Peterbald: character and rules for choosing a cat. 110 photos and distinctive features of the breed

The Peterbald, or whatever else this unusual breed is called, the St. Petersburg Sphynx, is a real mixture of grace and elegance along with exoticism.

The breeders who were breeding the breed mixed the genes of the Oriental breed and the Don Sphynx in its blood.

The result is a playful, balanced, graceful and somewhat shocking Peterbald breed.

History of the origin of the breed

This cat is of Russian origin. Its first representatives appeared in St. Petersburg, bred by felinologists Olga Mironova and Tatyana Komarova by crossing two well-known lines - the Don Sphynx and the Oriental.

The ancestor of the St. Petersburg Scythians is the oriental female Radma Von Jagenhorff, the father is the male Don Sphynx Afinogenes Myth. In the first two litters we managed to get four original kittens - Mandarin, Muscat, Nezhenka, Nocturne.

The breed owes its lack of hair to the Scythian, the shape of the head and body, as well as the Asian character - the Oriental.

Bald Pepper literally translates to “bald Peter.” This name arose thanks to the humorous name of one of the statues of Peter the Great in the northern capital, where the ruler is depicted with his head not covered with a wig.

The Neva Sphinx was immediately accepted by international felinology. In 1996 it was registered with the Breeding Feline Federation (SFF), in 1997 - with The International Cat Association (TICA), in 2003 with the World Cat Federation (WCF).

Photo of a Peterbald cat

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Breed standard

According to the TICA system classification, the Peterbald has the following description:

• Head. Triangular in shape, large in relation to the body, long, with flat cheekbones and a pointed chin. Two planes - a straight nose and a flat forehead.
• Nose. Long, straight and wide, with a “proud, eagle-like profile.”
• Mustache and eyebrows. Absent or thin, curly, broken.
• Neck. Long, graceful, narrow.
• Ears. Very large, widely spaced, protruding beyond the cheek line. With a wide base and sharp tips.
• Eyes. Medium size, round, slightly elongated. Normal convexity. Quite widely spaced - the distance between them is equal to the width of one eye. Eye color can be deep blue, bright blue, green, regardless of the pattern and shade of the skin.
• Body. Long, graceful, muscular, lean, the width of the body is the same along the entire length from the shoulders to the hips.
• Paws. Medium length, muscular, dry, slender. The hind ones are slightly longer than the front ones. The foot is elongated with rounded pads and toes.
• Tail. Muscular, agile, proportional to the body.
• Dimensions. Small ones. The female weighs about three, the male no more than four kilograms.
• Color. The skin is mobile, elastic, with folds, soft and velvety to the touch. The textures of the coat are varied, which is unique to this breed - from completely bald individuals to completely covered with hair. Acceptable colors are color point, blue, lilac, chocolate, particolor, cream.
• Crossbreeding. Allowed with Don Sphynx, Oriental and Siamese breeds.

Flaws:

• break (bend) on the bridge of the nose;
• structural defects of the skull and muzzle;
• small, weak chin;
• heavy, round body;
• severe curvature of the front paws.

Disqualification:

• defects, tail breaks;
• keel-shaped protruding chest;
• strabismus;
• aggressive behavior;
• traces of artificial hair removal.

Main characteristics

The main distinguishing feature of the Peterbald breed is its hairless, compact, somewhat rectangular body with a wide chest.

The Peterbald's head tapers towards the nose. The forehead is flat - forms a straight line in profile.

There is no transition from the muzzle to the skull.

The eyes are large and almond-shaped. The nose is rounded, does not protrude forward and is not set back.

The wedge shape can be seen throughout the entire shape of the skull and the contour of the ears. The narrowest part - the nose begins to widen, moving into the cheekbones, and then into the outer edge of the ears.

The ears themselves are very large and widely spaced on the skull. This is what forms the wedge shape of the head. The tips of the ears are strongly rounded, which, together with the rounded eyes, gives the cat a soft appearance.

The Peterbald's body is muscular and has a distinctly wide, wedge-shaped chest.

