Peterbold

History of the Peterbold cat breed

Peterbold – 100% breeding "product" obtained as a result of crossing oriental and of the Don sphinx . The first experiment to create a new breed branch was carried out in 1994, by St. Petersburg felinologist Olga Mironova. As a result of planned outcrossing, four hybrid kittens were born: Sissy from Murino, Nocturne from Murino, Mandarin from Murino and Muscat from Murino. It was these cats that were listed in the stud books as the official ancestors of today's Peterbolds.

Recognition of felinological associations "petriki" received relatively quickly. In 1996, the SFF gave the go-ahead for breeding St. Petersburg sphinxes, and a year later TICA joined it, approving the abbreviation PD for the breed. In 2003, the WCF recognized the animals, assigning them their own abbreviation – PBD. It is worth making a small clarification here: despite the successful standardization and the official breed status, the branch of the Peterbolds remains developing, which means that breeders are only planning to get its reference representative. Nevertheless, since 1997, mating between Don sphinxes and "Petersburgers" has been officially prohibited.

Both earlier and now, breeding specialists do not aim to breed exclusively naked cats, caring more about the extremalization of their external characteristics. So, the ideal Peterbold in the understanding of felinologists should be close to the eastern type of appearance, that is, combine the maximum of breed traits siam and orientals . Moreover, the amount of wool on the animal's body practically does not affect its value both in breeding and financially. The exception is the straight–haired varietta of the breed, but more about it later.

Video: Peterbold

Appearance of Peterbold and its differences from the Don Sphinx

Judging by the images from the Internet, cats from the city on the Neva are not much different from the Don sphinxes. However, in real life, Peterbolds are much smaller and more refined than their southern counterparts. In particular, the weight of the average "bald Petya" varies within 3-5 kg, while the "Donetsk people" can increase the weight to 7 kg.

Among other things, the "Petersburgers" are characterized by outstanding grace, bringing them closer to orientals , and less "folding" of the skin. If Peterbold inherited a rough backbone and plump forms of the "donchak", this can be considered as a serious exterior defect. Each of the breeds also has its own peculiarities in the structure of the skull. For example, the head don sphinx has an exotic, almost alien outline, while the faces of Peterbolds are associated with flat snake heads.

Head

The Peterbolds have a wedge-shaped skull, expanding from the nose towards the ears. The cat's muzzle is long, with a slightly convex profile and a flattened forehead.

Ears

The ear blade is large, wide at the base, continuing the wedge of the cat's muzzle.

Eyes

The eyes of the St. Petersburg sphinx are almond-shaped, set obliquely. The traditional color of the iris is green, but bright blue eyes are acceptable for individuals with a point suit.

Housing

Peterbold's body is elongated, muscular, with an elegant silhouette line. The neck is elegant, elongated. The chest is somewhat narrower than the hips.

Limbs

The legs of the Peterbold cats are long, thin and perfectly straight. The animal's paws are oval-shaped, with flexible, so-called "monkey" fingers.

Tail

Long, whip-like, thin along the entire length, with a pointed tip.

Vibrissae

Standard cat whiskers in St. Petersburg sphinxes are either absent as such, or have a shortened broken-twisted design.

Leather and wool

In a proper peterbold, the skin should be soft, loosely fitting the body, forming numerous folds on the head and a slightly smaller number of them on the body. Inherited from the Don sphinxes, the breed received the hairless gene, so the classic Peterbold is, in fact, a naked cat, in some cases having a rare and short coat.

Varieties of St. Petersburg sphinxes

• Hairless ("gammy", "cat-gum") – animals with a complete lack of wool. To the touch, the skin of such cats resembles thin rubber. Another feature of hairless Peterbolds is intense skin secretions that form a thin layer of brownish plaque on the body.
• Flock – beardless and beardless individuals with ultrashort silky hair (up to 2 mm) on the body.
• Velour – kittens with short or semi-long hair, which may disappear as they grow up, leaving small shaggy "islands" on their paws (socks, knee socks). In general, the coat of velour "petriks" is thicker than that of flocks.
• Brush-point – individuals with a naked or covered with a delicate flock body and thick, stiff fur on the muzzle, paws and tail.
• Brush – pets with hard/soft twisted hair, pubescent completely or partially. As the brush cat grows older, it may become bald in the neck and back, but it does not completely shed its fur.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the straight-haired variety of Peterbolds or straight-haired. These are animals that have not inherited the hairless gene, have classic cat fur coats and normal straight mustaches. Such individuals are not a plembrac, and in exceptional cases they may even be recommended for breeding, but they are significantly cheaper. By the way, in terms of physique, it is the straight-haired varietta that is closest to its ancestor – oriental .

