskogo-sfinksa

I have never met more affectionate and intelligent animals. I came across a black cat. I read on the Internet that Don sphinxes can heal people, but I didn’t take it very seriously. Over the course of 10 months, my cat licked the thyroid gland on my neck, which was enlarged by 40%. When I was told at the ultrasound that the Don Sphynxes were being treated, I was shocked!!! I saw the results myself. Moreover, donchak have a final visual memory. I walk her on a leash down the street. I go to the store with her. Sits in the basket - doesn’t jump out - looks at everyone - inquisitive. If you are accustomed to water from childhood - not to be afraid of water - they love to swim and bathe. In winter it's as good as hot water bottles. They love to kiss, play, meet you at the door, and see you off. They are not picky about food. They are like lie detectors to me. We stopped buying many products in stores. We let the Donets smell it - if they eat it, then it’s a good product, if they don’t eat it, we don’t buy these products anymore.

[email protected]

https://otzovik.com/review_119241.html

Loves children very much. But it is better for children to reach the age of 4–5 years so that they understand how to treat a pet. With younger children it’s more difficult; they know what’s not allowed, but they don’t always follow the rules. Now my daughter is 4 years old and she knows how to behave with a cat; before, it happened to both of them, naturally from each other. Therefore, I would not recommend having a cat with small children, so as not to injure any of your loved ones.

Gulnaz1

https://tutux.ru/opinion.php?id=22481

A kitten, or any other animal, is another child at home. Well, how can you not love her? Now I can’t even imagine having a wool cat at home with hair everywhere. But this breed requires constant care - we clean its ears and eyes every day. The body temperature of Don Sphynxes is 42 degrees, so they are always cold and hide under the blanket. At night he always sleeps with me and warms me like a hot water bottle. She doesn’t like to wash in the bathroom, but she likes the bath. This is our bald head - the most wonderful!

lena782008

https://spasibovsem.ru/responses/lysiki-luchshe-vseh.html

We also got a Donskoy, when I adopted it... I’ll be honest... I wasn’t very aware of the “peculiarities” of this breed. Everything was fine with us until I found myself in a position. As soon as the cat was replaced, he began to shit... about the litter box and the garbage, still the same... from the toilet he manages to spread the litter throughout the apartment, and there is now a small child in the house who is constantly crawling everywhere. All I have time to do is walk around with a broom and a rag (All the window sills are dirty, the radiators are dirty in the winter too, because he heats up on them... There’s always someone walking around yelling... it especially pushes when you just put the child to bed. You need to sleep exclusively on the bed, exclusively under the blanket, of course, while he gets under the blanket... he lifts up the bedspread, and with it the bed linen... after 2 days the linen can be changed, because it is all dirty from him. And what kills me most is that he does not wash himself!! !! In general! Some kind of underdog))))….he can hang “snot” on his face and walk like that..Yes, it’s better to have wool than dirt and stench!

npp

https://otzov-mf.ru/poroda-koshek-donskoj-sfinks-otzyvy/

Yes, of course, a cat of this breed is very active, they will not let you be alone and get bored. He will always follow you wherever you go. These cats love to be in the arms of people, even if it is the owner or a stranger. They quickly adapt to strangers. I would even call this breed somewhat annoying; it would be extremely difficult to drive it into another room where there is no one. Our cat was also quite vocal. She meowed almost always, mostly she begged for food. No, don't think we starved her. It’s just that these animals constantly want to eat, no matter how much they put in their bowl, after half an hour the next begging for food will begin again. As they explained to me, this happens because they are hairless animals, and in order to keep warm, they expend more energy than other cats. In general, we fed her countless times a day, but this did not affect her figure in any way. Speaking of loudness. Initially, we wanted to pursue her exhibition career. because she came to us with documents. But as soon as she started having troubles for the first time (and it started early - at six months), we gave up on breeding a cat, because she just really asked for a cat. She walked for about five days, then there was a lull, and about a week later the cat began begging again. In short, we couldn’t stand it and invited the veterinarian home for sterilization. There are cats that walk almost unnoticed. For example, my relatives have a British cat, she squeaks a little only when she is in heat. But this is not about the Don sphinxes.

Yuli89

https://nashemnenie.com/zhivotnye/18195-donskoy-sfinks.html

Now he is more than four years old, he has excellent relationships with us, and with our guests, and with other animals with whom he had to get acquainted from time to time (only the bird that accidentally flew into us was unlucky - he instantly killed it). He sleeps exclusively in our bed, is normal about bathing, and without any problems endured moving first to another city (25 hours on a train), and then to another country (2 flights).

froshik

https://citykey.net/review/moy-laskovyy-i-nezhnyy-zver-foto

Personally, I have two Donetsk cats. I am very happy with my babies. This is the most beautiful and loyal cat breed. My first girl came to me three years ago, a little purring little warmer, then I was just learning about care and everything else, a year ago I bought another cat. And I'm completely satisfied with them. This breed is very loyal, cats are able to remember and understand the speech of a three-year-old child, talk to them and back up your words with actions and your brachiki will pleasantly surprise you, they will not only understand you but also follow your verbal instructions. But there is, but only for those who are waiting for a naked pet, not all of them undress, I have one cat left with a veil and with hair on its paws and tail.