The toes are elongated, which further creates an image of grace and elegance.

Coat Variations

Only the Peterbald has such a variety of skin and coat varieties. In one litter, kittens of absolutely all types can be born:

• Brush. They are born with little fur. As they grow older, the fur disappears in some areas, while the rest are evenly covered with hair.
• Brush point. At birth, the kitten is covered with thicker hair, the muzzle and tail are completely pubescent. In an adult animal, fur remains on some parts of the head, paws and tail. The rest of the body is covered with a delicate short flock.
• Velours. At birth, a kitten has long hair on its face, paws, and tail. Later, very short hair remains in these areas, the rest of the body is naked.
• Flock. The newborn has no eyebrows or mustache. Light fur all over the body can be determined only by touch, not visually visible, the hair length is up to two millimeters. An adult cat is completely hairless; there may be some sensation of fur on the hands.
• Straight-haired. Full coat, characteristic of the Oriental, there is no hairless gene. In terms of body structure and habits - Peterbald.

• Rubber (bald-born). It is very rare that babies are born completely bald, both visually and to the touch. In an adult cat by the age of two, the skin feels like rubber, stretches well, the skin is velvety and soft to the touch.

It is not always possible to determine the type of integument immediately at birth. More often this can be done in five to seven days.

The type indicator can be the period of eye opening. The Peterbald has a special structure of the lacrimal glands, which allows rubber sphinxes to be born with open eyes without the threat of loss of vision. Brush, point brush and velor open their eyes on the fifth day after birth.

The most valued and recommended for show class are bald and flock-Peterbalds, as they are animals with the most pronounced characteristics of the breed.

How to care for a Peterbald

It is generally accepted that the St. Petersburg Sphynx is a cat only for experienced owners, and this is true. There are many nuances of caring for these animals, which must be known and followed. However, caring for a Peterbald is not difficult; with certain skills, even a beginner can handle it. Moreover, smart and flexible pets know well: regular procedures that the owner does with them will be beneficial, and they always endure them with great patience.

Peterbald takes good care of himself, but he needs help

Flocked Peterbalds are ideal for keeping in an apartment - this breed variety does not create any care problems for the owner and is not as susceptible to negative environmental factors as hairless cats.

Hygiene

Most of the questions are raised by bathing the Peterbald. Especially when it comes to the gummy - hairless representatives of the breed. The fact is that the skin of the “rubber bands” secretes a protective lubricant (a waxy brownish coating) in large quantities, which successfully protects the body from many negative factors. Constantly washing off this lubricant means leaving the skin defenseless, and at the same time disrupting its balance. It’s unreasonable, especially since bald people already have a lot of dermatological troubles. It turns out that you don’t need to bathe them.

On the other hand, dust and all sorts of small debris stick to this very lubricant, which any cat manages to find even in a perfectly clean room. There is nothing good about this either. Approach solving the problem individually based on the characteristics of a particular cat.

Peterbald enjoys warm baths

Someone simply wipes their beloved bald head with a damp soft cloth or terry towel - cheap, cheerful and safe. Others carefully select a mild detergent for their pet - fortunately, there is a very wide range of them. Most owners simply rinse the cat with warm water in the bath from time to time - by the way, many gummy cats love to swim and are not at all afraid of water, even turning bathing into a fun game.

With all other non-hairless varieties of the breed, the issue is not so acute - cats are bathed as often as necessary - approximately once every two months.

Peterbalds are bathed with special shampoos for hairless cats.

For those who have at least some hair on their body, combing is also not an idle question. Of course, a slicker and a fumigator, useful for other breeds, are unlikely to be useful in your case. But a soft rubber brush or silicone mitt will be just right. Peterbalds enjoy regular, unobtrusive massage.

You will only need a comb at an exhibition, but in everyday life a massage brush or mitten is enough.

The ears and eyes of Peterbalds are practically not protected by fur, so more dust gets into them, and systematic cleaning is extremely necessary for them. If the problem is not too advanced, then a cotton pad and ordinary boiled water are sufficient for cleaning procedures; You can also use a special lotion. If the discharge is profuse and has an unpleasant odor, you should immediately consult a doctor.

