What Cat Breeds Do Not Shed?

A hairless cat is the only cat that doesn’t shed.  Even though a hairless cat doesn’t have hair they can still cause a person who is allergic to cats to have allergic reactions.  The allergens are produced from a protein that is in the cat's skin and their saliva.

The Sphynx is a rare breed of cat that is known for being hairless.  It is also called a Canadian Hairless.  In 1966, a hairless kitten was born in Toronto.  The kitten was mated with its mother that produced other hairless kittens. The Sphynx lacks hair and so they don't shed, but their body oils build up and they need to be bathed once a week.  They should not be in the sun for too long, as they can sunburn.

Peterbald is a breed that can sometimes be born bald. Those that are born with hair can lose their hair over time. This cat breed is of Russian origin. In 1994 a Sphynx was bred with a female shorthair oriental to produce an oriental hairless cat that is called the Peterbald.

The Cornish Rex has no hair except for the down. The down hair is the undercoat that is very fine. Their light coat can cause them to get hypothermia if they stay outdoors during the winter.  They like warm places because their body temperature is slightly higher than most cats. In 1950 the original litter was born and the kittens were mated with the mother to produce other Cornish Rex kittens. This is a breed from England.