Theoretically, the only way to find cat breeds that do not shed are to consider cat breeds that air hairless. While there are a few short-haired cat breeds that are prone to minimal amounts of shedding, the true answer to finding non-shedding cat breeds is to look at cats that naturally do not have any hair. Here are some of those breeds.
The Sphynx Cat
The Sphynx cat has been around for several decades and is known to most people as simply a bald cat. Its look is truly unique because it is, for the most part, completely void of hair. Although the Sphynx does have a tiny bit of surface hair, comparable to peach fuzz, it really does not have any potential for shedding. This surface hair is so minute and fair that it is practically unrecognizable without close inspection.
This particular cat breed actually developed over time due to a mutation in its genetic code. The development of this breed occurred completely by accident when a kitten was intriguingly born without hair, which peaked the interest of contemporary breeders. After many years of cross-breeding and trial and error, the Sphynx cat has become the most commonly known hairless cat.
The Peterbald Cat
Some people have a tendency to confuse the Peterbald cat breed with the Sphynx cat breed; however, the two are distinctly different. The Peterbald cat can be born with hair, without hair, or a very thin layer of velvet-like hair. This cat breed is relatively new, which is probably what creates the most confusion.
The ancestry of this cat breed comes from a mixture of the Sphynx cat and the Oriental Shorthair cat. The mixture of the two created a breed that could either have hair or have no hair. In fact, the gene that controls this in the Peterbald cat allows for the eventual loss of hair over time. While a Peterbald may be born with a short flocking of hair, it is entirely possible that it will fall out as it matures, leaving it essentially bald.
The Donskoy Cat
The Donskoy cat breed is a newer breed, as well. The coat of a Donskoy is determined by a recessive gene in the genetic code. Because this cat breed can be born with hair or without hair, that recessive gene makes the determination early on as to what type of coat each cat will have later in life.
There is one distinct way to decipher what the eventual outcome of the coat will be: a bald spot at the time of birth. When Donskoy kittens are born, they will either be born with a bald spot on their heads or without one. If they have any number of bald spots, it is indicated that they will be hairless later in life, typically by the time that they reach two years of age. In contrast, if the bald spot is absent, it is likely that they will have natural hair; although it will still be shorter than most other cat breeds with hair.