Peterbald: description of the cat breed, nature and content

Peterburd is one of the most unusual and beautiful breeds of cats. They personify elegance and restraint. Their appearance is fascinating, and the character conquers. The fact that you need to know about this breed before you decide to get yourself a Peterbald, will be discussed in this article.

These unusual cats owe their birth to a person who crossed two breeds - the Don Sphynx with an Oriental. As for the first experiment on such a crossing, it was made in 1994. The St. Petersburg felinologist Olga Mironova carried it out, and in this way brought out four kittens-hybrids. They became the official ancestors of the Peterbalds.

Felinological associations quickly recognized this breed, endowing them with their own abbreviation and official natural status. But despite this, the breed of St. Petersburg sphinxes is still developing, although since 1997 they can not be crossed with the Don brothers.

It is difficult to confuse a peterbald cat with any other. It is endowed with exceptional characteristics that determine the appearance of the purebred St. Petersburg sphinx.

• Cats have a narrowed head, which is noticeably sharpened and smoothly passes into a thin elongated neck.
• As for the nose, it is long and straight, like a sharp blade. If you look at the Peterbald from the side, then you can say one word about his profile - “royal”.
• The ears of Petersburg kittens are rather large, while they have a wide base and tips, which slightly look to the sides. Specialists from felinologists give a big assessment of the “British set” of the aerial peterbald shell, which can hold the paper sheet placed on it.
• These cats have no whiskers. In rare cases, it is possible to meet a peterbald with curly hairs, as if broken.
• As for the eyes, they are a real highlight of this breed. They are almond-shaped, expressive and slanting, with iris of blue, yellow or green shade. Small kittens do not see anything at birth, but their eyes open early, after 5 days.
• The torso of these cats is elongated, the size is average. Shoulders and thighs are equal in width. The weight of females varies from about 2.5 to 3.5 kilograms, and the weight of males can reach a maximum mark of 5 kilograms.
• Peterbalds have straight, slender and long legs. If a cat's forelimbs are curved, then this refers to a breed defect.
• This breed is the owner of a long thin tail - from the base to the tip.

Special mention deserves a variety of colors and wool length peterboldov. Colors range from cream to chocolate or lilac. The black St. Petersburg sphinx looks quite unique, but such color can be rarely seen. The most common tortoise colors. There are the following skin.

• Bras - kittens are born with fur, and with maturation it disappears.
• Brash point - Kittens have fur on the body and tail. With age, the body becomes bald, and hair remains on the face and limbs.
• Lyshoronny kittens. They have no hair, while the torso visually resembles rubber.
• Straight-haired cats. This version of the breed has both wool and antennae, while with age they do not disappear.
• Velor kittens. They have wool all over their bodies, including paws and tail. With age, this breed grows bald everywhere, except for limbs.
• Flock cat. The skin is soft and velvety. Mustaches are absent, wool on kittens is about 2 millimeters.

Petersburg sphinxes live for about 13-15 years. But there are factors that can adversely affect the life expectancy of these cats.

• Sunlight. Sunbathing this breed is contraindicated. Sphynx is a hairless breed, burns can easily form on their skin. Therefore, you should protect your pet from direct sunlight.

• Dangerous conditions of stay. Peterbalds are extremely spontaneous, like small children. They like to explore the territory of residence along and across. All this threatens injuries.

• Loneliness. Peterbalds are inherently sociable animals. They vitally need the presence of a host nearby. A busy person who spends a lot of time at work should think a thousand times before starting a St. Petersburg sphinx. These cats tolerate loneliness very poorly, ultimately it reduces the cat's life by almost half. If there are many households in the family, including children and even dogs, then Peterbald will live long and truly happy.

• Overweight. Petersburgers are extremely voracious. One can say they have a real love affair with food, so it is important for the owner to control the weight of his bald pet and not indulge his whims. Food should be dosed and at the same time contain the necessary minerals and vitamins. Otherwise, the extra weight will become a serious problem for the cat and will have a negative impact on his state of health.

• Poor hygiene. Since the St. Petersburg sphinxes are hairless animals, they require special care. On their skin is the formation of fatty layer, and this is a comfortable environment for the development and reproduction of dangerous bacteria. Therefore, the cat must be bathed daily, using special protective equipment. Also in the ears of this breed is often accumulated sulfur, which must be removed with a cotton swab once a week.

• Hypothermia Sphynxes due to the lack of wool cover are often cold. If it is cold at home, the cat is likely to catch a cold and get sick. You can get out of the situation by buying a pet clothes at a pet store or warm bedding. But not all sphinxes like to go in knitted sweaters, so clothes are acceptable only with the consent of the pet.

• Hereditary factor. If a pet had a long-lived person, then peterbald is more likely to inherit this feature. Also, life expectancy is reduced by congenital malformations, birth injuries or a weak immune system. And the immunity is strengthened with the help of proper diet and care.