But you can do an excellent job of trimming your claws as they grow back. All you need is a good nail clipper and at least one assistant.

The St. Petersburg Sphynx has a strong dental system, but its teeth still need to be cleaned of plaque at least twice a month using a special cat brush and toothpaste. If such a simple procedure does not help, then you should not wait for the formation of tartar - it is better to show the animal to a veterinarian, who will also determine whether the hygienic problem is medical: it is possible that there are disturbances in the functioning of the digestive system, or maybe it is not suitable for your cat what you feed her.

Feeding

Food allergies are a common problem for all varieties of St. Petersburg Sphynx cats. Very often, their body does not accept chicken meat, and sometimes other natural products, well. Therefore, ready-made hypoallergenic food is still the most reliable type of nutrition . It’s definitely not worth saving on them - your royal cat should receive only a super premium class diet.

The metabolism of these cats is very fast. To keep warm in the absence of fur, they have to maintain a high body temperature, and a lot of energy is also spent on active behavior. In order to always be in good shape, the pet strives to be reinforced a lot and often - and sometimes does not know how to stop it.

All Peterbalds are terrible gluttons, and even the best freeze-dried food usually does not satiate them. Therefore, they often steal their owner’s food and do it masterfully, since cats are very smart. But “trophies” obtained furtively can do the animal much more harm than good.

Feed your pet not in large portions, but in small portions, and more often - this will help him not to get hung up on the feeling of hunger. Moreover, overeating is extremely undesirable for this breed.

It is interesting that many Peterbald dog owners are surprised to notice that their pets cry, and at the most unexpected moments. For example, while eating, tears may fall out of a cat's eyes. This unexpected phenomenon is simply associated with the activation of metabolic processes, when the work of the lacrimal glands is also stimulated. Simply put, this is how these cats wash their eyes - nothing more.

Tears from the Peterbald's eyes are a mechanism for washing them, and not a manifestation of feelings

Exercise and temperature

Peterbalds - and not only naked ones - love warmth very much. They will definitely need warm clothes, cozy houses and beds, preferably heated for the cold season. Many owners try to place their pets closer to radiators or other heating devices. But this must be done with great care, as burns can easily occur on the delicate skin of these cats.

You should always make sure your pet is warm

The wardrobe should be selected not according to the degree of fashionability and prestige, but according to how comfortable and safe the clothes are. Clothes should be made from soft fabrics and always have the seams facing outward to avoid abrasions that would be difficult to treat.

A good option is knitted warm clothes, especially since you can easily make them yourself, according to your own taste and the right size. But even in this case, a careful approach will be required. The threads, for example, should not contain lurex or any other hard inclusions. And choose a pattern for a winter cat suit that is as smooth as possible - without bouclé elements, buttons, rhinestones and other decorations.

The optimal air temperature in the apartment is 20–25 degrees. Despite the heat-loving nature of Peterbalds, overheating will also not do them any good. Another danger is fraught with this breed’s passion for sunbathing. They love to sunbathe, but if they get carried away, they can get sunburned. The skin then becomes inflamed and red, and then takes on an undesirable brownish tint.

To avoid getting a tan without any trouble, cats need to be protected from direct sunlight, not to go out for walks on a hot day, and always have sunscreen or at least baby cream on hand in the summer.

The windows where the Peterbald likes to look out will have to be shaded in the summer.

It is no coincidence that the St. Petersburg Sphynxes are called “medicinal”: their rapid metabolism contributes to their self-healing, and every Peterbald is happy to treat a sick owner - both as a living heating pad and with its super-positive properties.

Video: how and where to keep a Peterbald

Toilet

When you buy a small Peterbald from a nursery, you get a pet that is already perfectly trained to use the toilet. To avoid problems at your new place of residence, create the conditions that are familiar to the kitten. Ask the breeder what tray and type of litter were used in the nursery - and offer the same to your baby.

