The Peterbald Cat

The Peterbald cat is a very new breed developed in 1994 when a breeder in St. Petersburg, Russia crossed a Don Sphynx cat with an Oriental Shorthair cat. Like the Don Sphynx, the Peterbald comes in three different hair types. There is a velvety, fuzzy coat called velour, like the kitten to the left. There is completely hairless, referred to as nude, like the white cat below. (Within this type is the "ultra-bald" which has no whiskers or eyebrows and an unusual, sticky feel to the skin) Then there is a fine wiry texture called brush, like the cat in the bottom frame. This hair type is often very patchy and they often turn completely bald over time. These cats are long and lean with the exquisite, lithe frame of the Orientals and Modern Siamese cat, but with a more cuddly personality. They tend to make exceptionally gentle, warm and loving companions.

 Cool Cat Facts...
Peterbalds have long front toes with webbing in between allowing them to hold and manipulate toys and other items as if they had little hands.                                                                       

Is A Peterbald Cat Right For You?

The Peterbald cat is recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA), the world's largest cat organization. It is a relatively rare pure-bred or "pedigreed" domestic cat breed. The Peterbald comes in any color or pattern, and the hair-type dictates the level of care. With the hairless individuals regular, careful bathing is necessary so that oils don't build up and cause skin irritation.  They must be protected from extreme temperatures, and too much sunlight can cause sunburn. These are energetic and affectionate small to medium-sized cats that surprisingly have few breed-related health issues when simple precautions are taken. Because it is active and loves interaction the Peterbald cat can make a nice family pet, but children must be very considerate because the lack of fur leaves these cats somewhat vulnerable if handled roughly.

Peterbald Cat Breed Standards

Head Shape: The head should be a medium size elongated wedge. There is no stop, and the forehead flows down into the strong round muzzle. The muzzle of the Peterbald is not as narrow as the other hairless breeds, and the head shape is less exaggerated.  The ears are very large and open. They are broad at the base with a rounded tip. The eyes are medium size, almond shaped, and well angled in harmony with the skull. They should neither protrude nor recede and should be wide-set with at least an eye width distance between the eyes. Can be slightly squinted.  All eye color accepted.
Body and Tail:Medium sized body, firm quality, relatively fine-boned. Long legs with small, oval feet. Some show similiar toe development to the Don Sphynx from which they were developed. The front toes may be long and webbed and actually fairly dextrous, allowing them to pick up and manipulate toys and other objects. Tail is long and whip-like.
Coat:  Several variations, sometimes called by other terms than those listed here:
Ultra-bald - born completely hairless, no eyebrows or whiskers, no fuzz. There is a sticky feel to the skin from the oils.
Chamois- basically hairless but without the sticky feel.
Velour- overall thin downy coat, with soft, textured feel.
Brush- quite varied but the hair is stiff, not soft, and the eyebrows and whiskers may be kinked and curly as well.
Pattern: All colors and patterns are accepted.
Overall Appearance: This should be a lean, elegant and exotic looking cat with a distinctly Oriental appearance.  The balder the cat, the more exotic the look! Sweet, bright, and cuddly.

Inside Cat or Outside Cat?

Wondering if you should allow your cat to go outside unsupervised? Well there are definitely some pure breeds that should never be outside cats. Hairless breeds like the Sphynx are extremely vulnerable and should always be supervised outdoors. Docile breeds like the Burmese may not be able to defend themselves. All cats allowed outdoors are exposed to diseases and parasites that they would not otherwise encounter. Fred Flintstone put his saber-tooth out every night, but the cat jumped right back in the window - and he was a saber-tooth! Still, most of us feel a little envy when we see our domestic companion out on some high perch, sniffing the breeze of liberty, and there is no doubt that cats love their freedom. So what do YOU think ....Inside Cat or Outside Cat? Comment Here...

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