What's the Deal with Hairless Cats?

Some of the most unusual cats you’ll ever see are the cats that are born “hairless.” The gene for hairlessness is recessive and must be present in both parents for their kittens to be born hairless. Consequently, two parents who are hairless will always produce hairless kittens, but parents with fur may also produce hairless kittens if they both carry the recessive gene. More often, however, a hairless kitten is the product of two hairless parents of a specific breed, such as the Sphinx.

Because these cats are hairless, people often incorrectly assume that they’ll be acceptable alternatives for people who are allergic to cats. Unfortunately, this isn’t true on either count. First, these cats aren’t entirely hairless – they often have small amounts of sparse fur on their bodies. Secondly, it’s not the hair of cats that usually causes the allergic reaction – it’s the proteins in shed skin cells and flakes of saliva that cause the allergic reaction and these cats still have those. If you want a cat that won’t shed a lot of fur, however, then a hairless cat may be your answer.

However, there’s a new breed of cat making the rounds today – the Kohana Kat or Hawaiian Hairless – that may wind up disproving these statements. However, this breed is very new as of this writing, so it’s yet to be determined if this breed will be sustainable in the long run. But it will be interesting to watch, as the cause for hairlessness in these cats is different. In most hairless cats, the recessive gene for hairlessness affects the hair follicles so that they don’t produce hair. In the Kohana Kat, it appears that the hair follicles are nonexistent.

Having a cat with no hair presents some unique challenges for the pet owner. Because these cats have no fur to protect them, their owners must protect them from exposure to the elements. This means that these cats will be pretty much exclusively indoor cats. If they are outdoors, they require shelter and sunscreen. However – even when indoors – they must still be protected from drafts. If they get too cold, they may develop a respiratory infection, such as pneumonia.

In addition, as cats with normal fur groom themselves, they distribute the natural oils produced by their skin. This doesn't happen with hairless cats – the oils collect on the surface of their skin, which means your cat will need to be bathed on a regular basis. You’ll need to choose a mild cleanser, like baby shampoo. To dry your cat, bundle him in a soft blanket made of flannel or a smooth towel made from velour. To keep her skin supple, consider applying lotion to the skin. Never use a blow dryer on your pet, as this could cause serious burns.

Obviously, these cats aren’t the right choice for everyone. However, if you like the exotic look of these cats and you have the willingness and time to provide the extra care they need, you’ll find the hairless cat to be a very rewarding pet.