Any version of the tray is suitable for the Peterbald - both open and closed. But with the filler things are somewhat more complicated. It is not advisable for these cats to use large granules with a rough surface or sharp edges - you need to be careful when choosing wood and mineral fillers. The ideal option would be small or medium silica gel fractions.

Temperament of the St. Petersburg Sphynx

For those people who are thinking about purchasing a Neva Sphynx, it would be useful to understand the features of this breed:

• Experts often call this animal a “cat-dog”, since its habits are more reminiscent of a dog’s - they follow their owner with their “tail”, are able to learn the simplest commands, are smart and amenable to training.
• They are loving towards all family members and do not tolerate loneliness well.
• They are affectionate, capable of waiting for the owner all day, sitting at the door and joyfully rushing towards him. They know their name well and respond.
• Talkative too much. If you love a calm, measured life, then it is unlikely to be possible with the St. Petersburg Sphynx. The cat almost always “talks”, expressing all his feelings and emotions.
• Since the Peterbald cannot be left alone at all, you will have to find him a playmate, and he will get along with absolutely any pet.
• They are very playful all their lives and are happy to join children in noisy fun.
• Smart and cunning. They easily learn to open everything - bags, drawers, doors to the room, and even the refrigerator.
• They are unusually voracious, which is due to their physiological characteristics.
• Clean, excellent hunters.

When choosing this pet, you need to remember that you won’t be bored with it and balance your habits and inclinations with the cat’s temperament.

Character

The Peterbald's character is ideal for a family with children. They are distinguished by their flexible, soft character. Cats are absolutely not aggressive.

They are constantly on the move. They are always looking for company because they cannot stand loneliness. This is worth considering before getting a St. Petersburg Sphynx, so as not to traumatize his psyche.

It is also worth paying attention to the fact that this breed is characterized by constant meowing. They do this quietly, but with enviable consistency.

Care and nutrition

The Neva Sphynx has no hair, but caring for your pet's skin is no less important. The skin of the animal secretes a special secretion, the role of which is to lubricate the folds and prevent drying and peeling. Bathing with zoo shampoo is necessary at least twice a week. After water procedures, you should dry your skin well to prevent hypothermia.

Like any cat, representatives of this breed love to bask in the sun. You need to carefully monitor their health to avoid burns and overheating.

In adult cats, the lacrimal glands continue to work intensively, so enhanced daily eye care is required using special lotions and herbal decoctions.

Ears, like those of any cat, are recommended to be cleaned at least once a week.

Nails should be trimmed to prevent accidental injury to the skin by unprotected fur during play.

St. Petersburg sphinxes need increased nutrition due to the high energy consumption to maintain heat exchange, which is also associated with the lack of hair in these animals. It is necessary to choose a complete and balanced diet - ready-made premium or super-premium dry mixtures, wet food or high-quality natural food.

Raising a Peterbald

Highly intelligent animals are very trainable. Representatives of the St. Petersburg breed are happy to carry out the commands of their beloved owner. And if you present everything in a playful way, then learning will be even better.

The most basic commands that pets execute can be “Come to me!”, “You can’t!” The most persistent owners ensure that cats bring them balls or other toys.

Before starting training, it is important to consider the mood of your pet. After all, no amount of treats or affection will make him follow orders if he doesn’t want to do it.

“Socialization and habituation should begin immediately after the animal arrives at home. Kittens need to be accustomed to extraneous noises and sharp sounds. A hairdryer, vacuum cleaner and other household appliances should be perceived calmly by children.

Peterbalds are excellent travelers. They like to accompany their owner on long trips. True, for a very small animal, long journeys will be a real test.

St. Petersburg Sphynxes get used to the litter box without any problems. Some pets are able to learn to use the toilet. The owner just needs to buy a special pad for training, gradually raising it to the level of the toilet. Experienced cat breeders advise not to rush and accustom them to using the human toilet in stages.

Health

This breed has a genetic predisposition to only one disease - ectodermal dysplasia, which can lead to the formation of malocclusion.