Among veterinarians, it is widely believed that neutered sphinxes live longer. This procedure favorably affects the health of cats and cats of this breed, hormonal problems and risks of sexual diseases, such as prostatitis, disappear. In addition, it is believed that cats who have undergone this procedure, become kinder and calmer. Therefore, if the owner does not plan to breed St. Petersburg sphinxes, he should emasculate or sterilize his pet, thereby increasing his lifespan.

Peterbald are unique animals and have multiple positive features among which are the following.

• Friendliness. And this is not an empty sound.Petersburg sphinxes can make friends with all households, including other pets and even dogs.
• Loving. This trait follows from the previous one. A bald pet will be happy to spend time in the hands of the owner and even come to his bed at night. Also, cats of this breed love to play with children. These are really tame animals.
• Placability. Representatives of the cat, as you know, long remember the insult and may even take revenge on the owner, tearing the curtains or defecating the need for shoes. Petersburg sphinxes this feature bypassed. They easily forget about disagreements with the owner and are ready to caress and purr again.
• Talkativeness. In addition to meowing, peterbolds like to purr and make other funny, interesting sounds. They like to communicate with their master in a similar way, so a person who prefers silence is better off giving up a St. Petersburg sphinx.
• Cleanliness. Peterbald have not only an aristocratic appearance, but also the corresponding character. Animals of this breed take care of their hygiene and maintain cleanliness.
• Curiosity. These cats are real researchers. There will not be a single corner in the apartment wherever the peterbald has climbed. It does not matter whether the door is open before him or closed - the animals have the unique ability to penetrate into all hard-to-reach places. It is also interesting for them to accompany their masters in any undertaking, but at the same time without getting under their feet.
• Devotion. Peterbald can make a serious competition to dogs in this character trait. They simply adore their masters, but of all the members of the family, they especially single out one person for themselves. It is he who becomes for a bald pet not just a friend, but also a leader. Behind him, a cat or a cat can follow his heels all over the apartment, without leaving a single moment for a minute, even in the bath.

Petersburgers can show discontent, meowing loudly if they are hungry for a long time or are alone. With all the cat's independence, this breed needs attention, so the owner should not leave the pet alone with himself, otherwise he will be bored and even ill.

Petersburgers are real gluttons. They absolutely do not control the absorption of food, so they easily gain weight. If the owner does not follow the ration of his pet, he will not have time to blink with his eye, as his graceful sphinx will become thick and sluggish. Peterbald is ready to eat all day, and everything. If he wants to feast on food, he will definitely examine every corner in the kitchen and eat everything that lies unattended - from chocolate to chips. Therefore, the main rule for someone who decided to get a St. Petersburg sphinx is to hide food in an inaccessible place.

It is important to make a nutrition plan for this breed of cats and stick to it. To determine that the diet is chosen incorrectly, just look at the skin of the pet. If the brown substance is excreted by the skin too actively and in large quantities, it means that you need to change the diet, and it is better to consult an experienced veterinarian in this matter.

Kittens from one month should eat 5 times a day, from two months - 4, and from four - 3. Adult nutrition will be considered a two-time meal and should take place no sooner than at the age of eight months. At the same time the food should be warm (not hot and not cold).

Dry food harmoniously fit into the diet of the St. Petersburg sphinx. But the main thing with the purchase is to pay attention to the quality and availability of all the necessary vitamins and microelements in the feed. As for natural products, they can feed the pet too.It is better to combine food and natural food, alternating them.

What can be fed peterbold, except for dry feed:

• boiled meat products: beef, chicken, turkey, veal;
• offal: light, heart;
• vegetables: beetroot, zucchini, pumpkin;
• rice and millet porridge;
• fish (but only sea and boiled);
• kefir (low fat), cottage cheese, yogurt;
• pork or beef bones and cartilage (but not fish or chicken, otherwise the pet chokes).

What products should not spoil peterbalda:

• sweets;
• smoked fish, sausage;
• eggs;
• milk, cream, sour cream and butter;
• potatoes and legumes;
• fruits.

It cannot be said that Petersburg sphinxes require special care. Unlike cats that have wool, bald pets do not need to be combed. This is the main advantage of this breed. For the rest, there are commandments that every owner must abide by, namely:

• bathing cat;
• claws haircut;
• rubbing the eyes;
• cleaning the ears.

Peterbald needs more bathing than the average cat. The fact is that his body is prone to sweating and other pollution. But veterinarians do not recommend washing the St. Petersburg sphinx every day.

The fact is that on the skin of these pets a special lubricant is formed, which performs a protective function, and regularly washing it off, you can provoke stress in your pet. Nevertheless, it still needs to be carefully removed. It is better to do this with a clean cloth dipped in caring oil. Or you can do with an ordinary wet cloth. You should not get involved in frequent bathing with the use of shampoos, otherwise the skin of the Peterbald will begin to peel off.

