Cat breed

Peterbald

The Peterbald is a slender cat from St. Petersburg with an Oriental body, large ears and a long tail, usually completely or almost hairless. It is exceptionally sociable, affectionate and active. Having no fur, however, means daily chores, such as baths and protection from sun and cold, as well as real welfare questions.

Recognised by: FIFE, WCF, TICA

Weight: 2.7–4.5 kg
Lifespan: 10–15 years
Origin: Russia

How much food for this breed?Compare with another breed

Photo: Peterbald, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Temperament

The Peterbald is a people cat. It follows its owner everywhere, seeks out laps and warmth and handles being left alone badly; vets note that the breed may be more prone to separation-related problems. It is curious, bright and playful, and its energy resembles that of the Oriental or Siamese, from which it inherited its build. It meows moderately. It usually gets along well with children and other animals, though its delicate skin scratches easily, so rough play with a dog or a careless child can end in injuries. It usually greets guests with interest. This is a cat for someone who enjoys constant physical contact and doesn’t mind an animal that wants attention all day long.

Energy: calmvery energetic
Affection: independentvelcro pet
With children: not idealgreat
With other pets: difficultgreat
Trainability: stubborneager to learn
For first-time owners: for experienced ownersyes
With strangers: waryoutgoing
Playfulness: dignifiedeternal puppy
Shedding: minimalheavy
Grooming: easydemanding
Being left alone: strugglescopes well
Apartment living: needs a house and yardgreat in a flat
Talkativeness: quietchatterbox
Indoor-only life: needs outdoor accessgreat

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Peterbald for?

The Peterbald may suit people who work from home, have a warm home and are ready for regular baths and for protecting the cat from sun and cold. It loves physical contact, so it will delight someone who wants a cat by their side at all times. It is not for people who travel often or who want a low-maintenance cat. It is also worth knowing the concerns welfare organizations have about breeding hairless cats.

Pros

very affectionate and sociable
leaves no hair on the furniture
intelligent and fun
gets along with people and animals

Challenges

regular baths and skin care
gets cold and sunburns easily
copes very badly with being alone
hairlessness raises welfare concerns

Size and looks

Size and looks: Peterbald
Weight	males 2.7–4.5 kg, females 2.7–4.5 kg
Lifespan	10–15 years
Coat	hairless
Colors	any color or pattern, coat types: hairless, flock, velour, brush, straight
Country of origin	Russia
Recognition	Recognised by: FIFE, WCF, TICA. A hairless breed: since 2014, the Netherlands has banned breeding cats with mutations that cause a lack of protective fur. The CFA does not recognize the breed.
Also known as	Peterbald cat, Petersburg Sphynx

Care and exercise

4/5grooming needs

1/5shedding

No fur doesn’t mean no grooming; quite the opposite. A Peterbald’s skin produces oil that no coat absorbs, so it needs regular wiping and an occasional bath with a mild cat shampoo, and it is worth getting kittens used to this. Skin folds, ears and the areas around the eyes need gentle cleaning. The cat gets cold very easily, so it needs a warm bed away from drafts and steady heating in winter; many Peterbalds wear sweaters. It burns quickly in the sun, so it is best kept indoors, with shade provided on the balcony. Peterbalds gain weight easily, so it is worth setting portions with your vet, and daily play helps keep them fit and prevents boredom.

How much should the Peterbald eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.

Health and breed-related conditions

The Peterbald is considered a fairly healthy breed, but having no fur has consequences. International Cat Care takes the position that fur is essential to cats and hairless cats should not be bred. Unprotected skin is easily irritated, and the ears and eye area are prone to infection. Cats exposed to the sun are at risk of sunburn and squamous cell skin cancer, especially on the ears and nose. Painful ectodermal dysplasia has been described in some Peterbalds. Progressive retinal atrophy has also been described in the breed, and there is a DNA test for it. Inherited cardiomyopathy is suspected in related hairless cats (Sphynx), so heart ultrasound for breeding cats is a sensible precaution.

skin problemsUnprotected skin is easily irritated; the areas around the ears and eyes are prone to infection, and oil builds up on the skin.
sunburn and skin cancerWithout fur, the skin is exposed to UV; squamous cell carcinoma especially affects the ears and nose.
sensitivity to cold and heatA hairless cat regulates its body temperature poorly and needs a warm, draft-free spot.
progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)An inherited disease that leads to blindness; a DNA test is available, and carriers should not be bred.
ectodermal dysplasiaA painful skin disease of this origin has been described in some cats.

Health tests to ask the breeder about

PRA DNA test (rdAc)
heart ultrasound (echocardiogram)
dermatological exam

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The breed was created in 1994 in St. Petersburg. That year, felinologist Olga Mironova bred a Donskoy (Don Sphynx) male to an Oriental Shorthair female. From the Donskoy, Peterbalds inherited the dominant hair-loss gene, and from the Oriental, the slender, long-legged body and wedge-shaped head. The Russian SFF federation recognized the breed in 1996, TICA in 1997 and the WCF in 2003. Today breeders aim for a type close to the modern Siamese and Oriental. The Peterbald is also recognized by FIFe, while the CFA does not register it. Since 2014, the Netherlands has banned breeding cats with mutations that cause a lack of protective fur.

Fun facts

The breed’s name combines Petersburg and the English word “bald.”
Peterbald kittens can be born bald, with fuzz (flock), velour, bristly (brush) or with a normal coat (straight).
A cat born with hair may lose it during its first years of life, except for the straight variety.
The Peterbald has webbed toes and a long, thin, whip-like tail.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Peterbald good for people with allergies?

Not necessarily. No cat is hypoallergenic, because the main allergen, Fel d 1, is found in saliva and skin gland secretions, not in the hair itself. A Peterbald leaves no hair on the furniture, but the allergen still gets into the environment. Anyone with allergies should spend time with the cat before buying.

How do you care for a Peterbald’s skin?

The skin needs regular wiping and an occasional bath with a mild cat shampoo, because there is no coat to absorb the oil. The ears, skin folds and eye area need cleaning. The cat must be protected from sun and cold; a warm bed and a sweater help.

How long do Peterbald cats live?

The figure most often given is 10–15 years, but there are no population studies on this. Peterbalds were not included in the large UK studies of cat lifespan. Health depends above all on skin care, sun protection and testing of the parents.

How much does a Peterbald weigh?

Adult cats of this breed usually weigh: toms 2.7–4.5 kg, queens 2.7–4.5 kg. That range is for healthy adults in good condition.