Peterbald

An affectionate and chatty ball of energy, this Russian breed wins hearts and minds with their Oriental faces and their almost non-existent coat. A Peterbald’s coat at birth does not represent their fur forever, in fact their coat changes constantly throughout the first two years of their lives.

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Life expectancy	The Peterbald has a life expectancy of between 10 and 13 years
Temperament	Affectionate Playful Intelligent
Adult size	Female Between 12 and 14 in Male Between 12 and 14 in
Adult weight	Female Between 4 and 9 lb Male Between 7 and 11 lb
Coat colour	Black Brown White Red Blue
Type of coat	Naked Short
Eye colour	Blue Green
Purchase price	The Peterbald costs approximately 750£

Good to know

The gene responsible for the hair loss in Peterbalds is a dominant gene with variable penetrance. It is still yet to be identified. It is known that completely naked individuals are homozygous and therefore possess the gene on both alleles (they do not have a normal coat gene and can only pass the Peterbald trait onto their offspring.) Heterozygote kittens will always have an altered coat that they can lose and regain during the first few years of their lives. Finally, two heterozygous parents could breed normal furred kittens. The latter do not have the gene that modifies their hair and thus can not pass it on.

More details about the Peterbald

Peterbald: Origins and history

Derived from the crossbreeding of a Donskoy and an Oriental Shorthair, the Peterbald was created in 1994 by Olga S. Mironova, a Russian breeder living in St. Petersburg. She wanted to create a cat whose oriental traits could be emphasised by a lack of fur. The breed was named after its hometown. Although cross breeding between Donskoy and Orientals is now banned, the Don's Sphynx is now a well established new naked breed.

Peterbald: Characteristics

Very affectionate

They are very clingy cats! Perhaps their lack of fur makes them a little more vulnerable to the cold? Or maybe it’s just their sociable nature that makes them always want to be near their owners.

Very playful

Curious and hyperactive, these cats absolutely love to play! They need a lot of environmental stimuli, as well as daily play sessions.

Not very calm

Although there are always exceptions to the rule, this cat is more often than not the polar opposite of calm.

High intelligence

Peterbalds are astonishingly sharp.

Moderately fearful of strangers

Generally a sociable breed, nevertheless some individuals are a more suspicious of strangers than others.

Not very independent

These cats love company, especially that of their owners.

Peterbald: Behaviour

Tends to be very vocal

This little Russian cats is very chatty.

Needs a lot of exercise

Peterbalds are very active cats. Their constant need to play could be a problem for some people.

Has a tendency to run away

This Russian cats’ curiosity means they love to wander and roam.

Moderately food motivated

They can be a bit greedier than the average cat, because they don’t have as much fur to maintain their body temperature.

Breed compatibility Peterbald

Moderately compatible with other cats

Although it varies from cat to cat, in general, a proper introduction will help to form the basis of a strong relationship between two or more cats.

Compatible with dogs

They usually get on really well with dogs, you just have to make sure to introduce them properly!

Moderately compatible with children

This cat gets on very well with children.

Not compatible with senior owners

Due to this breed’s high energy levels, elderly people may find them quite a handful.

Peterbald: Purchase price

The average price for a Peterbald is approximately £750. Their price varies depending on their hair type, lineage (parental pedigree) and age.
It costs on average £30/ month to provide for their needs, in order to purchase quality bedding and food.

Peterbald: Shedding

Light

This almost hairless cat does not lose much hair.

Peterbald: Grooming

Although one might think that an almost naked cat does not require any grooming, the Peterbald tends to sweat a lot and may therefore require a weekly bath.

Peterbald: Health

Life expectancy

Life expectancy of 10-13 years

Strong / robust

As with most naked cats, they tolerate the cold or extreme heat poorly and must be protected from the sun.

Tendency to put on weight

The breed isn’t known for being overweight, however there can be exceptions to the rule.

Common illnesses

Progressive retinal atrophy: This causes a loss of vision that can lead to complete blindness. (There is a screening test that can be done.)
Periodontal diseases, often related to lack of dental care.
They can also develop common diseases and infections that affect all cats, and are slightly more susceptible to skin problems.

Reproduction

A Peterbald may be crossbred with another Peterbald, an Oriental or a Siamese. In all these cases, the kittens are recognised as Peterbalds and most will have the typical traits of the breed.