Fur is super important for a lot of animals because it keeps them warm in chilly weather. Plus, it helps them look unique—some animals can be hard to recognize if they lose all their fur!
Recently, some rescuers found a really interesting animal that seems like a hairless cat, but it’s actually something much more unusual. Keep reading to find out about this special creature and how it managed to survive against the odds…
Last month, a nonprofit group called Hope for Wildlife in Nova Scotia took in a very strange animal. The Canadian Press reported that a couple in West Arichat found this animal in their yard, shaking from the cold.
At first, it looks like a Sphynx cat, but it’s not! It’s actually a raccoon with no fur at all!
It’s definitely tough to identify a raccoon without its usual mask-like fur. This particular raccoon, a northern raccoon, is completely hairless because of a serious condition called alopecia.
The rescue organization mentioned that they’ve seen other balding raccoons before, but nothing quite like this one. “She only has a few patches of fur around her face, legs, and feet. This is a really extreme case,” said Hope Swinimer, the director of Hope for Wildlife, in an interview with The Canadian Press.
Even though this raccoon is a girl, she’s been given the name Rufus, inspired by the hairless mole rat character from the cartoon Kim Possible.
The rescue shared on Facebook that they haven’t completely figured out why she lost her fur. They think it might be due to an autoimmune issue that damages her hair follicles. They also checked for other possible reasons like parasites, mange, and fungal infections, and found that her skin looks healthy.
Raccoons rely on their fur to stay warm and protect their skin from harsh weather, so the rescuers were shocked that Rufus had survived for so long without it.
“We can’t believe this little lady made it through the winter without any fur and didn’t get frostbite or anything worse!” they posted on Facebook.
They mentioned that she has a “spunky” personality and that her survival was all thanks to her own efforts. Luckily, she was rescued just in time because she was reportedly in pretty bad shape when she arrived.
“We were really worried for a few hours… but then she got hungry and came out. She’s becoming quite lively, and we’ve noticed a big change since she first got here,” Swinimer told The Canadian Press.
Because of her situation, Rufus might end up living permanently at the shelter, where she will have a special habitat with an outdoor area that has a cozy spot to stay warm, plus fun things like hammocks and nesting boxes.
We’ve never seen a hairless raccoon before! It’s amazing that Rufus has survived in the wild for so long, and we’re really happy she was rescued and is now getting the care she needs.
If you love animals, please share this fascinating story!
