Peterbald: Cat Food and a Description of the Breed
The Peterbald is a cat from Russia, which is also available in a variant without coat. It is characterized by a good-natured nature and is considered to be particularly affectionate.
Although the Peterbald is still a rather young cat breed, it has long been enjoying increasing popularity among cat owners in Germany.
History of the Peterbald
The Peterbald is still a quite young cat breed, which the Russian scientist Olga S. Mironowa started to breed in Saint Petersburg in 1994. The first specimens were the result of crossing a male Don Sphynx with a female Oriental Shorthair.
Only two years later the first breed standard followed as well as the recognition by the Russian SFF (Selectional Feline Federation). The FiFé currently recognizes the Peterbald only provisionally as an independent breed.
In order to develop the breed further, Siamese, Bali and Javanese cats have been crossed in the meantime. However, since 2005 the crossbreeding of semi-longhair cats is no longer permitted.
Meanwhile the Peterbald is no longer only known in Russia, but also in other countries. Nevertheless the unusual cats are still quite rare.
Look of the Peterbald
The Peterbald is a medium sized cat with a slender build. It has long legs and a long tail. With a shoulder height of 30 to 35 centimetres, females weigh about two to four kilos. Males are usually somewhat heavier with a weight of three to five kilograms.
The wedge shape of their head is emphasized by their very large, widely spaced ears. The almond-shaped eyes of the Peterbald are slightly slanted. They fit harmoniously into the overall picture and can be either green, blue or aquamarine, depending on the coat pattern.
Not every Peterbald is a naked cat
It is often assumed that the Peterbald is a naked cat. This is not fundamentally wrong. But this assumption is not true for every Peterbald. Because in fact the noble cats from Saint Petersburg exist in five different varieties.
The following variations are distinguished with the Peterbald:
- Naked Peterbalds are born completely hairless and usually have no whiskers.
- Animals with a slight down have extremely short and fine hairs, which can only be recognized at close range.
- The Velour Peterbald has a close-fitting, soft coat with a hair length of about two to three millimetres.
- In the "brush" variety the coat of the cat is very dense and curled.
- If the gene for hairlessness is missing, the Peterbald has a quite normal shorthaired coat, which may occur in all colours.
If the Peterbald or any other naked cat is missing its whiskers, this is considered as torture breeding in Germany by the way, and is forbidden accordingly.
Charakter der Peterbald
The Peterbald is considered to be very active and eager to move, which might be a disadvantage for some future cat owners. Furthermore, the Peterbald is very affectionate and enjoys the closeness of her owner very much.
Even if her joy of communication can not quite keep up with Siamese cats, she likes to communicate and seems to have real conversations with her two-legged roommates.
Apart from that the Peterbald is a friendly cat, which normally gets along very well with other animals living in the household. Provided she is treated with respect, she is also open to children.
Keeping and care of the Peterbald
When keeping a Peterbald, it is important to provide the active four-legged friend with sufficient space and employment opportunities. The Peterbald feels especially comfortable if it has at least one other conspecific as company. The sociable breed, however, is not suitable for individual keeping.
Depending on the type of coat, prospective owners should be aware that the Peterbald can freeze quickly from time to time. For animals with no or very thin fur, sufficiently heated rooms in winter are therefore very important.
By the way, it is not absolutely necessary to keep them exclusively in the apartment. After all, Peterbald is quite happy to have the opportunity to enjoy a bit of fresh air in a cat-safe garden. Even completely hairless animals can at least be provided with an appropriately secured balcony.
It should probably go without saying that grooming is very easy with this breed. Daily brushing is also not necessary with a Peterbald with fur.
In summer, however, the topic of sun protection should not be underestimated for animals with outdoor access. Because of their missing or even very fine coat the skin of the Peterbald is exposed to the sun without protection, so that sunburn can quickly occur.
Peterbald diseases
The Peterbald is generally regarded as a healthy and surprisingly robust cat breed. Provided the animals come from a reputable breeder, there is no excessive risk of contracting certain cat diseases.
Whether there is a tendency to frequent diseases of the crossbred breeds, however, cannot be said with certainty due to the still young history of the Peterbald. It is therefore conceivable that certain health problems are still to be discovered.
In addition, dental problems such as caries and gingivitis may be more common in cats from Russia. A conscientious dental care is therefore very important for Peterbald from a very young age.
The life expectancy of the Peterbald
The life expectancy of the Peterbald is influenced by various factors and can vary accordingly. Provided that good husbandry conditions are ensured and diseases are absent, the Peterbald usually reaches an age of 12 to 15 years.
The right food for the Peterbald
A balanced diet is essential for the health and well-being of the Peterbald. With a high quality cat food from I love my cat you ensure that your four-legged friend receives all the necessary nutrients in the right amounts.
In our range you will find both wet food and dry food for cats without cereals and artificial additives. All varieties are characterised by a high content of animal proteins and a particularly good digestibility.
You can therefore be sure that your Peterbald will tolerate our tasty cat food well.
For an optimal supply, we recommend that you supplement the menu of your Peterbald with the following products:
- Dental powder for daily dental care and a permanently healthy cat's teeth
- Shiimun Immun, to strengthen the immune system of your Peterbald in a natural way
- Shiimun Skin with important nutrients to support skin health
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