Donskoy

An active day with warm and cool places

A Donskoy should have opportunities to move, climb and enjoy small hunting games indoors. Wide, securely fixed resting platforms and safe intermediate steps provide variety. Scratching surfaces should be easily reached. A warm bed with a washable blanket should be away from draughts. She should also be able to choose a cooler place when she feels too warm.

During play, a soft attachment can disappear behind a chair before scurrying along the floor again. This gives her time to stalk rather than watching a toy continuously waved in front of her nose. She should also be able to catch it. For a food search, a small part of the daily allowance can initially be offered where it is easy to find in a suitable puzzle feeder. Loose strings and wand toys should be stored away after shared games.

Sunny places require particular care when the skin has little covering. Unprotected time in direct sunshine should be avoided. A secured balcony should offer shade and an immediate route back indoors. In hot weather, a comfortably cool room is part of keeping her safe. The fine seasonal hair some Donskoys develop does not provide adequate protection against cold outdoor temperatures.

For practical play, food searches and quiet retreats, read Indoor Cat Enrichment: Play, Food Puzzles and Safe Retreats ↗

Everyday cat training: carriers, grooming and confidence ↗

Skin care rather than a brushing routine

Donskoys may be completely hairless, have a fine downy covering or retain more obvious patches of coat. With little fur, skin oils do not spread through a dense coat. Oil and dirt may instead collect on the skin and in folds. Skin checks and appropriate cleaning should therefore be part of routine care.

You should briefly check the skin daily, especially folds and areas touching bedding. How often a damp cloth or bath is needed should be discussed with the veterinary team according to her skin condition. She should be introduced gently to handling and cleaning. You should obtain advice on products explicitly suitable for cats. Redness, an unpleasant smell, crusts or sores should be examined rather than met with increasingly vigorous scrubbing. Blankets and bed covers should be washed regularly.

The ears should also be checked. Unusual discharge, odour or frequent scratching should be investigated. Dental care can be introduced in small steps, with suitable cat toothpaste and guidance from the veterinary team. A painful mouth should be treated first.

From Varvara to the Donskoy

The breed traces back to Varvara, a cat rescued in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, in 1987. She lost her coat as she grew up. Her offspring included hairless cats and kittens who later lost their initial covering. These cats formed the beginnings of the Don Sphynx. FIFe recognised the breed in 2011. TICA, another international cat registry, calls her the Donskoy.

She is a separate breed and should not be confused with the Canadian Sphynx. The Peterbald is also registered separately. The Donskoy is medium sized and sturdy, with a muscular body, wedge shaped head, large ears and slightly slanting almond shaped eyes. FIFe’s standard describes males as significantly larger than females. Skin folds should not interfere with normal functions.

A kitten with fur may change in appearance. TICA distinguishes completely hairless cats, cats with very fine down, an initially velvety coat which may be partly lost, and the more coated Brush form. The last retains more hair. Before taking a kitten home, you should discuss likely development and actual care needs. An older cat may need help reaching beds as well as skin care. These adjustments should reflect her mobility.

Kitten, adult, senior: care that changes with your cat ↗