Due to increased nutrition, a cat may develop obesity. You should monitor your pet's eating habits, avoiding starvation and overeating. An adult Sphynx needs to be fed at least twice a day, a kitten - up to five times.

These animals are also prone to colds. You should not allow them to become hypothermic, maintain a sufficient temperature in the premises and ensure there are no drafts. During the cold season, special clothing for cats is allowed.

Increased lacrimation requires special attention to your cat's eyes.

Timely deworming and annual vaccination against all known viral infections and rabies will also help maintain normal cat health.

With proper care, the life expectancy of a Peterbald can be twenty years.

Features of feeding and diet

Natural nutrition

Graceful individuals are real gluttons, ready to eat anything. They happily eat chips, buns, and sweets that an inattentive owner or his family members left unattended. Because of this, the animal's digestive system is constantly under threat.

Cats are practically omnivores, so feeding them natural food is not difficult. The main task of the owner of the St. Petersburg Sphynx is to monitor the balance of his pet’s menu.

The basis of the animal’s diet should be protein, which gets into the bowl in the form of lean beef, chicken or fish fillet, and offal. In addition, boiled and chopped vegetables and cereals should be added to food. Oatmeal, rice, and buckwheat are best suited for feeding your pet.

Peterbald should not be given:

• tubular bones;
• fatty meats, especially lard;
• raw meat and offal;
• fish with a lot of bones;
• sweets;
• smoked meats and pickles;
• baking.

The number of feedings also needs to be controlled. Kittens up to 1 year old can be given food 3-5 times. Since animals at this age are overly active, they quickly burn through calories. But cats older than 1 year should eat no more than 2 times a day, otherwise they cannot avoid obesity and deterioration of their health.

Ready-made feed

Dry or wet industrial food is also suitable for the diet of St. Petersburg individuals. The main thing is to choose only high quality products for the animal: super-premium or holistic.

The animal must be provided with all the vitamins and minerals necessary to maintain a healthy and beautiful appearance. Cheap food is not suitable for the diet of St. Petersburg cats - they can cause digestive disorders and have a bad effect on the skin.

It is necessary to provide Peterbald with constant access to clean drinking water. Moreover, it should be filtered or bottled - but not from the tap.

Kitten price

It is necessary to purchase a kitten only from professional nurseries at least three months old. A veterinary passport is required. Today, the sale of the St. Petersburg Sphynx is carried out by numerous breeders from different cities of Russia.

The cost of an animal varies widely depending on the purpose of purchase. You can buy a Neva Sphynx as a pet for ten thousand rubles. The price of a pet for professional breeding or exhibition work will be significantly higher.

Photo gallery of Peterbald and some other types of sphinxes:
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What diseases do Peterbald Sphynxes suffer from?

On average, Peterbalds live 13-15 years.

But the St. Petersburg Sphynx is a representative of an exotic breed, and therefore is susceptible to several genetic diseases:

1. The most dangerous disease is congenital underdevelopment of the thymus gland. The organ is responsible for immune defense and development of the body as a whole. Because of this disease, pets die while still kittens.
2. Some blue and tortoiseshell Sphynx cats suffer from gum hyperplasia (tissue growth).

Peterbalds are characterized by sensitive skin diseases. In summer, veterinarians advise using sunscreen. And for dryness, use baby oil.

Possible breed defects

Mating completely hairless cats with male cats is dangerous due to the appearance of offspring with serious genetic diseases. One of the parents must have wool (velor or brush). In this case, you may still end up with completely hairless kittens, or with fur that will subsequently disappear or become sparse.

A large number of folds in Peterbalds is not typical for the breed standards

The main defects include crooked front legs or too short, as in Canadian breeds, as well as a large number of folds.

If an individual has squint, kinks in the tail, and an aggressive character, which is not typical for this breed, such a candidate is not allowed to compete.

Pros and cons of the breed

Like any other cat breed, the Peterbald is endowed with both positive and negative qualities:

ProsCons

St. Petersburg Sphynxes are unique cats with a sophisticated, refined appearance and amiable disposition. They are suitable for confident and active people who have the opportunity to allocate enough time to communicate with and care for their pet.

