Peterbald Cat Breed Information

Group

Exotic, Hairless

Weight

20.3-25.4 cm

Length

3-6.3 kg

Lifespan

12-15 years

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About the Peterbald Cat

Reviewed by:

Dr. Cristina Alice Vulpe

Veterinarian

Do you love the Shar-pei but want a cat? Leave it to the creators of vodka and caviar, to introduce the Peterbald. If skinny, wrinkly, and bald are your type (no judgment), look no further.

If you want to say goodbye to brushing, hairballs, and matching your wardrobe to your cat, the Peterbald cat is your perfect partner.

What Is the History & Origin of the Peterbald Cat?

The Peterbald cat breed is a relatively new breed.

It’s of Russian origin and resulted from experimental breeding between a female Don Sphynx named Don Hairless and an Oriental Shorthair in 1994. That union created a new cat breed of four Peterbald kittens and the rest of the love story is history.

Even though the Peterbald breed was bred from Sphynx cats, they are a genetically unique hairless breed. Most hairless breeds, including the Don Sphynx, are bald due to a recessive gene. The Peterbald has a dominant gene.

What Is a Peterbald Cat Breed?

This is a new cat breed that is not even 30 years old yet. They are the newest member of the floofless feline cult, hairless kitties. To be clear, they are not in disguise, this is how they dress (or don’t dress depending upon your perspective).

The Peterbald is relatively rare and is a purebred or pedigreed breed of cat.

The Peterbald is recognised by all cat clubs including the International Cat Association TICA.

Who Is a Peterbald Cat Best For?

This is a cat that needs family members in its life.

Big families, small families, singles, it doesn’t matter, just as long as you have time to spend with them. And by time, we mean every second it’s not sleeping.

Families with children and or other pets are the best situation. These kitties will even get along fine with dogs. Simply having an individual cat is not the best situation.

As kittens, they will grow up in the home and become loyal to a fault.

Due to issues with their skin, they are good indoor cats and are OK for apartment dwellers.

What Does a Peterbald Cat Look Like?

The Peterbald cat has a wrinkly look with its lean sleek body and a long slim tail. Its head looks bigger than it should, and the almond-shaped eyes seem to fill up most of its face.

The ears are comically large as if they are designed for eavesdropping. Their front paws are webbed allowing them to hold and handle objects, sometimes with very unsettling ease.

Coat

This cat breed is a bit of a feline fashion house on four legs. The breed standard actually recognises five coat variations of the Peterbald cat breed. They are the:

Naked coat or ultra bald – completely hairless
Chamois coat – peach fuzz (like it’s going through puberty)
Flock coat – very fine hair
Brush coat – fine but rough hair
Straight coat or short coat- typical short-haired straight coats that most cats have

To make things more interesting, the coat that Peterbald kittens have is not necessarily the coat of the adult. The coats can change over the first 2 years. So, yeah, you could wake up one morning with a naked cat in your bed.

Colours

Regardless of which coat they decide to wear, it will be:

White
Blue
Silver
Red
Brown
Gray
Black
Mixed

Patterns

A Peterbald cat can be a single colour or bi-colour pattern and can have spots or stripes.

Peterbald Cat Grooming & Shedding

It may sound funny, but the Peterbald cat is not an easy way to get out of grooming. In fact, they can be more high maintenance than other cat breeds.

Obviously, they don’t need daily brushing, but they do require bathing. You should expect to bathe a Peterbald cat at least once a week. Their oily skin gets grimey.

Also, temperature control is big for these kitties.

That means, sunscreen in the summer and a sweater or coat in the winter (see above colours for matching). They prefer Hermès or Louis Vuitton but they will accept anything from France. FYI, Matin is not French, so don’t try it. Peterbalds are hairless cats, not brainless cats.

And the most surprising fact, they don’t shed much.

How Do Peterbald Cats Behave? A Look at Their Temperament and Personality

It cannot be overstated. This is an affectionate cat. They are very loyal, very outgoing, very playful, and simply love to be the centre of attention.

The Peterbald is so loyal that if you have a dog, there may be a competition between them as to which is the most loyal.

FYI, the Peterbald cat will play dirty, so warn your dog.

