Peterbald cat

Federations: LOOF, FIFé, WCF

Coexistence is important that you have with your new friend. Before considering the acquisition of a cat of the breed "Peterbald cat" you know certain factors. You must take into account their character, their need for exercise, their interaction with other pets, their care and if you have small children, their level of tolerance towards them.

The Peterbald It is a recent Russian feline breed, originated in Saint Petersburg in the early 1990.

Olga S. Mironova, an expert on cats who conquered the style of the Donskoy (Don Sphynx), a breed of naked cats that appeared over the years 80 en Rostov del Don (also in russia), decided to cross them with him Oriental shorthair cat. I wanted to create an oriental type cat but without hair, so that you could admire his fine and elegant musculature.

so in 1993 crossed to Afinguen Myth, A male Don Sphynx, con Radma from Jagerhov, a female Eastern who had won several feline shows. The first two litters gave birth to four kittens: Mandarín iz Murino, Moscatel iz Murino, Nezhenka iz Murino y Nocturne iz Murino. They are the creators of the race Peterbald, and Nocturne iz Murino, that was used as a stallion, is present today in the line of all Peterbald with pedigree.

In 1996, the Russian Federation of Selection Felines (SFF) developed the first standard for this breed. It was called Peterbald, in honor of the city of Saint Petersburg, where are they from?. Russian breeders quickly became interested in the breed and began to develop it.

In order to preserve the morphology of the Oriental, crossing with Donskoys, to prevent the special characteristics of these cats from being lost. Since the hairless gene has already been introduced into the breed, Russian breeders decided to use only Oriental, Siamese and balinese for the crossing.

But, the functioning of this gene is difficult to understand, and even today genetics cannot clearly explain its functioning and transmission, which leads some geneticists to think that several genes are responsible for the appearance of the Peterbald. Like this, these cats may be hairless, have an extremely short coat, have a long coat, or a combination of these different settings (for example, hairless on some parts of the body and hair on others).

The Peterbald cat soon attracted everyone's interest, and the first specimens were exported to Europe and North America in the late 1990s. 1990. The International Cat Association (TICA) granted to Peterbald the title of experimental breed in 1997, and was recognized by the World Cat Federation (WCF) in 2003. In 2006, obtained the full recognition of the TICA, which allowed him to participate in exhibitions organized under the auspices of the organization. The Fédération Internationale Féline (FiFé) also recognized him in 2012.

But, neither him Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) not even Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) have yet taken the step.

In fact, despite its recognition by several major organizations and its presence around the world, the Peterbald it is still a very rare feline breed that is still under development.

In France, the first Peterbalds they enrolled in the Livre Officiel des Origines Félines in 2006, and in 2008 some 30 copies per year. This number remained stable until 2015, before descending to solo 6 copies in 2018. With a total population of just over 300 specimens, the Peterbald it is a rare cat in France.

"Peterbald cat"

The Peterbald has a slim or oriental complexion. His long body is lean and muscular, which gives it an elegant look. The same slenderness is evident in the long legs and whip-shaped tail..

The head is triangular seen from the front and the huge ears, broad at the base, are located in the continuation of this triangle. Profile, the line from the top of the skull to the tip of the nose is perfectly straight. The eyes they are medium in size and almond shaped, and they can be blue, green or odd (one green eye and one blue).

The fur of the Peterbalds varies from individual to individual: according to the rules, there are three to five categories. Some cats are completely hairless and their skin is elastic and rubbery to the touch, while others have a soft and more or less long coat all over the body. Some have a short but hard and curly coat, which can also be unevenly distributed throughout the body. Others have a coat that can be described as "normal.", similar to a shorthair cat.

It also, things are not fixed in time: if a kitten that is born without hair is left without it, another born with hair can keep it or lose it, partially or fully. Like this, some individuals who are born hairy end up naked as adults.

It also, all coat colors are accepted by the breed standard. Hairless individuals have different colors, since their skin is the same color that their hair would have if they had it.

Last, the sexual dimorphism it is well marked, being the male larger than the female.

• Male size: 22 to 25 cm.
• female size: 20-23 cm.
• Male weight: 3,5-4,5 kg
• female weight: 2,5-3,5 kg

The breed standards are documents issued by official bodies that list the conditions that a Peterbald must meet to be fully recognized as belonging to the breed:

• Standard FIFé (Fédération Internationale Féline)
• Standard LOOF (Livre Officiel des Origines Félines)
• Standard AFC (Association Féline Canadienne)
• Standard TICA (The International Cat Association)

The Peterbald cat can have different types of fur, so it exists in several varieties:

• Hairless

  These individuals do not have hair and the touch of their skin is reminiscent of rubber.. One Peterbald desnudo he does not usually have a mustache.

