Peterbald Cat: appearance, character, care, breeding


Peterbald Cat appearance, character, care, breeding
Peterbald Cat: appearance, character, care, breeding

A real dynamite, the Peterbald is an active cat who appeals as much for its very lively character as for its original and elegant physique. 


The origins of the Peterbald Cat

The Peterbald is a breed of cat that originated in Russia, in Saint Petersburg, hence its name. We owe its creation to Olga S. Mironova who made a Donskoy male mate with an Oriental female in 1994 in order to obtain a cat combining the elegance of the Oriental with the bare skin of the Donskoy. 

Over time, marriages between Orientals and Donskoy were prohibited, and gave way to those between Orientals and Siamese. A first standard was thus formalized in 1996.

Note that it can marry either another Peterbald, or Siamese or Oriental.


Appearance of the Peterbald Cat

Elegant, the Peterbald is muscular and slender at the same time. Its head is triangular, and is extended by its large and broad ears. The profile line is straight from the top of the head to the tip of the nose. The eyes are almond shaped and placed at an angle. The neckline is long and loose, the body tubular and firm. The legs are long and high, with fine but dense bone structure. The tail, long and thin, resembles a whip and helps to prolong the impression of length. 


Coat color of the Peterbald Cat

There are three varieties of Peterbalds: the nudes, whose skin is hairless and elastic with a touch somewhat reminiscent of rubber; velvets, the skin of which is covered with a very short down, sometimes barely visible, reminiscent of chamois; and brushes, whose hair is short, curly and harsh. 


The character of the Peterbald Cat

The Peterbald is an energetic and curious cat. It is not recommended at all for calm people. Indeed, the Peterbald is hyperactive, pot-de-glue and talkative. It is extrovert and possessive: in short, a real mix between Donskoy and Oriental! 

Hug:
A real pot-of-glue, maybe its very short coat makes them a little more cautious? Or is it its great sociability that leads them to always want to be near their humans?

Player: 
Curious and hyperactive, this feline is a born player! it will need a lot of environmental enrichment, as well as daily play periods.

Calm:
While there may be exceptions, this twink is more often than not the complete opposite of calm. 

Clever:
The liveliness of the Peterbald is amazing.

Fearful / suspicious of strangers:
Generally sociable, it can still happen that some individuals are a little more suspicious of strangers.

Independent:
It much prefers to have company, especially that of their humans!


Behavior of the Peterbald Cat

Talkative: 
This little Russian feline is more of a conversationalist.

Greedy / gluttonous:
Without going in excess, it can still be a little more greedy than the average cat, because it does not have as much hair to keep its body temperature.

Need for exercise:
Very active, its need to play and exercise might even displease someone who is very calm.

Runaway:
Its curiosity can give this Russian cat a furious urge to wander.


Compatibility of the Peterbald Cat with other animals

The Peterbald and the Dogs: 
It can get along wonderfully with canine friends: you just have to make the presentations!

The Peterbald and the Other Cats:
Although it is variable according to the individual, an adequate introduction will allow a good understanding between two or more felines.

The Peterbald and the Children:
Depending on the families, this cat can very well cohabit with children.

The Peterbald and the Elderly:
A calm, low-key personality is not ideal for this dynamic little feline. 


Price of the Peterbald Cat

A Peterbald can cost on average between 700 USD and 1,300 USD . Several factors such as the type of hair, the line, the age … will vary the price. For the monthly budget, it is necessary to plan about 50 SD per month to meet your needs with regard to the purchase of quality litter and food.


Maintenance of the Peterbald Cat

Grooming:
While you might think that an almost naked cat doesn’t need grooming, the Peterbald tends to sweat a lot and therefore may require a bath two or three times a year. 

Hair loss:
Not being very trimmed, it is normal that this Russian cat does not lose a lot of hair.


Food of the Peterbald Cat

Since it is very active and loses more heat than a normal hairy cat, it may be necessary to adjust its diet slightly upwards. But beware of feeding them too much! Better to opt for a diet that will meet your needs rather than increasing in quantity!


Caring for the Peterbald Cat

Some Peterbalds can sweat a lot. They should then be given a weekly bath, but in general, they love it! 


Health of the Peterbald Cat

Life
expectancy  Its life expectancy is around 10-13 years.

Resistant / robust: 
Like other hairless cats, it does not tolerate cold or extreme heat very well and must be protected from the sun.

Tendency to
gain weight  This is not a breed known to become overweight easily, but there are exceptions.

Common diseases:
Progressive retinal atrophy  : an inherited autosomal and recessive disease. It causes vision loss which can lead to complete blindness. There is a screening test. 

Periodontal disease, often related to a lack of dental care.

Diseases and infections common in all cats, with slightly over-represented skin problems.

Reproduction: 
A Peterbald can be married to another Peterbald, an  Oriental or a Siamese . In all of these cases, the kittens will be recognized as Peterbalds and most will have the typical traits.


Good to know

The gene responsible for hair loss in Peterbald is a dominant gene with variable penetrance. 

However, it is not yet identified. It is known that completely naked individuals are homozygous and therefore have the gene on both alleles (in other words, they do not have a normal coat gene and can only pass on the Peterbald trait to their offspring). 

Heterozygous kittens will always show an altered coat that they can lose and regain during the first years of their life. Eventually, two heterozygous parents could produce normally hairy kittens. 

The latter do not have the gene that modifies the hair at all and therefore cannot pass it on.


Cat BreedsCat Food and Nutrition
Tips for Cat OwnersCat Training
Cat BehaviorKittens
Cat HealthCat Grooming
Cat AdoptionTravel with Cat
Holiday Season- Cat

Leave a Comment