But if the pet is really dirty, then you can even bathe it with the use of tar soap. After the procedure, it is necessary to wipe the sphinx properly, otherwise he will catch a cold and become ill.

As for clipping claws, it should be done 2-3 times a month. But this does not mean that the pet will not need a scraper. When shearing, it is better to additionally treat each claw of the Peterbald with a nail file, so that the pet's skin is less scratched during scaling.

The eyes of St. Petersburg sphinxes require special care for one simple reason - this breed of cats does not have cilia, so their eyes are not protected from the accumulation of various secretions in them. Every morning, the owner needs to conduct a pet eye examination. If mucus has accumulated in them, it is necessary to remove it with a clean rag. It is worth paying attention to the color of the discharge. Transparent mucus in the corners of the eyes is considered a healthy sign, but if the shade turns brown or green, you need to contact a veterinarian.

There is a secret in the Peterbald’s ears, but the landlord doesn’t need to panic because of this and try to wipe it off daily with cotton swabs. It will be enough to do this once every 7 days, after purchasing a special lotion in a veterinary pharmacy. The same lotion also needs to wipe the areas between the claws (places where fat accumulates, which prevents the cat from moving).

On the tail of the St. Petersburg sphinx, the sebaceous glands are concentrated in large numbers, so often there are acne and acne. Special cleansing lotions will come to the rescue here.

Some owners believe that the animal needs regular depilation of dead hair. Moreover, the animal looks more aesthetic. But do not rush in this way to give a cat a noble appearance. Shaving will have a negative effect on the subsequent coat, making its structure stiff and even less attractive.

Petersburg sphinxes, like all pedigree individuals, have a number of genetic diseases. But fortunately for the owner, they are few.

• The most dangerous disease is underdeveloped thymus. The task of this body is the growth and development of the body of the animal, as well as immune protection. If the thymus is underdeveloped, then the Petersburg sphinx will die as a kitten.
• Cats of blue and tortoise colors are more prone to gingival hyperplasia. This affects the chewing of food and further problems with the digestive tract. When the first sign of inflammation appears, you should contact your veterinarian for advice and a treatment plan.
• Peterbalds due to the lack of wool can suffer from colds. Therefore, it is important not to overcool the pet, to wipe it dry after bathing, and to wear warm clothes in cold weather. Often, cats of this breed climb on the bed to the owner and sleep with him under a blanket. You can also buy a warm litter for your pet.
• Peterbalds suffer from allergies. And the rash is never once. It usually becomes a permanent ailment of the animal. But the owner should not panic, because a special lotion from a veterinary pharmacy will relieve the pet from allergic reactions. It is only important to monitor the condition of the pet's skin and exclude factors that provoke a rash.
• The absence of wool in St. Petersburg sphinxes makes them especially vulnerable to external hazards. For example, if the owner has a private house, and the cat walks on the street, then due to the curiosity of the animal, there is a high probability of getting some kind of injury (including an insect bite, a reptile or a dog). It is better to keep Peterbald at home in order to avoid various injuries that will provoke further skin diseases.

The main thing is to regularly monitor the condition of the pet, avoiding all the pitfalls, and then health problems can be avoided or at least minimized. In general, the Peterbalds have a good immune system, resistant to many diseases, which is an undoubted advantage of this breed.

Knitting peterbald requires special attention and approach. Here it is better not to indulge in experiments, especially for inexperienced breeders. It is allowed to knit the St. Petersburg sphinx with an Oriental, Siam, Javana and Balinese.

What rules need to be followed in order to mate correctly.

• A cat needs to be knitted only when it reaches the age of 12 months. In this case, she must pass the first or second heat. Until this moment mating is prohibited, because the pet's body is not yet fully formed.
• It is better that at least one of the pets already had a mating experience, otherwise he may become confused, with the result that the result will not be achieved.
• Both representatives of the breed must be given 2 weeks before mating all vaccinations (including measures of prevention from worms).
• Do not bathe the cat before knitting it. Special shampoos wash away its natural smell, which should attract the male.
• According to the rules, the cat must be brought to the cat. This is done because it is important for cats to feel calm in their own territory. Otherwise they will begin to explore unfamiliar territory, which will take a lot of time. At the same time, it is important that the estrus of a cat lasts 2 or 3 days before mating. The period for which you can leave one pet with another is a maximum of 5 days.
• Both animals must have their claws trimmed - due to the aggressiveness and even the cruelty of the mating game. Otherwise, St. Petersburg sphinxes risk damaging each other.
• With regard to childbirth, it is better for cats to give birth up to 7 years, with 1 or 2 times during the year.Thus, the health of Peterbald will not be harmed.

For more on the Peterbald breed, see the next video.