Periong

https://otzyv.expert/otlichnie-umnie-koshki-1513105

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How to choose the right kitten

Little Don Sphynxes are fragile and gentle creatures. They are susceptible to various diseases and often die at the age of several weeks. In order not to lose a newly adopted pet, it is advisable to purchase a kitten of this breed no earlier than he is 3 months old.

It is better to buy a Donchak from a specialized nursery or from a trusted breeder. At the time of sale, the Sphynx must have a veterinary passport with vaccination marks and a metric that confirms purebred.

A healthy kitten has a neat appearance and is actively interested in everything that happens around. It is important that he does not have a bloated belly, watery eyes, dirt under his tail, or scratched or flaky skin.

Kitten care

Little Don Sphynx cats are taken from their mother at the age of 12 weeks. By this time, the kittens are already quite independent. They know how to eat, know the scratching post and are litter box trained. Therefore, new Donchak owners just need to give the pet time to get used to the changed conditions and show him places where he can eat, drink, go to the toilet and sharpen his claws.

For safety reasons, wires, indoor plants, household chemicals and small objects are hidden from the baby Sphynx. A curious kitten can climb into the most unexpected places. Therefore, before turning on the washing machine or oven, you should definitely look inside to make sure that there is no curious animal there.

First days at home

Before buying a kitten, you need to secure the room in which it will live: remove wires and flowers from the windowsill. If you have other animals at home, you should not introduce them on the first day, the pet will be scared.

At the pet store you need to purchase: dishes for feeding (it is better to choose ceramics or stainless steel), a tray, a scratching post, a bed, toys.

In the first days, give the animal as much time as possible. It will take 2-3 days for him to adapt to new living conditions.

Care and maintenance

Don Sphynxes are heat-loving animals that prefer to spend time near heating devices or in the sun. Therefore, cats of this breed should only be kept at home.

Caring for a Donchak is not at all difficult. The main thing is to do this regularly.

Hygiene procedures

The eyes of Don Chaks are not protected by eyelashes and require special care. They are wiped daily with a cotton pad soaked in chamomile infusion or boiled water. If redness or purulent discharge is detected, the Don Sphynx must be shown to a veterinarian.

The cat's ears are wiped twice a week with a cotton swab moistened with a special lotion. This is done very carefully so as not to damage the organ.

Read more about proper hygienic cleaning of the Sphynx's ears and eyes.

The claws of the Don Sphynx are periodically shortened with a claw cutter. The procedure is carried out with utmost care so as not to touch living tissue.

Donchak's teeth are cleaned 2 times a week with a silicone brush with a small amount of special paste for animals.

Skin care

Don Sphynxes sweat, and their skin secretes a protective brown lubricant. That’s why these cats are bathed more often than representatives of other breeds.

Donetsk residents are provided with bathing procedures 1-2 times a month. Wash them using a natural mild or cleansing antibacterial shampoo.

In addition, the skin of hairless cats is wiped daily with a linen or cotton cloth, which is moistened with a caring lotion or boiled water.

On a note. In summer, the Donchak skin is protected from ultraviolet radiation by lubricating it with special creams.

Tray

The Don Sphynx is a clean cat, he quickly gets used to going to the toilet in a designated place. A spacious plastic tray is selected for it, which does not absorb odors.

Any filler can be used. The main thing is that the Donetsk likes him and copes with his functions.

Feeding the cat

Don Sphynxes are distinguished by accelerated metabolism and increased heat transfer. Hairless cats require more food to maintain their body temperature than other breeds.

Complete diet

When fed dry food, the Don Sphynx is given premium, super-premium or holistic-class products, which do not contain any questionable components.

The best brands to meet these criteria are RoyalCanin, ProPlan, Hills, Acana and 1st Choice.

When feeding natural products, the menu for Donchak is designed so that lean, fresh meat predominates in it. The sphinx is also given:

• sea ​​fish;
• eggs;
• dairy products;
• porridge with water;
• boiled vegetables.

Don Sphynx dogs should not be offered pork, river fish, bones, sweets, baked goods, smoked meats or sausages. It is forbidden to feed cats of this breed salty, spicy, fried and fatty foods, as well as leftovers from the owner’s plate.

Feeding frequency

Small Don Sphynxes eat less and more often than adult representatives of the breed. Therefore, the diet is made taking into account the age of the cat:

• up to 3 months – 5 times a day;
• 3-6 months – 4 times a day;
• from 6 months – 3 times a day.

