Skookum vs Don Sphynx - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Skookum vs Don Sphynx - Breed ComparisonDon Sphynx is originated from Russia but Skookum is originated from United States. Both Don Sphynx and Skookum are having almost same weight. Both Don Sphynx and Skookum has same life span. Both Don Sphynx and Skookum has almost same litter size. Both Don Sphynx and Skookum requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

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Russia
United States
Weight Male:
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
2 - 3 kg
4 - 7 pounds
Weight Female:
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
2 - 3 kg
4 - 7 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
2 - 4
Other Names:
Donskoy cat, Russian Hairless
None
Colors Available:
Velour and Brush, Different shades – Flock, Rubber Bald
Range of colors and patterns
Coat:
Hairless
Soft and wavy or curly
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
Yes
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

don sphynxOf Rusian origin, the Don Sphynx is an interesting looking, hairless breed. The cat came about in 1987 when a hairless cat was seen in Rostov-on-Don, a Russian city.

Cat breeder Elena Kovaleva rescued the kitten and it was at about 4 months of age that the kitten began to lose its hair. Later it was mated with a local tomcat and produced kittens which became the founding stock of the Donskoy breed.

The cat breed was recognized by the World Cat Federation in 1997 as well as the International Cat Association later on in 2005.

skookumSkookums are a new cat breed – an experimental and rare hybrid dwarf cat breed, It was developed in the United States in the 1990s.

As a new breed, you’re not going to find too much information on their history, but is was breeder Roy Galusha who started crossing the Munchkin cat with the LaPerm.

Even today, some years later, the Skookum cat is still an experimental cat breed that is considered a rare dwarf breed. It is recognized as an Experimental breed by Independent European Registries as well as the Dwarf Cat Association.

Description

don sphynx kitten - descriptionThe Don Sphynx is a medium-sized cat known for its large ears and its long, webbed toes.

Their weight can be anything from 3 to 6 kg It’s a hairless cat but has different skin types that come in different shades – Flock, Rubber Bald, Velour and Brush.

The cat has this dominant hair loss gene that causes the coat they have at birth to thin and fall out. In fact, on close inspection, you’ll find that the cat isn’t entirely hairless but has a very fine layer of fuzz. The skin can be oily and the cat requires bathing fairly regularly.

These particular cats are also more susceptible to the cold and to sunburn. The legs of this cat are long and slender and they have a bit of a bow-legged appearance to them, but this is because of the barrel chest. The tail is long and hard.

Temperament:

These rare cats make excellent pets because they have all the characteristics needed that make them companionable. They are loving, companionable and playful. These are also intelligent, exploring cats which means you’ll need to provide them with games and toys that can keep them occupied.

They’re good with children and other pets and are even good for first-time cat owners. Breeders of these cats will tell you that they are even-tempered and amicable. They are gentle towards children and other pets.

Most of the time the cat has a calm demeanor but is highly sociable. As an entertainer too – he will do anything to get a laugh out of his human family.

skookum kitten - descriptionThe dwarf Skookum only weighs between 2 and 3kg. It is a new cat breed with a curly coat. The coat can be in a range of colors and patterns.

It is a small, lightweight cat with short legs and a broad head and stocky build. It has a muscular build. The eyes are large and walnut- shaped while the ears are large and pointed.

The neck is also thickish. The coat is soft and curly, standing away from the body and spiraling into ringlets. It can feature a number of colors and patterns such as solid, bicolor, and colorpoint. These cats can be long-haired or short-haired.

Temperament:

They are playful cats, full of energy and they love climbing and jumping. They’re intelligent, confident cats and are also loyal and loving towards their human family. They may be active, playful cats, but they still like to settle down into your lap.

Characteristics

don sphynx cat - characteristicsThe sphynx cat is an energetic feline that absolutely loves the attention of its human owners. In fact, he will even be willing to show off to get some kind of reaction from his humans.

This is certainly a cat that has a sense of humor. They’re friendly, loving cats who like to even follow you around the house to be where you are. They are loving and loyal, curious, intelligent and active.

It’s a hardy breed and you won’t have many health issues to contend with. We know that they are prone to skin conditions and periodontal disease so watch out for these with this amazing, but unusual looking cat.

skookum cat - characteristicsBecause the Skookum cat is still in its early stages of development if you want to know precisely what the characteristics of the cat are you would want to look at the Munchkin and the LaPerm cat.

One thing is sure the Skookum cat thrives on the attention of his human family and if you provide him with the love and attention he craves, you can be sure that he will turn out to be the right friend and companion for your family.