Living Needs

These are very affectionate cats and want lots and lots of attention. Other pets as well as games and puzzles will help to keep them busy and give you some personal space.

It’s important to note that Peterbald cat owners have expenses that are not typical of other breeds. Expect to pay upwards of $1,200 monthly for vet bills, food, toys, etc.

What Are Common Habits and Activity Levels of Peterbald Cats?

Habits

These are smart felines and need mental stimulation. They need toys and puzzles to keep them busy. It’s best if they have other cats or even dogs to play with, otherwise, you will have a shadow that is more like a toddler.

Activity Level

The Peterbald is an active breed. They love to play. They are very athletic and bold. They are not afraid to raid that terrorist training camp in the backyard masquerading as a birdhouse. They can’t be fooled, they are very smart. Everyone knows you can’t get furniture in through that little circular door.

Vocalness

Know that Peterbalds are talkers. You will hear their raspy voice every time:

You enter a room
Come home from work
They come in from outside
They see a squirrel through the window
It’s time to eat dinner

They will always want to hold conversations with you, but it’s really so you can listen to what they have to say. If they want your opinion, they will give it to you.

What Is the Weight, Height, and Size of a Peterbald Cat?

As with other household animals, males tend to favour the higher end of the averages, with females typically in the middle range.

Height

These kitties stand 20.3 to 25.4 cm high.

Weight

They average around 3 to 6.3 kgs.

Size

This is a medium-sized cat breed.

Are Peterbald Cats Easy to Train?

As previously mentioned, Peterbald have personalities that can be similar to those of dogs. Peterbald cats are very amenable to training. They are very intelligent and are good problem solvers. Using treats as a reward is a great way to get both training and calorie intake taken care of.

Does the Peterbald Cat Have Any Common Health Issues?

As far as pet health goes, the Peterbald cat does not have any significant health issues. The most important issues to monitor are related to the Peterbald’s skin due since it is a hairless cat breed.

Be mindful of:

Sunburn
Sensitivity to the hotter and colder climates
Skin irritation
Feline ectodermal dysplasia and other dental issues

While their skin does heal faster than most other household animals, they are more prone to cuts and scrapes and even injuries.

Sunscreen (from your vet, don’t simply agree to take turns getting each other’s back) should be used during the dog days of summer. When it’s excessively hot, keep them indoors.

What Is the Lifespan of a Peterbald Cat?

The Peterbald cat has an above-average life span. Expect them to be around for 12 to 15 human years or the feline age of 65 to 77.

How Much Does a Peterbald Cat Need to Be Fed?

Hairless cat breeds have a higher metabolism than floofy coat-type cat breeds. As such, they require a high-calorie diet. Also, those calories should be high-quality proteins, and from a variety of sources.

Kibble or wet food is fine, whichever they prefer, but wet food is a good way to keep them hydrated. Do not confuse high caloric intake with the quantity of food. Like all cat breeds, these kitties are susceptible to obesity.

With that said, they do need to eat more than other cats. It’s important to remember that caring for a Peterbald cat comes with additional costs not typically had with other breeds.

How Much Can You Expect to Pay for a Peterbald Cat in Australia?

This is not a low-budget kittie. You should begin looking for rescue since many people pass them by due to their looks. Most likely, however, you will need to rely on a reputable breeder. In that case, you can expect a Peterbald kitten to begin around $1000 but due to availability could reach upwards of $2,000.

Peterbald Cat FAQs

What’s the difference between a Sphynx and a Peterbald?

The Sphynx and Peterbald kitties may seem similar, but they are very different and unique breeds. They both have, essentially, a hairless coat, but the biggest differences are in their face. The Peterbald appears to have a moustache, and also has noticeable whiskers. Sphynx typically doesn’t have whiskers or only partials.

Are Peterbald cats hypoallergenic?

People misunderstand what cat allergies are about. They assume it has to do with the feline’s fur coat. Allergies are produced and triggered by skin dander that any animal may create. Thus, even though this breed has a hairless coat, it is not a hypoallergenic breed.

Do Peterbald cats suffer from separation anxiety?

As with all very social cats, when they lose socializing in their life, they suffer from separation anxiety. These kitties may be OK on their own for very short durations, but they will have issues if left alone for a matter of several hours.