Vitamins and minerals

If the Don Sphynx eats natural food, a lack of microelements may occur in its body. Therefore, it is recommended to give vitamins to a cat of this breed twice a year in courses.

But, before introducing mineral supplements into the Donchak’s diet, it is better to show the Sphynx to a veterinarian. He will assess the animal’s condition and recommend suitable vitamins.

On a note. Don Sphynxes, which feed on dry food, do not need additional mineral supplements. Industrial feed contains the entire range of useful substances.

Education and physical activity

Don Sphynx cats are smart cats characterized by aristocratic manners. Representatives of the breed are capable of learning and can even master simple tricks. True, forcing a Donchak to do something he doesn’t want is very problematic.

Sphynx cats love active games and need a space where they can throw out accumulated energy. But the Donetsk people consider restful sleep to be the most suitable activity.

Health and susceptibility to disease

Don Sphynx cats are quite strong cats that live for about 14-15 years. Although they are endowed with good immunity, the breed has a predisposition to certain pathologies.

Find out - “How long do sphinxes live at home?”

Most often among Donchak people there are:

• turning of the eyelids;
• dermatitis;
• microphthalmos;
• nipple hypoplasia;
• acne.

On a note. Due to their elevated body temperature, adult Don Sphynx cats are practically not susceptible to infectious diseases.

Vaccinations and antiparasitic treatments

To protect the Don Sphynx from viral diseases, he is regularly vaccinated against calcivirosis, panleukopenia and rhinotracheitis.

A kitten of this breed is first vaccinated at the age of 7-8 weeks. After 28 days, the Don Sphynx is revaccinated with the same drug, but with an anti-rabies component. Subsequently, the procedure is carried out once a year.

To protect the Donetsk from helminthiases, he is regularly given prophylaxis with special drugs. Antihelminthic tablets are given to a cat of this breed once every six months and repeated after 10-14 days.

Choosing a kitten

First you need to decide why you need a cat. Based on the requirements for the animal, you need to choose a class:

1. Show. The best of the best, the most expensive in price. Suitable for exhibitions and breeding. The price of the Show-Don Sphynx is from 30,000 rubles.
2. Breed. Full compliance with the standard, but minor defects are possible that do not allow for an exhibition career. however they are suitable for breeding. The price of such a sphinx is from 15,000 to 30,000 rubles.
3. Pet. There are disadvantages that do not allow participation in breeding and exhibitions. Sold as pets. Price - from 9,000 to 15,000 rubles.

Kittens are sold no earlier than 4 months of age. How to identify a purebred Don Sphynx:

1. Curled whiskers are a mandatory distinguishing feature of newborn Don Sphynxes.
2. You can judge by its coat whether the kitten is a representative of the breed (it must meet the standard).
3. You should also look at the kitten’s parents and ask for their documents - if they meet the standard and are completely healthy, then the kitten will be a true representative of the breed, healthy and fully developed.
4. Pay attention to the kitten's health:
   healthy babies are active and cheerful;
5. the kitten should not be scared, should show curiosity and playfulness;
6. the eyes do not water, pus does not ooze from the nose and ears;
7. there are no wounds or redness on the skin, it is clean and smooth.

Healthy kittens are active and cheerful

Pros and cons of the breed

Don Sphynxes, like cats of any other breed, have not only positive, but also negative traits.

Don Sphynxes are original hairless cats that look like aliens from another planet. Despite their extraordinary appearance, representatives of the breed have an easy-going and sociable character. All this makes the Don Chak an ideal pet for exotic lovers.

Breeding Features

Sphynxes are distinguished by their early stages of puberty. Despite the fact that the first estrus in “Donetsk” dogs can occur as early as six months of age, it is nevertheless not suitable for reproducing offspring. Both sexes should be allowed to breed at least two years of age.

The features themselves:

• Mating must be preceded by vaccination.
• It is not permissible to bathe “Donetsk” dogs before mating.
• Mating may not give the desired results if the cat and cat are participating in this process for the first time.
• Sphynxes are usually bred in the male's territory.
• Mating "Donchan" consists of several matings with a two-day periodicity, so that the pussy becomes pregnant for sure.
• A pet that is in an “interesting” situation will require an increased amount of affection and attention from cat owners from the first days.
• It will be better if the entire period of pregnancy and childbirth in Don pussies is supervised by the treating aibolit in order to avoid the loss of offspring and other complications.
• “Donetsk women” bear kittens for approximately 63 days.
• By the fourth week, the nipples of the pussy increase somewhat in size and “color” pink.
• The pet is gradually gaining weight. Her belly is growing. Movements and gait become rigid.

Before giving birth, caring cat owners should take care of arranging a place for the birth of future Don Sphynx kittens. A low box or drawer, the bottom of which is covered with soft bedding, is suitable for this.

Childbirth for Don pussies can last about a day. Often, “mommy” copes with this process on her own. Basically, there can be 4-6 individuals in one litter.