An important point: in addition to the listed types, St. Petersburg sphinxes have several intermediate variants of the coat, such as flock point, velour point and others, which, as the animal matures, can pass into other varieties. This feature greatly complicates the choice of a kitten, since it is almost impossible to predict how a pet will look in adulthood.

Colors

St. Petersburg sphinxes are characterized by color-point and oriental types of colors. In the first case, cats can have suits: tabby-, torty-, blue-, laylak-, chocolate-, seal-, red- and cream-point. Peterbolds with oriental color are individuals of blue, black, cream, chocolate, red, tabby, bicolor and tortoiseshell colors.

Shortcomings and vices of the breed

• Overly lightweight backbone.
• Curved forelegs.
• Absence of skin folds on the head.

The character of peterbold

The St. Petersburg Sphinx is an open and contact breed (often beyond measure). These hairless earwigs do not accumulate negativity, preferring to occupy their own memory only with positive impressions, are always frank in expressing feelings and are not prone to traditional cat intrigues. The only thing that Peterbold can annoy is a strategic reserve of affection, which he needs to splash out on a person. So it's better for inveterate introverts who need personal space not to get "Neva sphinxes".

A fairly common mistake is attempts to mistake the good nature and sociability of the Peterbolds for lack of character. Keep in mind, by the type of temperament, bald cats are more choleric than melancholic. Yes, their favorite activities are eating all kinds of delicacies and reclining on something soft and warm, but with improper upbringing and lack of attention, they can turn into real jerks. So if you stumbled across a review on the network about an evil "Petersburger", in 9 cases out of 10 – this is the story of inexperienced lazy owners who took an animal as an interior decoration and did not even try to establish relations with him. By the way, for all their canine attachment to the owner, Peterbolds are not monogamous and in the case of a spontaneous move to a new family, they will easily establish contact with its members. For this breed, it is not so important who to love. The main thing is that the object of adoration is always there and responds to the cat's tenderness.

Otherwise, Peterbold is a cat without pretensions: patient, accommodating, understanding. If you are tired of independent pets slashing your child's hands about and without, take the St. Petersburg Sphinx and make sure that not all cats conflict with the little ones. Cats also have peace and mutual understanding with other representatives of the domestic fauna. Especially "Petersburgers" are not indifferent to bald fellows. So, having settled a couple of representatives of this breed in the house, get ready to watch the tenderness and caresses that the animals will bestow on each other without any measure.

The natural curiosity of the Peterbolds" is something indescribable. A closed door, a zipped handbag, a cardboard box brought by a courier – all this is a temptation for the monkey fingers of the St. Petersburg sphinx, which is impossible to resist. It is better not to lead your pet into temptation and do not try to hide anything from him. Peterbold will not be Peterbold if he does not declassify what attracted his attention.

Education and training

In order to educate a "Petersburger" and form his ability to respond not to the standard kitty-kitty, but to his own nickname, it is not necessary to have the talent of Yuri Kuklachev. This breed is willing and easy to learn, especially if you present classes in a playful way. As for the reaction to prohibitions and other requirements, Peterbold quickly recognizes commands such as "No!" and "To me!". With sufficient perseverance, kotofey can even be trained to aportirovke small objects. However, turning to training, it is worth considering the desire of the trained. Peterbolds are mood cats and if they don't want to, they won't work for any treats.

You should start raising a kitten with its socialization. Actually, the St. Petersburg Sphinx is a brave breed, but it will still have to be accustomed to the harsh sounds and noise of household appliances. Do not tiptoe around the baby, but turn on the vacuum cleaner, hair dryer and other household gadgets more often in his presence – let him get used to it. If you are an avid traveler and dream of instilling a passion for traveling and a pet, then Peterbold is ideal in this regard. However, provided that you started organizing the first joint tours when the baby was a couple of months old.

The breed has no problems with the toilet. Moreover, Peterbolds are so smart that they are able to master the use of the toilet, and some special techniques for the formation of the skill will not be required. It is enough to change the usual tray to a training pad, and then gradually lift it (stacks of old newspapers will be useful at first) until the design is equal in level with the toilet bowl. The next step is to move the lining on the toilet seat. Do not make a sudden transition, but smoothly, by a couple of centimeters, move the cat's toilet to the toilet seat. The animal should get used to doing its business safely. The final level is the rejection of the lining and the provision of a regular toilet for the cat's use.

