Peterbald Breed Profile -

copied with permission from http://cat-breeds.suite101.com/article.cfm/peterbald-cat-breed-profile

Peterbalds are svelte and graceful, with slender legs and tails, long graceful necks, elongated bodies, and rippling musculature. They have almond-shaped eyes and large, bat-like ears set relatively low on their triangular heads.

What truly sets the Peterbald apart is its unusual fur or lack thereof. There are several types of Peterbald coats:

  • Bald – completely hairless, without even eyebrows or whiskers; the skin feels sticky to the touch, and these cats prefer to be massaged rather than stroked
  • Flock – a fine down made up of sparse, tiny hairs shorter than 1 mm; the coat feels like a warm chamois or silk to the touch; eyebrows and whiskers are curled or kinked, and possibly broken
  • Velour – hairs 1-3 mm in length, soft and dense with a sleek, shiny look; velour coats may change to flock over time
  • Brush – wiry, curly hairs a little longer than 3mm; whiskers are kinked or curled; sometimes a light brush coat gives way to baldness within 2 years
  • Straight – these Peterbalds lack the hair loss gene; the coat is relatively normal and whiskers are straight

The Peterbald coat may be a combination of two types, and furred Peterbalds come in many different colours and patterns. Interestingly, some Peterbalds change their colours and patterns over time.

Peterbald Personality

Like its Siamese and Oriental Shorthair relatives, the Peterbald is highly intelligent and very active. Most Peterbalds are sociable, affectionate, devoted to their owners, and friendly with new people. These cats are not usually cool or aloof. Rather, they tend to be lap cats, and also like to follow people around. They can be chatty, but their voices tend to be softer than those of their Siamese cousins.

Peterbalds are good family cats, getting along well with most children, dogs, and other pets. They do best in households where there is someone home much of the time, as they need frequent interaction.

Peterbald Grooming Requirements

Hairless cats require baths every 2-8 weeks to remove dirt and grease from their skin (completely hairless Peterbalds require more frequent bathing than furred Peterbalds). They may also require removal of earwax and oily buildup around the nail beds from time to time.

Are Peterbalds Hypoallergenic?

Many people assume that hairless or nearly hairless cats are less likely to provoke allergic reactions than furry cats. While it’s true that some allergy sufferers are better able to tolerate breeds such as the Peterbald and the Sphynx, others find that they react just as intensely to nearly hairless and bald cats. The only way to know for sure is to spend time with the cat to be adopted beforehand.

Peterbald Health

Peterbalds, lacking the protection of thick fur, are prone to sunburn and should be kept away from direct sunlight. Other than this, no specific health issues have been associated with the breed. However, this breed is relatively new, so it’s possible that there are heritable problems that have not yet been identified. Requesting a written health guarantee from the breeder is recommended.

Adopt a Peterbald Kitten or Cat

Prices for bald, flock, and velour Peterbald kittens range from R4000 to much more for show quality.

Brush-coated usually go for about R3000 and straight-coated for approximately R2500.

References:

  • P&G Pet Care, IAMS Breed Guide. (2010). “Peterbald.” IAMS.com.
  • Shamira Cattery. (2010). “History of the Peterbald Cat” and “Frequently Asked Questions.” “SmoothCats.com.
  • TICA. (n.d.). “The History of the Peterbald” and “Types of Peterbald Hair.” PeterbaldCats.net.
  • TICA. (n.d.). “Peterbald.” TICA.org
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