• Chamois

  They are covered with a fine down, less than 1 mm, that feels like the famous suede leather. One Peterbald Chamois has short mustaches.

• Velour

  They have a very short coat, of only 2 or 3 mm, soft to the touch and velvet texture. One Peterbald Velour he also has short mustaches.

• brush

  They have short, hard hair, usually curly. One Peterbald type brush usually has curly whiskers.

• Short-haired fur

  This variety includes all Peterbalds whose coat does not correspond to the previous varieties. Hair can be of different lengths on different parts of the body, from completely hairless to medium length. These cats are well registered as Peterbalds, but they are not allowed to compete in cat shows.

"Peterbald cat"

The Peterbald cat it is a very affectionate cat that is never far from its owner. Follows him around the house, sits on your lap or shoulder whenever possible, and sleep next to him. Accompanies him to the door, and it is behind this very door that his master finds him when he returns.

This affection can be overwhelming at times., especially for those who have never had a pet: have a Peterbald at home means having someone around all the time. And their presence is not always discreet, since he likes to start a conversation.

Like is logic, this attachment makes him not like being alone. Being alone while his owner is at work is not a problem for him, but you may suffer from separation anxiety and destructive behavior if you are left alone for a weekend. On the other hand, being much more attached to his master than to his house, the Peterbald travels with ease: therefore, you can perfectly plan to go on vacation with your cat without having to fear great difficulties.

It also, is sociable and gets along with everyone. Receive guests at the door and do not hesitate to chat with them. It is also a breed of cat suitable for children: as long as they know how to behave with a cat and respect it, you will enjoy playing with them for hours.

He also gets along well with other cats, but also with dogs that are used to cats. On the other hand, their sociability with small rodents or reptiles can be problematic: has no hunting instinct towards them, but what is just a game for him can cause them some stress.

Extremely active, the Peterbald run, jump, scratch and play all day. The only thing he likes more than chasing a ball is playing with its owner.. Loves varied cat games, including those that stimulate your intelligence.

Yes indeed, although he loves to play, it is not a cat made for the outdoors, so you have to keep it indoors: your skin is sensitive to the sun's rays, as well as bad weather and dirt. It also, his sociable character - even naive- could put you in dangerous situations.

"Peterbald cat"

The Peterbald cat It is a breed of cats with few health problems and no known risk of genetic diseases. As the breed is new, it is still too early to draw definitive conclusions, but it is reasonable to assume that if a serious illness affected her, cases would have already appeared.

On the other hand, the lack of fur makes their skin more sensitive than that of other cats. Like this:

• It is a breed of cat sensitive to cold, so you must live in a warm enough place;
• There is also that protect them from the sun, using specific sun cream for animals if they have to leave the house;
• Sebum tends to accumulate in your body, creating an oily film that can quickly collect dirt.

Last, although the risk of obesity is low in this breed, remains one of the main health hazards of any indoor cat, so owners should weigh their cat regularly and ensure that it does not exceed its body weight.

Of 12 to 15 years

The Peterbald cat it is easy to care, but it requires more attention than you think. In effect, their lack of fur prevents brushing sessions, but her bare skin perspires, and the tallow retains the dust. To avoid the accumulation of dirt that can cause the appearance of bacteria, body odor and possibly skin problems, it is necessary to bathe your cat every week with a special shampoo.

But, this bathroom shouldn't be a problem, since at Peterbald he likes to be bathed in hot water, especially if you have gotten used to it since childhood.

To end this weekly grooming session, you have to inspect your teeth, eyes and ears to make sure they are clean, and possibly clean them with a damp cloth.

Last, if natural wear and tear is not enough, you need to trim your cat's nails.

The Peterbald cat can be fed with industrial cat food available in specialized stores. Whether it's croquettes or food, it must be a good quality diet, adapted to your age and activity level. This ensures that your cat receives all the nutrients it needs and remains healthy..

The risk of obesity is low in this hyperactive cat, and can be left with food on hand at all times, since it is capable of self-regulation. But, care must be taken that the weight of the cat remains stable, and you should consult your vet to establish an adequate diet if you deviate from your ideal weight.

To adopt a kitten Peterbald, you will have to pay some 1250 euros if it is a male, and 1100 euros if it is a female.

Who wants to adopt a Peterbald Because of his character and not because of his "hairless" appearance, he can resort to an individual with straight hair. These kittens with longer or shorter coats are born to pedigreed parents and, therefore, are recorded as Peterbalds, but they cannot be shown in cat shows. Thus, its price is usually much more affordable, since it is possible to find them around the 600 or 700 EUR.