Maintenance and care

Since the St. Petersburg sphinxes are "dressed" more than modestly, they do not like cold and drafts. Accordingly, care must be taken to ensure that the temperature in the house is comfortable for the pet, that is, not lower than +23 ° C. Be sure to provide the animal not with a classic couch, but with a closed house with a soft litter installed above the floor level. But do not be surprised if the pet will rest in it with a frequency of once a week. Usually Peterbolds prefer to nap next to the owner, trying to find a warmer place, or even get under the blanket altogether.

It is possible and necessary to take kotofey outside: St. Petersburg sphinxes should not grow in greenhouse conditions. Just keep an eye on the temperature regime. For example, in the sun, "rubber" Peterbolds quickly burn, which makes their skin dry, rough and brightly pigmented. At the same time, short ultraviolet baths are useful for animals: with the right dosage, a light tan gives the pet's skin a richer and more interesting shade.

In cool weather, "petriki" are very cold, so breeders recommend wrapping the cat in clothes already at +22 ° C. However, we will have to take into account an important point: any clothes for the sphinx are invariable scuffs on the skin. For a pet, this nuance does not play a role, but at the exhibition for an imperfect skin, the rating is reduced. So before the competition program, it is better for Peterbold to run naked for a week (naturally, within the apartment). If there is no way without cat vests and overalls, look for knitted wardrobe items or suits with seams outwards. They do not injure the skin so much.

Hygiene

The complexity of caring for a breed directly depends on the amount of wool in its representatives. Straight-haired and brush peterbolds are less demanding in this regard than, for example, naked individuals. In particular, "gammy sphinxes" are characterized by intense secretions from the sebaceous glands. Outwardly, it looks like the cat is covered with a waxy coating, slightly sticking to the fingers. However, this is not a reason to drag your pet to the bathroom every day, because the secret performs a protective function and protects the skin from negative external influences and minor injuries. Of course, it is worth bathing a bald Peterbold more often than an average cat, but you should not be too zealous. Washing off the protective lubricant, shampoos and other cat cosmetics dry the skin and often provoke its peeling. If the "Petersburger" looks too dirty, you can make an alternative cleaning: moisten a clean cloth with baby caring oil and walk on the cat's skin. And of course, take a responsible approach to the choice of cosmetic products, giving preference to Ph-neutral shampoos, and in the most severe cases – tar soap.

Note: the unevenly growing fur on the body of the velour peterbold causes a strong desire to warm the animal for the sake of enhancing the external aesthetics. Overcome the temptation and leave everything as it is, because instead of ennobling the cat's appearance, shaving will only worsen the structure of the coat.

The ears of Peterbolds secrete an increased amount of secretions, but you need to treat this calmly, that is, do not try to stick cotton buds into the ear canal every day, but calmly clean the ear funnel once a week with the usual lotion from the vetapteka. The same procedure must be done with the fingers of the animal, as the fatty plaque accumulates in the area between the claws and the skin, which prevents the cat from moving. The tail of the Peterbold is a zone of special attention. There are a lot of sebaceous glands at its base, so there is often a blockage of pores and pimples in this area. It is necessary to fight acne on the tail by means of cleaning veterinary lotions and wipes, so that later you do not contact a specialist about the removal of overgrown subcutaneous fat cells.

Be sure to allocate time for a daily inspection of the eyes of the Peterbold, because due to the lack of eyelashes, the breed "cries" more often than others. Naked "Petersburgers" are especially tearful, who have a thick jelly-like liquid accumulating in the corners of their eyelids. In the morning, look into the cat's eyes and if there is mucus in them, remove it with a clean cloth or cloth. If the "jelly" in the corners of the eyelids has changed its transparency to brown and greenish shades, it is better to consult a specialist. And, please, no pharmacy drops without consulting a veterinarian, otherwise you risk leaving the ward without vision.

The claws of peterbolds can be cut a couple of times a month, which, of course, does not exempt you from buying a scratching post. It is advisable to additionally process the claw with a nail file so that when scratching, the St. Petersburg Sphinx scratches its own skin less.

Feeding

Peterbold has a passionate lifelong romance with food, therefore, despite the almost ballet complexion, cats eat a lot, not hesitating to beg for an extraordinary tidbit. Before the kitten turns one year old, you can close your eyes to such behavior and not limit the baby in nutrition. After all, it's a growing organism that needs more energy than an adult.

After a year, the food preferences of "petriks" can and should be corrected. Peterbold should not overeat, so as not to turn into a clumsy likeness of his kinsman – of the Don sphinx . At the same time, the animal itself categorically does not accept this arrangement and constantly strives to steal something. If a cat from the cultural capital suddenly wants something delicious, he will definitely check all the pots and pans, inspect the contents of the kitchen cabinets and without fail taste everything that you left on the table. Chocolate, canned vegetables, chips – Peterbold will not disdain anything, even to the detriment of his own digestion. So, having acquired the St. Petersburg sphinx, from the first days wean yourself from the habit of leaving something edible in the public domain. And you are calmer, and the pet is healthier.

Peterbolds can be fed either by "drying" (dry croquettes are soaked in warm water for kittens), or by natural products. Some breeders practice mixed feeding (lean meat + industrial feed), despite the fact that most veterinarians criticize the method as harmful. As for the natural menu, it is the same for Peterbolds as for other breeds. The only difference is that cats are given heat–treated fish as rarely as possible. Otherwise, the nutritional recommendations and restrictions for St. Petersburg cats are standard: more lean meat protein and a little less various additives in the form of cereals, vegetables and fruits.

Health and diseases of Peterbolds

There are no terrible hereditary ailments in St. Petersburg sphinxes, but the breed is actively developing, and it is not a fact that in the foreseeable future breeders will not announce an incurable genetic defect passing from parents to kittens. Some breeders tend to believe that Peterbolds still have a predisposition to lung infections. Experts argue their assumptions by the fact that cats with rhinotracheitis usually do not stop there, clinging to pneumonia.

Such physiological defects as underdevelopment of the thymus and gum hyperplasia are also genetically determined (more often in animals of cream, blue and tortoiseshell colors). Otherwise, Peterbolds suffer from standard feline ailments like seasonal colds, which are primarily affected by bald individuals, skin diseases (bald again) and eye problems. A change in the quality of fat lubrication is an additional indicator that everything is not smooth in the animal's body. If the secret is released too abundantly and has an excessively greasy consistency, it is worth reviewing the cat menu together with the veterinarian.

How to choose a kitten

• Before you buy a kitten, get to know the St. Petersburg Sphinx breed closer, paying special attention to bald cats. If the sticky, secret-covered skin and the characteristic smell coming from the "rubber bands" do not bother – look for a reliable nursery.
• Commercial divorcees often adjust their wards to the needs of buyers. In particular, instead of a bald peterbold, you can buy a shaved flock or a representative of any other variety from such sellers. Before buying, make sure that you are dealing with a professional or a registered nursery.
• Color-point sphinxes are born completely white, and the color on the tip of the nose, tail, ears and paws appears a few days after birth.
• Absolutely undressed, flock and brush kittens can be born in one litter, but the animals acquire stable external features only by the age of two. As a result: when buying, you should be prepared for the fact that instead of a flock pet, a flock or velour point cat will come across.
• Carefully examine the kitten when he is sitting. If the St. Petersburg sphinx has too much keel, this is most likely a consequence of a subluxation of the sternum, which is regarded as a defect.
• Gently probe the tail of the peterbold you like. It should be smooth, without creases, skin folds, nodules and an empty leather pouch at the tip.
• The skin of a healthy Peterbold kitten should not bear traces of eczema or pimples, although small scratches caused by the claws of littermates are acceptable.
• As pets, breeders often offer brush and velour peterbolds, saving "gammy cats" for exhibitions. However, even here a lot depends on the anatomy. If the orientation of the traits appears more in the brush/flock, the judging panel will rather award the victory to him than to a "naked" with flaws.
• When purchasing a bare-born peterbold for further breeding, be especially careful. Sometimes "boys" of this variety are sterile, and "girls" may lack lactation.

The price of the St. Petersburg Sphinx

Peterbolds are among the twenty most expensive cats in the world, so an exemplary representative of the breed with an elite pedigree and a rare suit will cost about $500 - $1000 . Options with less exotic colors, as well as animals without the right of breeding, are much cheaper – $200 - $350 . The most economical option is a straight–haired varietta – only from $80 - $100.