Don Sphynx vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison

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

Basic Information

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United States
Russia
Weight Male:
5 - 7 kg
11 - 16 pounds
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
Weight Female:
5 - 7 kg
11 - 16 pounds
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 16 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
2 - 6
Other Names:
None
Donskoy cat, Russian Hairless
Colors Available:
Any color or pattern
Velour and Brush, Different shades – Flock, Rubber Bald
Coat:
springy, coarse and wiry
Hairless
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
Yes
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

american wirehairThe American Wirehair started as a spontaneous mutation so that somewhere along the line, an unusual litter with this unique wiry type of fur was born.

The cat hails from New York and it was in 1966 that a couple of barn cats had a litter of kittens, some of which were born with this peculiar wiry hair. Only one kitten survived – a male – and later it was discovered that the gene responsible for the wirehair coat was dominant so that only one parent required the gene to produce Wirehair offspring.

Today, all American Wirehairs are descendants of this one surviving male kitten. Today the breed is still fairly rare. It is, however, recognized by the four largest North American cat associations.

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.

Description

american wirehair kitten - descriptionThe American Wirehair is a medium-sized cat, strong and powerful, and can weight 5, 6 or 7 kg.

The head is in proportion to the body and the cat has a strong muzzle and chin. The ears are medium-sized and are rounded at the tips while the eyes are large, round, and set well apart.

It’s the coat that draws attention as unlike a regular cat’s silky fur, the fur of this cat is springy, coarse and wiry to the touch. The coat can be any color or pattern. It is the cat’s very coat that distinguishes it from all other breeds.

With this coat, the less grooming the better. Brushing or combing can damage it, so unless he is shedding heavily, leave it alone.

The only other care he needs really is nail trimming, to check inside his mouth for bad teeth and to also check inside his ears for redness. Both the teeth and the ears can be a source of pain for your pet.

Temperament:

The American Wirehair may have a harsh coat but there is nothing harsh about his personality at all. He is amicable and loving, getting on well with all members of his human family.

He is an independent cat and while he loves spending time with his family, he is quite capable of spending time on his own as well.

The American Wirehair is a playful cat so you want to give him some toys to entertain himself for when you’re not around.

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.

Characteristics

american wirehair cat - characteristicsThe American Wirehair makes a splendid pet, and while he isn’t the best breed for children, he can make a good pet with those children who have been taught kindness, gentleness and respect for animals.

He is calm, quiet, dependent, and sociable and by providing him with a good home, he’ll prove to be a wonderful pet and companion.

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.

Health Problems

american wirehair kittens - health problemsThe American Wirehair is a healthy type of cat but any cat can develop health issues.

Be aware of Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – a common form of heart disease in cats where there is the thickening of the heart muscle.

Be careful of overfeeding your cat as obesity is a major contributory disease to many illnesses that a cat gets. Excess weight can contribute to diabetes and arthritis and put pressure on your cat’s joints. Certainly, carrying extra weight can shorten your cat’s life. Make sure your cat gets smaller, healthier meals and that he is active and exercised.

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.

Caring The Pet

General:

american wirehair cats - caringBrush the cat gently once a week. Your cat will love the connection you and he has. While you brush him, make a point of checking inside his ears and inside his mouth as well. It is also time to trim his nails. If you are hesitant to do this, ask you vet for suggestions or you can make use of a pet groomer too.

Make sure your pet cat is free from parasites such as fleas, ticks and heartworm. Your vet can recommend a treatment and it is also a good idea to talk to your vet about vaccines for your cat.

No unwanted kittens:

Have your American Wirehair spayed or neutered to prevent unwanted kittens and to promote better health for your cat.

Diet:

Always choose healthy food for your pet, bearing in mind that cats are carnivores, which means that you need to choose cat-food for your pet that has fish and meat in it. It can be difficult making good homemade food for your cat but there are excellent commercially prepared cat foods to ensure your cat gets the correct balance of nutrients and calories. Bear in mind that your cat's nutritional requirements change through their different stages of life.

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.

Comparison with other breeds

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