Siamese
The Siamese originated from the local pointed cats in Thailand, formerly known as Siam. Loyal companions and guardians of royalty, these cats have been revered for centuries. The breed was first recorded in the Western world in the late 1800s and in the early 1900s, the first Siamese Cat Club was founded in England and subsequently in the US, where the first Siamese Breed Standard was developed.
Since the 1960s, the breed has changed enormously from the more heavy built, 'apple-head' traditional look, to the modern Siamese that we know and love today. The Siamese of today, is the epitome of elegance and balance and has many endearing traits. The Siamese is a great conversationalist, a singer and a clown. They are affectionate, active, vocal, moody and demanding. Despite the many changes in shape they have taken since their regal Thai ancestors were exported to the West, their beautiful, sleek, pointed coats and stunning deep blue eyes are the distinctive characteristics that have intoxicated cat fanciers from the very start.
Siamese come in many different colours, namely the traditional seal point, blue point, chocolate point and lilac point. Cream, and red points were developed much later but are just as popular today as the other colours. The tortie and tabby points and very special pointed bicolours are a newer development, yet equally as beautiful. Their coats are tight, close lying and shiny and should show adequate contrast to the colour points to complete the look. Other colours such as caramel, cinnamon, fawn and apricot are also widely accepted worldwide but are rare.
Most will say that the crowning glory of the modern Siamese are their large ears, set low on a broad, domed head, wide at the base and flaring outwards. A Siamese's eyes should always be the deepest blue possible for its coat colour, and they are almond shaped, slanting up towards the middle of the ear. The profile is straight and the chin strong. The body of the siamese has changed quite a bit as well since the mid 1900s. Siamese today are svelte, tubular, long and tall on their legs with a long, tapering, whippy tail to emphasize length and elegance.
As pets, the Siamese are a joy to have around! They are hopeless romantics, totally devoted to their owners and loyal to their friends. These cats are generally friendly, social and love people! They want to be involved in every aspect of your life from cooking to cleaning to reading a book and when they want attention, they will stop at nothing to get it.
Siamese cannot be left alone for long periods of time, as they are very sensitive souls and tend to get destructive and very vocal if they are bored or lonely
Since the 1960s, the breed has changed enormously from the more heavy built, 'apple-head' traditional look, to the modern Siamese that we know and love today. The Siamese of today, is the epitome of elegance and balance and has many endearing traits. The Siamese is a great conversationalist, a singer and a clown. They are affectionate, active, vocal, moody and demanding. Despite the many changes in shape they have taken since their regal Thai ancestors were exported to the West, their beautiful, sleek, pointed coats and stunning deep blue eyes are the distinctive characteristics that have intoxicated cat fanciers from the very start.
Siamese come in many different colours, namely the traditional seal point, blue point, chocolate point and lilac point. Cream, and red points were developed much later but are just as popular today as the other colours. The tortie and tabby points and very special pointed bicolours are a newer development, yet equally as beautiful. Their coats are tight, close lying and shiny and should show adequate contrast to the colour points to complete the look. Other colours such as caramel, cinnamon, fawn and apricot are also widely accepted worldwide but are rare.
Most will say that the crowning glory of the modern Siamese are their large ears, set low on a broad, domed head, wide at the base and flaring outwards. A Siamese's eyes should always be the deepest blue possible for its coat colour, and they are almond shaped, slanting up towards the middle of the ear. The profile is straight and the chin strong. The body of the siamese has changed quite a bit as well since the mid 1900s. Siamese today are svelte, tubular, long and tall on their legs with a long, tapering, whippy tail to emphasize length and elegance.
As pets, the Siamese are a joy to have around! They are hopeless romantics, totally devoted to their owners and loyal to their friends. These cats are generally friendly, social and love people! They want to be involved in every aspect of your life from cooking to cleaning to reading a book and when they want attention, they will stop at nothing to get it.
Siamese cannot be left alone for long periods of time, as they are very sensitive souls and tend to get destructive and very vocal if they are bored or lonely
Oriental
The Oriental was originally developed in the 1950s and 60s, in the UK, by a group of breeders who were interested in developing a cat breed, much like the Siamese that has a full coat of colour and a variety of patterns, and very soon these cats became huge in popularity! Siamese were bred to other breeds of cats such as Russians and Abyssinians to introduce certain patterns and colours and hybrid offspring of these combinations where bred back to the Siamese to preserve the type.
