With origin in 13th-century China, these pups are smooth all over except for long tufts of silky hair on their "pigtail" ears, the tops of their heads, their tails and the lower part of their legs and paws.

Peterbald kitties are a mix between the Sphynx and Oriental Shorthair, having pointed, outsized ears half the width of their wedge-shaped heads. The gene responsible for his baldness is dominant, while the Sphynx's is recessive.

The PIO is a cousin to the Chinese Crested and is fur-free other than a small patch on the top of his head and sometimes his feet. Its coloring can be black, brown or gray mixed with pink, tan or white.

Probably the most commonly known of all hairless varieties, this cat's wizened face is reminiscent of Yoda. His entire body is made up of fine, soft-as-satin folds, and his ears are very tall, pointed and large.

Exotic is a good word for this dog, whose name looks impossible to pronounce until you see it broken down: sho-low-eats-queent-lee, or Xolo (sho-lo) for short. Pre-Columbian art depicts the image of this regal-looking dog with silky skin and pointy ears.