Peterbald Cat

These are my comments made in reference to the TICA breed standard, focusing on the outstanding features as I see it. As I have mentioned elsewhere on this website breed standards are normally in words, without reference to illustrations, so I hope that you find this page useful. It allows reference to a photograph by Helmi which shows off the cat extremely well.The Peterbald should have an “elegant” appearance. This I take to mean a lean, slender and balanced look. However, elegance does not mean that the body cannot be sturdy and athletic, which is should be.

Being hairless or having little hair, it is possible to see the firm and well developed musculature of this breed. Note the tail, long and whippy.

The ears are another outstanding feature; extra large and prominent, they should be pointed and wide at the base.

The head’s profile should show a straight nose and flat forehead (this seems to be the case for Flashy above). They should form 2 distinct “planes” meeting midway between the eyes. I think this has been met or partly met in regard to Flashy.

Whiskers should be “crinkly” and “kinky”. Note Flashy’s whiskers are crinkly particularly at the ends.

As discussed on the main page on this cat breed this cat can have hair (the most hair she can have looks like and is called a “brush”). Flashy is clearly hairless with very small amounts of very sparse hair at various places. The coat carries 20% of the points when judging a cat in a show.

In order to preserve the health of the breed and the cat, whilst obtaining the desired appearance TICA permit, outcrossing is restricted to the Oriental Shorthair, Siamese (Modern, I presume) and Donskoy (Don Hairless).

A cat with long hair or a normal coat will not receive an award. An adult cat with the “brush” coat will not receive an award. Any signs of shaving or deliberate hair removal will result in disqualification.