Traditional Siamese vs Peterbald - Breed Comparison

As a newer and rare cat breed, the Peterbald cat’s history is somewhat limited.

The breed was first developed in 1994, when a Russian breeder named Olga S. Mironova crossed an Oriental Shorthair cat with a Don Sphynx cat. This cat was to be known as the Peterbald.

The Peterbald cat is recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association. It was also accepted by The International Cat Association in 1997.

There are now three types of Siamese cats. The Traditional Siamese is said to be the original cat imported from Thailand.

The Classic was the type that was common in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. The original Siamese cat became one of the most popular breeds in Europe and North America in the 19th century.

The Traditional Siamese is also called an applehead Siamese.

Looking a little bit futuristic, with a long, narrow head, almond-shaped eyes and large, pointed ears, the medium-sized, slimly built Peterbald cat can weigh between 3 and 6kg and is essentially a hairless cat.

Although Peterbalds are considered a cat breed that are essentially hairless, not all of them are hairless as there are some that have a very short coat. There are some that are born with quite a bit of hair but they lose this.

In fact, their coat color as well as certain markings can be in various shades and patterns.

Temperament:

Peterbalds are easy-going, social cats with a sweet nature. They are affectionate towards their human companions and are quite vocal too, liking to talk to their owners. They are active and playful and enjoy playing with children and even other pets in the home.

In fact, they are adaptable cats and will slot into different home environments and lifestyles. The hairless variety is best as an indoor cat and this is why they suit living in apartments as well.

They are independent and intelligent, and people who have owned them say their pets often behave like a dog, wanting to be involved in their human's activities.

The Traditional Siamese cat is medium-sized, lean, and muscular and weighs between 3 and 6kg. The coat is short and he is considered a medium shedder.

The kittens of these cats are born white and the coloring comes in over the next days and weeks. The head of the Traditional Siamese is well proportioned to its body size.

The medium size ears are slightly rounded at the tip and the eyes are large and bright blue in color.  

The coat is short, sleek, and soft and accepted colors are cream with chocolate, brown, lilac, red, tortie or blue points.

Temperament:

The personality of the Traditional Siamese is loud, vocal, and demanding. These cats let you know precisely what they want and it is almost like having a human companion in the house.

They love to give their human owners lots of attention as well. They’re intelligent, curious, playful, and energetic.

The Traditional Siamese cat isn’t really recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) anymore as the breed’s temperament has changed so much.

These Peterbalds are very intelligent cats and also very affectionate with their human owners. They are always up for a game and are playful and social.

While they make excellent family pets and companions, one just has to take special precautions with the hairless variety and ensure that they don't become too hot or too cold.

They’re balanced in nature and adapt to the different human personalities in the household as long as its human owners are kind and respectful towards animals. With the right level of love, kindness and respect, they become ideal companions.

The Traditional Siamese cat is such an amazingly intelligent animal and sometimes they can become quite human.

These are not your traditional cool, independent, sleep all day kind of felines and people liken them to having a dog as a pet. They love to play, and they are so active you could even put a leash on one and take it for a walk.

They are energetic, local, and lively. They are such affectionate cats too and they get on well with children and with other pets.

When you bring a Traditional Siamese cat into your life, it is like you are bringing in a human companion, except that the Traditional Siamese is far more amicable than many humans.

One of the more obvious things to watch out for with this particular cat is his hairlessness. This means he is more susceptible to the cold as well as to the heat. If he is outdoors, you have to be careful with his skin as it could get burned. Rough play with children could also cause scratching of the sensitive skin.

This particular cat is a fairly new breed and so there are few genetically inherited problems to be careful of.

Their large ears might prove to be a problem, and you will need to check the interiors and see that they remain clean. Also, trim his claws. If you fear that you could hurt your cat while attempting to groom him, rather take him along to professional, reputable pet groomers or have your vet do these grooming processes for you.

Whenever your Peterbald is sick you will need to get him to the vet. As it is, as a kitten, he will need to be taken to the vet to have his regular vaccines to protect him from some of the deadly cat diseases there are.

These are robust cats and you won’t find many health issues with it.

Avoid obesity. Siamese cats are prone to obesity and these slim cats can’t afford weight gain. Extra weight can put a whole lot of pressure on the cat’s joints and they can also develop other problems such as diabetes. The label of the commercial cat food you give your Traditional Siamese will indicate how much food your cat should get a day based on your cat’s weight.

Diet plays a massive role in the health of a cat, and inferior cat foods can mean you spending more money at the vet because of digestive issues.

If you are in any kind of doubt as to what to feed your cat, rather speak to your vet about what and how much to feed him. Your cat is a carnivore and it is most important to feed your cat foods high in protein.

Take your cat to the vet whenever he is sick and also just for a general check-up. You want to make sure that your Traditional Siamese is free from any health problems as well as parasites.

Also, make sure your cat is always up to date with his vaccinations as there are some cat illnesses such as feline panleukopenia, also known as distemper, that can kill your cat.

It is always a good idea as well to spay or neuter your Siamese to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

If your Traditional Siamese has any health conditions, your vet can help provide you and your pet with a treatment program.

Grooming:

The Peterbald cat with its little or no hair is considered to be a low-maintenance cat. Their owners don’t have to worry about excessive shedding. Bathing these cats is important so that oils don't build up and cause skin irritation.

These cats are also best as indoor cats, but then again, some gentle sunshine on the skin will do him the world of good, and he loves the feel of the warm sun.

There are some Peterbald cat owners who gently bath their cats, sometimes once a week to get rid of the oil on the skin. If it isn’t possible to bath your cat, check out at your local vet as you do get special wipes for these cats that are effective in removing dirt and oil.

Also, speak to your vet about skincare and the possibility of moisturizing creams specially made for these cats and which are gentle and non-toxic.

Diet:

This is a slim, athletic cat, and like all other cats, you have to be careful about weight issues. Any amount of weight with this cat can bring on a host of health issues such as extra pressure on the joints, not to mention other weight-related diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

To care for your Traditional Siamese, you need to feed him a high protein diet. Always read the labels of the cat food you buy to ensure that the proteins included come from animal sources and not from plants.

All cat food should contain taurine.

Provide your active cat with a climbing tree or perch.

Brush your Traditional Siamese cat regularly. He has a short coat so once a week will be enough to keep it shiny and clean.

You can feed your cat and provide all he needs, but nothing will be more important to your cat than showing your love for him by spending lots of time with him and showering him with love.