Breeding work

Unfortunately, there is still no general program for the development of the breed - despite the clear positions of the standard, the breeders have not reached a consensus, and they have their own reasons for this. But in general, the breed is actively developing towards a variety of colors and extreme types of animals. For this purpose and to expand the gene pool of Peterbalds, until recently the blood of oriental cats was used in breeding work: Siamese, Orientals, Balinese. Now the breed is already closed and matings are allowed only within it.

Peculiarities of breeding

Due to the high percentage of eastern blood, Peterbalds tend to have multiple births. This facilitates selection work and allows you to more quickly navigate what qualities a particular parent pair is capable of passing on to their offspring.

From mating to birth

The parental pair is selected not so much by the degree of “undress” of the producers, but by the successful combination of their genotypes and phenotypes. It is very important that the breeder planning the mating is aware of the hereditary health of several generations of cats behind the future parents, and also does not allow animals with obvious anatomical defects to be bred.

For breeding work, animals are selected that are already fully formed physically - no earlier than two years of age. The bride and groom must be absolutely healthy, promptly vaccinated and treated against all types of parasites. Mating traditionally takes place in the cat's territory, where he feels much more confident, and is repeated twice or thrice with an interval of one day.

“Newlyweds” usually have very touching relationships

The expectant mother usually carries and gives birth to heirs without any problems, but during pregnancy she requires increased attention: more affection, tenderness, care and respect - do not forget about this; for a Peterbald, such a person’s attitude is especially important.

Peterbald kittens

The maternal instinct of Peterbalds is superbly developed - a cat of this breed is ready to feed not only her own, but also other people's kittens. They constantly lick their cubs and generally pay them a lot of attention, patiently spending a long time raising the younger generation.

Peterbald cats are caring and attentive mothers

Other cats will definitely take part in the educational process, if there are any in the house, even the father cat will not remain indifferent either. The entire pride will take care of the kittens, which is actually very rare in the cat family.

Breeders are well aware of an interesting pattern: the less hair on a newborn Peterbald, the sooner it will open its eyes. Absolutely “rubber” babies are usually born with their eyes open, and you need to vigilantly protect them from infections so that conjunctivitis does not develop. This breed type is difficult to develop in the first weeks of life, and the mortality rate in hairless kittens is quite high. However, by the age of one and a half months, all health problems usually remain a thing of the past.

In some breeding lines, hairless animals are sometimes born sterile.

Kittens with soft fur are more likely to be completely hairless by adulthood.

Straight-haired kittens and kittens with a hard “brush” usually do not undress by adulthood. Only those individuals whose fur is soft from birth shed their fur.

Sterilization issues

If you have adopted a St. Petersburg Sphynx, but do not plan to seriously engage in breeding work, then it is definitely better to sterilize the animal in a timely manner. The hormonal balance in Peterbalds is quite unstable, and the lack of demand for animals in breeding is fraught with serious diseases.

Males may develop hormonal disorders, which externally manifest themselves as dermatological problems and provoke malfunctions in almost all internal organs. In nulliparous females in some breeding lines, frequent mastitis is observed.

In addition, sterilization may become an indispensable condition for the sale of a pet-class kitten that is unpromising for breeding, and this is a fair requirement. Sterilization or castration is optimally carried out for Peterbalds aged from one to one and a half years. The operation can only be trusted to experienced specialists in a veterinary clinic; The responsible recovery period should also take place under their control.

Video:

How to choose a pet

The most optimal age for choosing a baby is three to four months old, since at earlier stages any violent action towards the future pet, first of all, separating it from its mother, can cause extremely unwanted stress, as in the baby itself, which can further affect both his health and his very development, as well as that of his mother.

It is clear that when choosing a future family member, the closest attention should be paid to his appearance, and only an experienced felinologist can help make the right choice.

The kitten should be very active and overly curious, literally sticking its nose into every hole, and this is perhaps the main indicator of its physical health.