Since then, the breed has developed enormously and over 300 colour and pattern combinations are accepted today, by our Governing Body in South Africa (SACC) and around the world.
The type of the Oriental is the same as the Siamese, characterised by a distinctive head shape (the tips of the ears and the chin forming an equilateral triangle). Their breed standards are identical except for the colours and patterns. These cats are widely bred together by many breeders around the world to improve the gene pool and offspring of these cats are pure bred.
Colours include all of those in the Siamese and patterns range from Self, Tortie and Tabby to Bicolours, Calicoes, the silver varieties and combinations of these (e.g calico smoke, tortie tabby, silver tabby, etc).
Orientals are very loyal creatures, much like their Siamese cousins and are very similar in temperament. They are as vocal, active, affectionate and demanding as the Siamese, if not more, and they make wonderful companions.
Their language is a combination of 'words', head butts and deep purrs and they are extremely sensitive to how their humans are feeling, often deciding to sit atop your head and purr like a tractor in a confident attempt to cure a migraine.
Both Orientals and Siamese live harmoniously with other breeds, that can tolerate their rambunctious natures, however they do tend to be quite dominant and the green monster occasionally rears its head.
These breeds are highly strung in nature and therefore are prone to stress, so it is important that should you wish to be owned by a Siamese or an Oriental, that you take this into account to ensure that your cat leads a happy, stress free life with lots of stimulation and attention
Since then, the breed has developed enormously and over 300 colour and pattern combinations are accepted today, by our Governing Body in South Africa (SACC) and around the world.
The type of the Oriental is the same as the Siamese, characterised by a distinctive head shape (the tips of the ears and the chin forming an equilateral triangle). Their breed standards are identical except for the colours and patterns. These cats are widely bred together by many breeders around the world to improve the gene pool and offspring of these cats are pure bred.
Colours include all of those in the Siamese and patterns range from Self, Tortie and Tabby to Bicolours, Calicoes, the silver varieties and combinations of these (e.g calico smoke, tortie tabby, silver tabby, etc).
Orientals are very loyal creatures, much like their Siamese cousins and are very similar in temperament. They are as vocal, active, affectionate and demanding as the Siamese, if not more, and they make wonderful companions.
Their language is a combination of 'words', head butts and deep purrs and they are extremely sensitive to how their humans are feeling, often deciding to sit atop your head and purr like a tractor in a confident attempt to cure a migraine.
Both Orientals and Siamese live harmoniously with other breeds, that can tolerate their rambunctious natures, however they do tend to be quite dominant and the green monster occasionally rears its head.
These breeds are highly strung in nature and therefore are prone to stress, so it is important that should you wish to be owned by a Siamese or an Oriental, that you take this into account to ensure that your cat leads a happy, stress free life with lots of stimulation and attention
*Oriental Breed Booklet*
Peterbald
THE PETERBALD, SOUTH AFRICA'S NEWEST CITIZEN
Written by Mariette Burger - LaMaska Siamese, Oriental & Peterbald
The Peterbald, a MUST have
Your life is about to change: Is it a dog? Is it a monkey? Is it a bat? No… It’s a very special breed of cat. Perhaps even the rarest pedigreed cat breed in the World: The Peterbald. Only one word can describe the Peterbald and that word is not ‘naked’ or ‘hairless’, that word is LOVE. This intense feeling of tender affection and enthusiasm so aptly describes the Peterbald.
These fantastical little creatures will steal your heart when they dart to your side, hold your face in their slender front paws and give you a headbutt and non-stop purrs. The Peterbald is the ultimate attention-seeker. They crave cuddles and kisses and will not stop until they have your undivided attention and affection. Mischievous and comical, the Peterbald are forever faithful to their owners.
So very like the Oriental and Siamese breeds, the Peterbald forms strong bonds with its humans. Their own somewhat “human” personalities will draw you in and offer you endless hours of amusement and affection. Rivaling the temperament of the ever-popular Siamese, once you have an encounter with one of these wonderful creatures, you will never want to be owned by anything else! A relationship with a Peterbald is one of epic romance. They will adore you and you will find them simply irresistible. They will want to dine with you, sleep in your neck and even hear your thoughts. They will be loyal and devoted, while at the same time make you giggle at their antics and their unwavering enthusiasm for life.
You will never be lonely with a Peterbald at your side, on your shoulder, in your dinner plate or in your hair. This whimsical breed, the purrfect companion, is now a South African Citizen.
History of the Peterbald
A Breed Apart
Russian breeder, Elena Kovaleva brought home a homeless, bald female cat. She thought that it was sick and tried to cure it from the supposed disease that caused the puzzling hairloss. But it was soon discovered that the absence/loss of hair was not from a disease, but was in fact a natural mutation. The female cat was named Varvara (Varya) and she later gave birth to hairless kittens.
Varya was soon to become the foundation cat of a new and wonderful breed. The first thought, of course, was that this mutation was the same gene that caused the hairlessness in the Sphynx. For that reason, you will see the name Don Sphynx used in some descriptions and on some pedigrees. This proved to be untrue and it was soon discovered that these were two totally different breeds. The Sphynx gene is a recessive gene and after breeding the Don Sphynx, the gene was found to be dominant.
Varya went on to be the foundation cat for two wonderful, but different breeds. Some of Varya’s kittens were bred to European and Domestic Shorthairs. This produced a very stocky built cat that became known as the Don Hairless or, what is now known as the Donskoy. In 1993 a very oriental-looking brown mackerel tabby Don Hairless male, Afinguen Myth, was mated to a tortie Oriental female, Radma Von Jagerhof. These oriental-type hairless cats were called Peterbald. They were unpopular in Moscow, but became very popular amongst St. Petersburg breeders.
In January of 1994, the new, more refined look of the Don Hairless, became known as the Russian Peterbald. Breeders from the United States became increasingly interested in the Peterbald. Several Peterbald were shipped from Russia to the States to be used in breeding programs. Acceptance of the Peterbald by the Cat Fancy World-Wide In 1996, the Peterbald was accepted by the Russian Selectional Feline Federation (SFF) and given a standard and an abbreviation for registration purposes, i.e. PBD. In 1997, the Peterbald was accepted by The International Cat Association (TICA) with the abbreviation PB. In 2003, the World Cat Federation (WCF) accepted the Peterbald, with the abbreviation PBD. Other used handles of the breed are PBD, PTB, PD and PSX. Breeders in the United States have succeeded in obtaining full Championship status of this breed in 2007, with the abbreviation PD. Lean and elegant, but at the same time muscled, finely featured, big-eared, long-legged and whippy tailed, this cat has a totally different look from that of the Sphynx.
However, although these graceful cats have the elegant, oriental-type body, they have a unique look, coat and personality, distinctly their own. A Peterbald may have different coat types; from thick and silky (straight), or wiry (brush), flocked (velour) or suede (chamois), naked or sticky (completely bald) and everything in between until their ‘coat’ settles in at 2 years of age. One of the most notable features of this elegant cat is the new and unique coat called a brush coat: It has a similar texture to the coat of a wirehair, but is very short, definitely not curly and not dense, more sort of brushy. One might compare its texture to a worn tennis ball or a soft pot scourer. It is simply UNIQUE and really special.
The South African Link
The South African Cat Council (SACC) had accepted the Peterbald for Championship Status as early as November 2001, with the abbreviation PET.
In October 2008, the brand new Standard of Points for the Peterbald was accepted by the Southern Africa Cat Council. The new SOP will assist South African Peterbald breeders in breeding cats that conform to international standards. This acceptance of the new SOP once again proves the forward-thinking of the SACC judges in South Africa. We would like to thank our Judges for their favourable consideration of the proposal and hope that they enjoy judging this wonderful breed and learning with us as we venture into this new chapter!
Are you ready to be owned by a Peterbald?
Peterbald require undivided attention and they can be naughty and very stubborn. Extremely intelligent, Peterbald, amongst themselves have decided that manners are ‘oh so boring’, and this is what makes them LOADS OF FUN! With no consideration for the very important things human’s ‘have to get done’, you might find yourself trying to process your tax return with a Peterbald sitting on your head, pawing at your cursor, or trying to sabotage any plans you have to try and be ‘serious’.
Peterbald cannot be left on their own for long periods, they NEED their human entertainers. They are ideal companions and get along famously with each other and with other cat AND dog breeds. We believe that the Peterbald “speaks dog”. They will walk on a leash without any training to do so and they will come running when you call them by name. These little gems also play fetch and love games of hide-and-seek. The Peterbald have “batwings”, and when jumping into the air to “catch”, they have a moment of air-borne suspension which is truly awesome to behold.