Health Problems

don sphynx kittens - health problemsHairless cats are prone to teeth and gum issues, and every Don Sphynx owner needs to regularly check their cat’s teeth as bad teeth can cause a lot of problems with health as well as discomfort with the teeth.

This cat breed is also fairly prone to skin problems. You will need to watch him for rashes and fungal infections. Remember, that this strange-looking cat also needs vaccinations and de-worming as well as regular veterinary health checks.

skookum kittens - health problemsBecause the Skookum cat is a new, experimental breed, health problems with the cat are not well known. However, every cat can succumb to some of the common cat health issues there are. As a pet owner you want to watch for and recognize signs that your cat’s health is in trouble.

Feline leukemia for instance is a disease that spreads through bodily fluids such as urine, saliva and nose discharge, and saliva. Mother cats can even pass the disease along to her kittens. Feline leukemia can also lead to a host of conditions such as diarrhea, respiratory tract infections, skin problems and eye diseases among others.

Feline panleukopenia is known to most people as feline distemper and it is a very contagious viral disease with kittens being most at risk.

The disease affects a cat's immune system and the cat will likely have diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration, and lethargy. It’s a deadly disease that requires a vaccine to prevent it.

Caring The Pet

don sphynx cats - caringIn spite of this being a hairless cat, it still requires frequent grooming, and yet you have to be careful that you don’t allow the cat to be bathed too often either.

Have your cat spayed or neutered to avoid kittens that you don’t want. This is beneficial for the cat’s health.

This is a unique cat and when it comes to food, if you can afford it, go for the very best food there is. Good food contributes to good health and this cat is a carnivore and requires food high in meat protein.

Of course, it requires other nutrients and the best commercially manufactured cat foods will have a list of ingredients in them that are important to your cat’s health.

Of course, with diet, there are other important considerations to think about and one of these is the right quantity of food to maintain the cat’s ideal weight. Too much weight gain can put pressure on the cat’s joints and contribute to health problems.

skookum cats - caringEven though the Skookum has curly hair, it’s not difficult to groom him. You want to brush the soft curls gently once a week. Keep it gentle so that you don’t make the curls frizzy.

Use some warm water in a spray bottle with some pet conditioner and spray the curls lightly and use your fingers to liven up the curls.

Cats like to nibble throughout the day and it is better for them to feed like this as opposed to a larger meal morning and night.

However, you will need to know what your cat is eating as you don’t want to overfeed your cat. Obesity comes with a host of health issues. As a carnivore, your cat requires meaty foods so make sure to feed him high-quality cat foods that have meat and protein as the top ingredients.

Your cat must have a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Provide your cat with a litter box. You will need to clean out the box every day of cat feces as cats don’t like to use a box that is dirty. You get special cat rakes at the vet or the pet shop that makes it easy just to rake up the feces and dispose of them.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Skookum vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  2. Skookum vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  3. Skookum vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  4. Skookum vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  5. Skookum vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  6. Skookum vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  7. Skookum vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  8. Skookum vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  9. Skookum vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  10. Skookum vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  11. Skookum vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  12. Skookum vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  13. Skookum vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  14. Skookum vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  15. Skookum vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
  16. Skookum vs Australian Mist - Breed Comparison
  17. Skookum vs Balinese - Breed Comparison
  18. Skookum vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  19. Skookum vs Bicolor - Breed Comparison
  20. Skookum vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  21. Skookum vs Blue Russian - Breed Comparison
  22. Skookum vs Bombay - Breed Comparison
  23. Skookum vs Brazilian Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  24. Skookum vs Bristol - Breed Comparison
  25. Skookum vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison
  26. Don Sphynx vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  27. Don Sphynx vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  28. Don Sphynx vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  29. Don Sphynx vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  30. Don Sphynx vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  31. Don Sphynx vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  32. Don Sphynx vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  33. Don Sphynx vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  34. Don Sphynx vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  35. Don Sphynx vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  36. Don Sphynx vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  37. Don Sphynx vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  38. Don Sphynx vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  39. Don Sphynx vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  40. Don Sphynx vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
  41. Don Sphynx vs Australian Mist - Breed Comparison
  42. Don Sphynx vs Balinese - Breed Comparison
  43. Don Sphynx vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  44. Don Sphynx vs Bicolor - Breed Comparison
  45. Don Sphynx vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  46. Don Sphynx vs Blue Russian - Breed Comparison
  47. Don Sphynx vs Bombay - Breed Comparison
  48. Don Sphynx vs Brazilian Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  49. Don Sphynx vs Bristol - Breed Comparison
  50. Don Sphynx vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison