Peterbald's can be born completely
hairless, called a "sticky bald", with a very
short, very soft coat called "velour", with a
short, thin, coarse coat of fur called a
"brush coat", or with a combination of the
velour and brush, with the body being a
dense version of the velour, and the face,
feet, and tail having some degree of fur
and is called "flocked". All kittens born
with the PETERBALD gene should have a
mostly bald, red "cap" at birth, and their
eyes tend to open very early. As they
grow, the hair on their head quickly evens
out to match the rest of the kitten's coat
type. Once their whiskers have grown in,
you will also notice the kinky or curly
whiskers and eyebrows that are
characteristic of the breed.
hairless, called a "sticky bald", with a very
short, very soft coat called "velour", with a
short, thin, coarse coat of fur called a
"brush coat", or with a combination of the
velour and brush, with the body being a
dense version of the velour, and the face,
feet, and tail having some degree of fur
and is called "flocked". All kittens born
with the PETERBALD gene should have a
mostly bald, red "cap" at birth, and their
eyes tend to open very early. As they
grow, the hair on their head quickly evens
out to match the rest of the kitten's coat
type. Once their whiskers have grown in,
you will also notice the kinky or curly
whiskers and eyebrows that are
characteristic of the breed.
The look of these cats is very different. The
PETERBALD is lean and muscular, with long legs and a
long, thin body. They are to have a long, wedge shaped
head, with large, low (wide set) ears, no "whisker
pinch," and much less defined cheekbones. The
Sphynx, on the other hand, is to have shorter legs, a
"barrel shaped body" that is much shorter and rounder
than the PD, high, large ears that point up instead of
out on their shorter head.
PETERBALD is lean and muscular, with long legs and a
long, thin body. They are to have a long, wedge shaped
head, with large, low (wide set) ears, no "whisker
pinch," and much less defined cheekbones. The
Sphynx, on the other hand, is to have shorter legs, a
"barrel shaped body" that is much shorter and rounder
than the PD, high, large ears that point up instead of
out on their shorter head.
SOME OF THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
THE SPHYNX AND THE PETERBALD!
THE SPHYNX AND THE PETERBALD!
| The PETERBALD is generally less oily than the Sphynx, and therefore doesn't need to be bathed as often; maybe every two to eight weeks, depending on your cat. Sticky- or ultra-bald cats are more oily and need to be bathed more often than their very short coated counterparts. |
The PETERBALD coat is different in feel than that of the
SPHYNX. They are both soft and nice to feel, but there
is a discernible difference between them. The added oil
of the Sphynx produces a real; difference when touched
as opposed to the feel of the PETERBALD.
SPHYNX. They are both soft and nice to feel, but there
is a discernible difference between them. The added oil
of the Sphynx produces a real; difference when touched
as opposed to the feel of the PETERBALD.
It has been written that hairless
cats are not allergy free. Many
people are allergic to the dried
saliva residue left after grooming,
and all cats will groom themselves.
cats are not allergy free. Many
people are allergic to the dried
saliva residue left after grooming,
and all cats will groom themselves.
My PETERBALD cats groom themselves less often
and less thoroughly than "furry" cats. I can only tell
you what I have experienced personally. If you have a
cat allergy and are interested in one of my babies,
there are some 'tests' we can do if geography makes a
visit to a PETERBALD Cattery impossible. A visit is
the best test, but there are other options.
and less thoroughly than "furry" cats. I can only tell
you what I have experienced personally. If you have a
cat allergy and are interested in one of my babies,
there are some 'tests' we can do if geography makes a
visit to a PETERBALD Cattery impossible. A visit is
the best test, but there are other options.
NAKED OR HAIRLESS
A few other names you may have heard this coat type
referred to are: ultra hairless, born naked, or hairless born.
The ultra bald PDs are born totally without hair. They are
completely hairless, and do not grow any coat after birth.
They are usually born without whiskers or eyebrows and
often have their eyes open at birth. The skin is soft, warm
and sticky to the touch. They feel like warm rubber, hence
the term “sticky bald”. These cats tend to prefer to be
massaged over the typical, stroking (“petting”) motion. The
ultra bald is probably homozygous for the PETERBALD
(Donskoy) gene; however, it is too early in PETERBALD
research to make a definitive statement.
FLOCK OR CHAMOIS
The flocked or chamois PETERBALD is smooth to the touch
and has no visible hair. Hair measures 1/100th mm to 1 mm.
There is no resistance to the coat when stroked in any
direction and there is no sensation of stickiness. It feels like
silk. Peterbald's with this coat type may have residual, close-
lying down on the extremities which may or may not be lost
as the cat matures. Whiskers and eyebrows are kinky, curly,
broken or a combination of these. This is the most desirable
coat type
VELOUR
The velour coat ranges from 1 – 5mm in length and appears
hairless from a distance. Upon close inspection, the coat is
visible. The texture of the coat can range from sparse, short
and slightly wavy hair where the skin is easily visible, to a
denser coat where the skin is only slightly visible. On those
cats with the denser texture, the coat shines, giving it a
sleek look. When moving a hand over the velour coat, there
is some resistance because the coat does not typically lay
tight to the body as it does with a flock or chamois. This
coat can be lost, leaving a flock or chamois coat by two
years of age. Kittens born with a velour coat usually have a
bald spot or ‘monk’s cap’ on the top of the head.
BRUSH
The brush coat is comprised of wiry hair that may be barely
wavy to almost curly. It ranges from sparse to dense, with
irregular texture. It may be coarse or soft and will be longer
than 5 mm in length. Cats born with a light brush coat may
lose the coat over a period of time and may become bald
before two years of age. The heavy, dense brush coat is
never lost. Whiskers on a brush coated cat or kitten are
ALWAYS curly or kinky. A velour coat is sometimes
confused for a “light brush”. The difference can be
determined by the coat length and the wiry texture of the
brush (remember, the texture of the velour coat is soft).
A few other names you may have heard this coat type
referred to are: ultra hairless, born naked, or hairless born.
The ultra bald PDs are born totally without hair. They are
completely hairless, and do not grow any coat after birth.
They are usually born without whiskers or eyebrows and
often have their eyes open at birth. The skin is soft, warm
and sticky to the touch. They feel like warm rubber, hence
the term “sticky bald”. These cats tend to prefer to be
massaged over the typical, stroking (“petting”) motion. The
ultra bald is probably homozygous for the PETERBALD
(Donskoy) gene; however, it is too early in PETERBALD
research to make a definitive statement.
FLOCK OR CHAMOIS
The flocked or chamois PETERBALD is smooth to the touch
and has no visible hair. Hair measures 1/100th mm to 1 mm.
There is no resistance to the coat when stroked in any
direction and there is no sensation of stickiness. It feels like
silk. Peterbald's with this coat type may have residual, close-
lying down on the extremities which may or may not be lost
as the cat matures. Whiskers and eyebrows are kinky, curly,
broken or a combination of these. This is the most desirable
coat type
VELOUR
The velour coat ranges from 1 – 5mm in length and appears
hairless from a distance. Upon close inspection, the coat is
visible. The texture of the coat can range from sparse, short
and slightly wavy hair where the skin is easily visible, to a
denser coat where the skin is only slightly visible. On those
cats with the denser texture, the coat shines, giving it a
sleek look. When moving a hand over the velour coat, there
is some resistance because the coat does not typically lay
tight to the body as it does with a flock or chamois. This
coat can be lost, leaving a flock or chamois coat by two
years of age. Kittens born with a velour coat usually have a
bald spot or ‘monk’s cap’ on the top of the head.
BRUSH
The brush coat is comprised of wiry hair that may be barely
wavy to almost curly. It ranges from sparse to dense, with
irregular texture. It may be coarse or soft and will be longer
than 5 mm in length. Cats born with a light brush coat may
lose the coat over a period of time and may become bald
before two years of age. The heavy, dense brush coat is
never lost. Whiskers on a brush coated cat or kitten are
ALWAYS curly or kinky. A velour coat is sometimes
confused for a “light brush”. The difference can be
determined by the coat length and the wiry texture of the
brush (remember, the texture of the velour coat is soft).
PETERBALD COATS
The PETERBALD is in most cases a hair losing breed, it has been
documented that, occasionally, some cats may grow some coat,
typically between 3 and 6 months of age. In these cases, this second
coat is almost always lost again before the cat's second year, but it
must be noted that a PETERBALD can not be guaranteed to remain in
one particular coat category before it is three years of age. Seasonal
and hormonal coat differences have also been noted, including hair
growth/loss in relation to seasonal whether or pregnancy. This change
in coat is typically minor and is most often most evident in the hair
growth pattern on any areas of the cat's body that have a longer coat
(IE the legs and tail, although possibly also on the flanks and/or chest).
The PETERBALD is, however, quite notorious for the changes that will
occur in its coat as it ages. Cats will make changes in coat type (most
often after the second month, the change in fur would be a LOSS of
fur; this is a hair LOSING breed), and, more often in color. I have seen
red cats turn lilac or blue cream, and I have seen a tortie develop
distinct stripes to become a torbie...(this cat was a light brush coat).
They just like to keep us on our toes
documented that, occasionally, some cats may grow some coat,
typically between 3 and 6 months of age. In these cases, this second
coat is almost always lost again before the cat's second year, but it
must be noted that a PETERBALD can not be guaranteed to remain in
one particular coat category before it is three years of age. Seasonal
and hormonal coat differences have also been noted, including hair
growth/loss in relation to seasonal whether or pregnancy. This change
in coat is typically minor and is most often most evident in the hair
growth pattern on any areas of the cat's body that have a longer coat
(IE the legs and tail, although possibly also on the flanks and/or chest).
The PETERBALD is, however, quite notorious for the changes that will
occur in its coat as it ages. Cats will make changes in coat type (most
often after the second month, the change in fur would be a LOSS of
fur; this is a hair LOSING breed), and, more often in color. I have seen
red cats turn lilac or blue cream, and I have seen a tortie develop
distinct stripes to become a torbie...(this cat was a light brush coat).
They just like to keep us on our toes
The
PETERBALD
was accepted
for
Championship
class
competition,
effective May
1, 2009, in the
American Cat
Fanciers
Association
(CFA) in
August 2008. ...
PETERBALD
was accepted
for
Championship
class
competition,
effective May
1, 2009, in the
American Cat
Fanciers
Association
(CFA) in
August 2008. ...
Russian breeder, Elena Kovaleva brought home a homeless,
bald female cat.
She thought that it was sick and tried to cure it from the
supposed
disease that caused the puzzling hairloss. But it was soon
discovered
that the absence/loss of hair was not from a disease,
but was in fact a natural mutation. The female cat was named
Varvara (Varya) and she later gave birth to hairless kittens.
Varya was soon to become the foundation cat of a new and
wonderful breed.
The first thought, of course, was that this mutation was the
same gene that caused the hairlessness in the Sphynx.
For that reason, you will see the name Don Sphynx used in
some descriptions and on some pedigrees.
This proved to be untrue and it was soon discovered that
these were two totally different breeds. The Sphynx gene is a
recessive gene and after breeding the Don Sphynx,
the gene was found to be Dominant the difference in these
types of genes means the following: If you breed a Sphynx
(recessive gene)
to a normal-coated cat, you will get normal-coated cats
in the first generation. If you breed a Peterbald (dominant gene
for hairlessness)
to a normal-coated cat, you will get hairless kittens in the first
generation.Varya went on to be the foundation cat for two
wonderful,
but different breeds. Some of Varya’s kittens were bred to
European and Domestic Shorthairs. This produced a very stocky
built cat that became known as the Don Hairless or, what is now
known as the Donsky. In 1993 a very oriental-looking brown
mackerel tabby Don Hairless male, Afinguen Myth, was mated
to a tortie Oriental female, Radma Von Jagerhof.
These oriental-type hairless cats were called Peterbald.
They were unpopular in Moscow, but became very popular
amongst
St. Petersburg breeders.In January of 1994, the new, more
refined
look of the Don Hairless,
became known as the Russian Peterbald. Breeders from the
United
States became increasingly interested in the Peterbald. Several
Peterbald were shipped from Russia to the States to be used
in breeding programs. Acceptance of the Peterbald by the Cat
Fancy World-Wide In 1996, the Peterbald was accepted by the
Russian Selectional Feline Federation (SFF) and given a
standard
and an abbreviation for registration purposes, i.e. PBD. In 1997,
the Peterbald was accepted by The International Cat Association
(TICA) with the abbreviation PB. In 2003, the World Cat Federa
tion
(WCF) accepted the Peterbald, with the abbreviation PBD.
Other used handles of the breed are PBD, PTB, PD and PSX.
