The Peterbald cat breed is a fairly new breed with the first of them being bred in 1993 in Russia. They are a cross between an Oriental Shorthair cat and a Donskoy cat which produces the slim and graceful appearance of the Peterbald cat.
In this article we are going to teach you everything you need to know about the Peterbald cat breed including...
characteristics, history, grooming and care, diet and nutrition, plus a lot more! If you have never heard of the Peterbald before, this will be a fascinating post for you. Even if you have heard of the Peterbald cat breed, you will learn some great new facts.
Peterbald
WEIGHT: 6-14 pounds
LENGTH: Medium-sized
COAT: Bald, flock or chamois, velour, brush, or straight
COAT COLORS: All colors and patterns
EYE COLOR: Varied
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 12 to 15 years
Peterbalds are small to medium sized cats who have a slim appearance but also have a muscular build. As you can see from the photo's, Peterbalds have a very unique appearance with their narrow heads and large, bat-like ears.
Their tails are long,thin and pointy like a whip. The paws of a Peterbald are oval in shape and they have webbed feet. This means that they are great at grasping items and have the ability to open doors using a handle.
The long body and oblong head of the Peterbald are taken from the oriental shorthair side of the breed. The wrinkly skin, hair, and texture are taken from the Donskoy cat.
They are often compared to other cat breeds such as Siamese or Oriental, but the Peterbald generally has a more social and friendlier personality than these other breeds.
How much do Peterbalds weigh?
Males: 8-14 pounds
Females: 6-8 pounds
Peterbald coats
This breed is available with five different kinds of coats:
- Ultra bald: Bald throughout their whole life-span
- Flock/Chamois: 90% hairless
- The Velour: Have a coat on 70% of their body that grows up to around 1mm in length. As the coat is so short, it can look like they are bald from a distance. With age, the coat of a Velour can change to become more Flock/Chamois.
- Brush coated: The fur of a brush coated Peterbald is more wiry and sometimes curly that grows to around 5mm in length. Kittens who have more dense brush coats usually remain the same throughout their lives. If they have light and more thinner coat then they usually go bald by the age of two.
- Straight: A short coat and also an indication that no copy or the hair loss gene is present.
Peterbald whiskers
Most Peterbald cats have kinked or curled whiskers. The only exception is the straight coated Peterbalds who have straight whiskers.
Characteristics of the Peterbald Cat
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History of the Peterbald Cat
As we said at the start of this article, the Peterbald cat breed is fairly new which means the history of this breed is very limited in comparison to other breeds. This breed was first developed in Russia in the early 1990's by a breeder named Olga S. Mironova.
Olga decided to cross an Oriental Shorthair cat and a Donskoy cat which resulted in what is now know as the Peterbald. Although Russia is recognised by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA), the Peterbald is still a rare domestic cat breed.
In 1997, the Peterbald cat breed was accepted by The International Cat Association (TICA), and in 2005 it was then recognised for championship status. The brush coat variety of Peterbald was later accepted for championship status in May 2008 by TICA
Peterbald Cat Grooming And Care
As Peterbald have either none or generally short fur, they can be considered as a low-maintenance cat breed. The type of coat and how long it is will determine how much care is required.
A popular question asked is, Do Peterbald cats shed? You more than likely won't need to worry about excess shedding when it comes to a Peterbald. The main thing required when it comes to care, even with the hairless variety is a weekly bath routine. You can also wipe them down daily using gentle baby wipes.
A weekly bath or wipe-down routine is important because if this is not done then a build up of oils on the cats skin can cause irritation. Another important thing to remember is to make sure a Peterbald cat remains indoors. The reason for this being that they can get cold very easily due to their lack of hair.
For this reason we would highly recommend to invest in a cat heated mat.
Peterbald cats are very smart, energetic, and extremely outgoing. They form great bonds with the whole family and even other pets such as dogs. This is why a lot of Peterbald owners compare the personality of a Peterbald to be very dog-like.
When you take these personality traits into consideration, as Peterbalds are smart, energetic breeds, it's important to provide both mental and physical stimulation. The best way to do this is to participate in daily play routines with your Peterbald. Another great option is to provide a variety of games and puzzle toys such as the ones below.
Common Health Problems
As mentioned in the section above, Peterbalds need to be bathed or wiped down on a regular basis to remove dirt and prevent irritation to their skin. It's also a great idea to frequently clean their bedding to prevent the build up of dirt.
Although it's important to bath a Peterbald, it's equally important not to overdo it as this can cause their skin to become dry. Pay extra attention to cleaning any build up of dirt in their paws which can easily be passed on to their skin when they are scratching themselves.
In the summer or if you live in a warm part of the world, remember to keep your Peterbald out of direct sunlight. Due to their lack of fur, their skin can burn very quickly. Although we recommend keeping them indoors, you will have to be careful of the sunlight coming through any windows in the house.
Due to a Peterbald have little or no hair at all, they can be susceptible to scratches and injuries. On the plus side, their body temperature is around 40-41 °C which means wounds will heal a lot faster than most other cat breeds.
Diet and Nutrition
The diet of a Peterbald is virtually the same as any other cat breed. They should be eating high quality cat food that is high in protein. Although Peterbald cat are susceptible to weight-related issues such as heart disease or obesity, they do have a faster metabolism than most other cat breeds.
Royal Canin is always a great choice but always seek the advice of either a breeder or a veterinarian first.
Where to Adopt or Buy a Peterbald Cat
Peterbalds are very rare and can be expensive to buy so it's a case of doing a bit of research to make sure you find a reputable breeder.
Pros & Cons
Peterbald Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Peterbald Facts
The Peterbald is similar to these other breeds
The Peterbald often get mistaken for or compared to the Sphynx and Oriental breeds.
A Peterbalds coat can change over time
During the first two years of their lives, a Peterbalds coat can change in a number of ways. It can change with a loss of hair, gaining more hair, or the texture of the hair being altered.
Peterbald cat grooming
The lack of hair on a Peterbalds body means that they do not require brushing or combing. Temperature is the most important thing when it comes to Peterbald care (See above in this article).
Life with a Peterbald cat
The Peterbald cat breed is often compared to having the same loyal and affectionate qualities of a dog. There are extremely sociable and affectionate creatures who love attention and are great with both kids and other animals and make the perfect family pet.
Peterbalds are not necessarily hypoallergenic
Some people have allergies which is caused when a cat sheds minute particles called dander. This dander is spread into the environment when your cat grooms and their saliva is transferred onto their coat and spread around your home.
As Peterbalds have little to no fur, it is believed that they are hypoallergenic which means that they produce fewer allergens than other cats. Although this is somewhat true, this is not a rule of all Peterbald cats.
Theories on why Peterbald’s have a sweet nature
Peterbalds or just hairless cats in general are known to be very sweet and affectionate in nature and there are a number of theories which explain why. The first one is due to them being kept with their mother as kittens for longer periods than other cat breeds.
Another reason given by experts is that they are affectionate due to their lack of hair which means they rely on humans for their body heat to keep them warm.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a loving pet who is loyal and affectionate, then the Peterbald will make a great addition to the family. If you are an owner of a Peterbald cat then it would be great to hear from you. Leave a comment below or even email us your stories or photos of your Peterbald.
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