It is not ideal that a Peterbald goes to a home where it will be the only pet or left alone for long periods of time. This is because, together Peterbald can keep each other company and concoct plans together to take over the world, but alone... they have much too much time on their paws to think about their next conquest and may become bored, destructive or noisy, especially after their slave gets home. Despite their tough demeanour, these are really very sensitive little creatures who were born to love and be loved. If you intend to adopt a Peterbald, and you have no other pets, please make sure he has enough toys and goodies to keep him occupied during the day and that you are up for some energetic play sessions when you return from work in the evenings.
The Peterbald “coat” is easy to maintain depending on the type of coat and colour and neutered cats might only require a monthly bath. Some owners prefer to bath them more frequently. Peterbald love their bath and will wait patiently, standing upright without a fight while you exfoliate, wash and rinse their skin/coat. Males and neuters require a daily wipe-down with a cleansing wipe (Johnson’s Facial Wipes or such) of their tail to prevent excess build-up of oil that might result in blackheads at the base of the tail. The nail beds and ear shells will also require a weekly wipe-down. They love to wear little jackets and jerseys and their main aim in life, if not to make it more interesting for us humans, is to find HEAT.
The Peterbald should never be exposed to long periods of strong sunlight; their skin will sunburn like human skin, resulting in painful skin conditions and severe sun damage. For this reason, the Peterbald is an INDOOR cat.
Written by Mariette Burger - LaMaska Siamese, Oriental & Peterbald
The Peterbald, a MUST have
Your life is about to change: Is it a dog? Is it a monkey? Is it a bat? No… It’s a very special breed of cat. Perhaps even the rarest pedigreed cat breed in the World: The Peterbald. Only one word can describe the Peterbald and that word is not ‘naked’ or ‘hairless’, that word is LOVE. This intense feeling of tender affection and enthusiasm so aptly describes the Peterbald.
These fantastical little creatures will steal your heart when they dart to your side, hold your face in their slender front paws and give you a headbutt and non-stop purrs. The Peterbald is the ultimate attention-seeker. They crave cuddles and kisses and will not stop until they have your undivided attention and affection. Mischievous and comical, the Peterbald are forever faithful to their owners.
So very like the Oriental and Siamese breeds, the Peterbald forms strong bonds with its humans. Their own somewhat “human” personalities will draw you in and offer you endless hours of amusement and affection. Rivaling the temperament of the ever-popular Siamese, once you have an encounter with one of these wonderful creatures, you will never want to be owned by anything else! A relationship with a Peterbald is one of epic romance. They will adore you and you will find them simply irresistible. They will want to dine with you, sleep in your neck and even hear your thoughts. They will be loyal and devoted, while at the same time make you giggle at their antics and their unwavering enthusiasm for life.
You will never be lonely with a Peterbald at your side, on your shoulder, in your dinner plate or in your hair. This whimsical breed, the purrfect companion, is now a South African Citizen.
History of the Peterbald
A Breed Apart
Russian breeder, Elena Kovaleva brought home a homeless, bald female cat. She thought that it was sick and tried to cure it from the supposed disease that caused the puzzling hairloss. But it was soon discovered that the absence/loss of hair was not from a disease, but was in fact a natural mutation. The female cat was named Varvara (Varya) and she later gave birth to hairless kittens.
Varya was soon to become the foundation cat of a new and wonderful breed. The first thought, of course, was that this mutation was the same gene that caused the hairlessness in the Sphynx. For that reason, you will see the name Don Sphynx used in some descriptions and on some pedigrees. This proved to be untrue and it was soon discovered that these were two totally different breeds. The Sphynx gene is a recessive gene and after breeding the Don Sphynx, the gene was found to be dominant.
Varya went on to be the foundation cat for two wonderful, but different breeds. Some of Varya’s kittens were bred to European and Domestic Shorthairs. This produced a very stocky built cat that became known as the Don Hairless or, what is now known as the Donskoy. In 1993 a very oriental-looking brown mackerel tabby Don Hairless male, Afinguen Myth, was mated to a tortie Oriental female, Radma Von Jagerhof. These oriental-type hairless cats were called Peterbald. They were unpopular in Moscow, but became very popular amongst St. Petersburg breeders.