Breeders in the United States have succeeded in obtaining full
Championship status of this breed in 2007, with the
abbreviation PD.
Lean and elegant, but at the same time muscled, finely featured,
big-eared, long-legged and whippy tailed, this cat has a totally
different look from that of the Sphinx however, although these
graceful cats have the elegant, oriental-type body, they have a
unique look, coat and personality, distinctly their own. A
Peterbald
may have different coat types; from thick and silky, or wiry,
flocked
or suede, naked or sticky and everything in between.
One of the most notable features of this elegant cat is the new
and
unique coat called a brush coat: It has a similar texture to the
coat
of a wirehair, but is very short, definitely not curly and not
dense,
more sort of brushy.The South African Cat Council (SACC) had
accepted the Peterbald for Championship Status as early as
November 2001, with the abbreviation PET. In October 2008,
the brand new Standard of Points for the Peterbald was
accepted by the Southern Africa Cat Council.
bald female cat.
She thought that it was sick and tried to cure it from the
supposed
disease that caused the puzzling hairloss. But it was soon
discovered
that the absence/loss of hair was not from a disease,
but was in fact a natural mutation. The female cat was named
Varvara (Varya) and she later gave birth to hairless kittens.
Varya was soon to become the foundation cat of a new and
wonderful breed.
The first thought, of course, was that this mutation was the
same gene that caused the hairlessness in the Sphynx.
For that reason, you will see the name Don Sphynx used in
some descriptions and on some pedigrees.
This proved to be untrue and it was soon discovered that
these were two totally different breeds. The Sphynx gene is a
recessive gene and after breeding the Don Sphynx,
the gene was found to be Dominant the difference in these
types of genes means the following: If you breed a Sphynx
(recessive gene)
to a normal-coated cat, you will get normal-coated cats
in the first generation. If you breed a Peterbald (dominant gene
for hairlessness)
to a normal-coated cat, you will get hairless kittens in the first
generation.Varya went on to be the foundation cat for two
wonderful,
but different breeds. Some of Varya’s kittens were bred to
European and Domestic Shorthairs. This produced a very stocky
built cat that became known as the Don Hairless or, what is now
known as the Donsky. In 1993 a very oriental-looking brown
mackerel tabby Don Hairless male, Afinguen Myth, was mated
to a tortie Oriental female, Radma Von Jagerhof.
These oriental-type hairless cats were called Peterbald.
They were unpopular in Moscow, but became very popular
amongst
St. Petersburg breeders.In January of 1994, the new, more
refined
look of the Don Hairless,
became known as the Russian Peterbald. Breeders from the
United
States became increasingly interested in the Peterbald. Several
Peterbald were shipped from Russia to the States to be used
in breeding programs. Acceptance of the Peterbald by the Cat
Fancy World-Wide In 1996, the Peterbald was accepted by the
Russian Selectional Feline Federation (SFF) and given a
standard
and an abbreviation for registration purposes, i.e. PBD. In 1997,
the Peterbald was accepted by The International Cat Association
(TICA) with the abbreviation PB. In 2003, the World Cat Federa
tion
(WCF) accepted the Peterbald, with the abbreviation PBD.
Other used handles of the breed are PBD, PTB, PD and PSX.
Breeders in the United States have succeeded in obtaining full
Championship status of this breed in 2007, with the
abbreviation PD.
Lean and elegant, but at the same time muscled, finely featured,
big-eared, long-legged and whippy tailed, this cat has a totally
different look from that of the Sphinx however, although these
graceful cats have the elegant, oriental-type body, they have a
unique look, coat and personality, distinctly their own. A
Peterbald
may have different coat types; from thick and silky, or wiry,
flocked
or suede, naked or sticky and everything in between.
One of the most notable features of this elegant cat is the new
and
unique coat called a brush coat: It has a similar texture to the
coat
of a wirehair, but is very short, definitely not curly and not
dense,
more sort of brushy.The South African Cat Council (SACC) had
accepted the Peterbald for Championship Status as early as
November 2001, with the abbreviation PET. In October 2008,
the brand new Standard of Points for the Peterbald was
accepted by the Southern Africa Cat Council.
CAN YOU BE ALLERGIC
TO THE PETERBALD?
TO THE PETERBALD?
HISTORY OF THE PETERBALD!
THE PETERBALD
