Non Shedding Cat Breeds

As much as you love those glassy green eyes staring up at you and running your hands through their soft fur, every cat lover has to finally accept the fact that the cats SHED! Shedding of fur is a natural event in every cat's life so while a wild cat may shed twice in a year in what is termed as fall shedding and spring shedding, an indoor cat may shed the year round. Hair shedding in cats is a sign of good feline health as it is done so as to remove the dead hair from their bodies. It is actually regulated by the number of hours the cat spends outside in daylight which triggers the shedding in a process known as 'photoperiod'.

While the information does not really help an exasperated cat lover who has just come home to find fur tumbleweeds floating around the house, it does help to come in terms with the fact that cats have to shed to remain healthy. The term 'non shedding cats' is actually a myth since all cats need to shed. Yes, even those hairless or rather less haired Sphynx and Devon Rex cats. However since they have less hair, the shedding in these cats is minimal. Take a look into these fascinating 'non shedding' cat breeds which have caught the fancy of all those cat lovers who want a feline friend, yet do not want the hassle of cleaning up all that cat fur.

Some of the cat breeds which shed less than others are:

Sphynx Cat: Rather unusual and peculiar looking, this breed of cats is often termed as the "Canadian Hairless". A rare cat breed which has evolved due to the mutation of a recessive gene, the Sphynx cat is hairless hypoallergenic cat breed. Susceptible to heat and cold due to the absence of hair, these cats are playful and extremely mischievous. Although they might not appeal to everyone, these cats have captured the fancy of many with their alien appearance and charming personalities. These cats need to be regularly bathed to remove the oil from their skin which is covered with fine down and has the texture of a chamois.

Don Sphynx: Native to Russia, this hairless cat may look a lot like a Sphynx. However the two breeds are hardly related, with one very important distinction being that a Sphynx just 'appears hairless' while the Don Sphynx is truly hairless. Like the Sphynx, its skin is lined with wrinkles and it looks fragile.

Devon Rex: A member of the Rex cat breeds, these medium sized, lightly built cats with their pixie like faces and large ears are mischievous and playful. They are extremely people oriented and love snuggling up to people. Whats more, since these cats hardly shed any fur you can always snuggle back. Although this breed is well covered with fur, their guard hair is fragile and stunted and whiskers are missing.

Cornish Rex: Discovered on a farm in Cornwall, England, the Cornish Rex cat has a short silky fur which is entirely devoid of guard hair which lie close to its body in a tight uniform wave. This extremely social and intelligent cat breed is an asset for the cat lovers who want to avoid the cat fur on their sofa.

It is important to understand the reasons as to why you want a non shedding cat. If it is due to allergy, then these are not connected to the fur but rather to the dander and saliva. Before buying a non shedding rare cat breed, it is important to spend a reasonable amount of time with the adult cat of the breed just to be sure of the choice you make.