In January of 1994, the new, more refined look of the Don Hairless, became known as the Russian Peterbald. Breeders from the United States became increasingly interested in the Peterbald. Several Peterbald were shipped from Russia to the States to be used in breeding programs. Acceptance of the Peterbald by the Cat Fancy World-Wide In 1996, the Peterbald was accepted by the Russian Selectional Feline Federation (SFF) and given a standard and an abbreviation for registration purposes, i.e. PBD. In 1997, the Peterbald was accepted by The International Cat Association (TICA) with the abbreviation PB. In 2003, the World Cat Federation (WCF) accepted the Peterbald, with the abbreviation PBD. Other used handles of the breed are PBD, PTB, PD and PSX. Breeders in the United States have succeeded in obtaining full Championship status of this breed in 2007, with the abbreviation PD. Lean and elegant, but at the same time muscled, finely featured, big-eared, long-legged and whippy tailed, this cat has a totally different look from that of the Sphynx.
However, although these graceful cats have the elegant, oriental-type body, they have a unique look, coat and personality, distinctly their own. A Peterbald may have different coat types; from thick and silky (straight), or wiry (brush), flocked (velour) or suede (chamois), naked or sticky (completely bald) and everything in between until their ‘coat’ settles in at 2 years of age. One of the most notable features of this elegant cat is the new and unique coat called a brush coat: It has a similar texture to the coat of a wirehair, but is very short, definitely not curly and not dense, more sort of brushy. One might compare its texture to a worn tennis ball or a soft pot scourer. It is simply UNIQUE and really special.
The South African Link
The South African Cat Council (SACC) had accepted the Peterbald for Championship Status as early as November 2001, with the abbreviation PET.
In October 2008, the brand new Standard of Points for the Peterbald was accepted by the Southern Africa Cat Council. The new SOP will assist South African Peterbald breeders in breeding cats that conform to international standards. This acceptance of the new SOP once again proves the forward-thinking of the SACC judges in South Africa. We would like to thank our Judges for their favourable consideration of the proposal and hope that they enjoy judging this wonderful breed and learning with us as we venture into this new chapter!
Are you ready to be owned by a Peterbald?
Peterbald require undivided attention and they can be naughty and very stubborn. Extremely intelligent, Peterbald, amongst themselves have decided that manners are ‘oh so boring’, and this is what makes them LOADS OF FUN! With no consideration for the very important things human’s ‘have to get done’, you might find yourself trying to process your tax return with a Peterbald sitting on your head, pawing at your cursor, or trying to sabotage any plans you have to try and be ‘serious’.
Peterbald cannot be left on their own for long periods, they NEED their human entertainers. They are ideal companions and get along famously with each other and with other cat AND dog breeds. We believe that the Peterbald “speaks dog”. They will walk on a leash without any training to do so and they will come running when you call them by name. These little gems also play fetch and love games of hide-and-seek. The Peterbald have “batwings”, and when jumping into the air to “catch”, they have a moment of air-borne suspension which is truly awesome to behold.
It is not ideal that a Peterbald goes to a home where it will be the only pet or left alone for long periods of time. This is because, together Peterbald can keep each other company and concoct plans together to take over the world, but alone... they have much too much time on their paws to think about their next conquest and may become bored, destructive or noisy, especially after their slave gets home. Despite their tough demeanour, these are really very sensitive little creatures who were born to love and be loved. If you intend to adopt a Peterbald, and you have no other pets, please make sure he has enough toys and goodies to keep him occupied during the day and that you are up for some energetic play sessions when you return from work in the evenings.
The Peterbald “coat” is easy to maintain depending on the type of coat and colour and neutered cats might only require a monthly bath. Some owners prefer to bath them more frequently. Peterbald love their bath and will wait patiently, standing upright without a fight while you exfoliate, wash and rinse their skin/coat. Males and neuters require a daily wipe-down with a cleansing wipe (Johnson’s Facial Wipes or such) of their tail to prevent excess build-up of oil that might result in blackheads at the base of the tail. The nail beds and ear shells will also require a weekly wipe-down. They love to wear little jackets and jerseys and their main aim in life, if not to make it more interesting for us humans, is to find HEAT.
The Peterbald should never be exposed to long periods of strong sunlight; their skin will sunburn like human skin, resulting in painful skin conditions and severe sun damage. For this reason, the Peterbald is an INDOOR cat.
*Peterbald Breed Booklet*
