Peterbald
The Peterbald is a Russian hairless breed created in 1994 in St.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Origin
Russia
Lifespan
12–15 years
Weight
2.5–4.5 kg (5.5–10 lbs)
Height
20–28 cm (8–11 in)
Diet
Obligate carnivore — higher caloric requirement than coated cats; high-quality wet and dry food.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Felidae
Genus
Felis
The Story
The Peterbald is a Russian hairless breed created in 1994 in St. Petersburg by crossing a Don Sphynx (a Russian hairless) with an Oriental Shorthair. The Peterbald has an elegant, Oriental-type body (long, slender, tubular) in contrast to the Sphynx's more rounded body — the Oriental heritage gives it a distinctly different silhouette. The hairlessness gene in Peterbald is dominant and comes from the Don Sphynx line, which carries a different hairless gene from the Canadian Sphynx. Peterbalds exist on a spectrum — from completely bald to covered in fine peach-fuzz, to a sparse straight coat.
Also Known As
Quick Facts
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Physical Profile
Source: wikimedia
The Peterbald has a long, slender, muscular Oriental-type body — long neck, long legs, and a long whip-like tail. The head is a narrow wedge with large almond-shaped eyes and very large, wide-set ears. The skin is typically hairless or covered in fine, sparse hair. The overall impression is of an elegant, graceful, elongated cat.
Grooming
High
Shedding
None
Coat Colors
Recognized By
Source: wikimedia
Temperament & Personality
Peterbalds are affectionate, active, and highly social — they combine the Oriental Shorthair's intelligence and vocalisation with the warm-seeking neediness of a hairless cat. They are people-oriented and do not cope well alone. They are playful and retain kitten energy throughout their lives.
Living Profile
Care & Wellness
Professional Care Protocol
- •Weekly bathing with gentle cat shampoo to remove skin oil buildup. Ear cleaning weekly. Warmth essential — sweaters or heated beds in cool environments. Sun protection from prolonged direct sunlight. Higher caloric intake than coated cats.
Vaccination Schedule
Vaccination Schedule
Health Overview
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) — elevated risk. Progressive retinal atrophy from Oriental heritage — DNA test may be available. Skin infections from sebaceous oil accumulation without fur. Tooth and gum disease.
Common Conditions
Fun Facts
The Peterbald's hairlessness gene comes from the Don Sphynx — a genetically distinct hairless gene from the Canadian Sphynx. The two hairless genes are not allelic — a Don Sphynx crossed with a Canadian Sphynx produces coated offspring.
Peterbalds exist in five coat types: bald (rubber skin), flock (very sparse invisible fuzz), velour (short sparse coat), brush (wiry sparse coat), and straight (a coat without the hairless gene) — a single Peterbald litter can contain kittens of multiple coat types.
The Peterbald was created intentionally by breeder Olga Mironova in St. Petersburg in 1994 — making it one of the most recently deliberately created cat breeds.
