Peterbald vs Chantilly/Tiffany - 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.

The beautiful Chantilly/Tiffany cat gets people thinking the cat is a semi-longhaired Burmese, but of course, it's not.

The way the Chantilly came about was that there were a pair of chocolate-colored cats but their origins were unknown. The first litter of Chantilly kittens was born in New York in 1969 and people were so taken up by the beautiful kittens that a breeding program was started.

The cat was first started as a foreign longhair and then it changed to Tiffany. In a British registry, a cat breed that was a cross between a Chinchilla Persian and a Burmese was named the Tiffanie and renamed Chantilly and referred to as the Chantilly/Tiffany.

The breed is recognized by most major cat registries.

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 Chantilly is a medium-sized cat that can weight between 4 to 6kg.

The cat has a fairly broad head with widely spaced ears of medium size. The eyes are oval-shaped and gold in color. The fur is semi-long and there is no undercoat. The tail is plumed.

Apart from the original chocolate brown of the cat, other colors of the coat can include fawn, cinnamon, black, lilac and blue, with the chocolate brown being the favorite color.

Temperament:

The Chantilly promises to be a devoted and loyal feline companion for you, much preferring the company of his human family than to being alone.

It gets on well with other pets in the house as well as with respectful, gentle children. He isn't a demanding cat and he tries to talk with his family by chirping. It’s a balanced cat, with a fair share of docility and energy, making the cat an ideal companion for single people, couples, families, and elderly people.

It’s a cat that is so devoted, it will follow his human family around the house.

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 Chantilly/Tiffany is a gentle and kind breed that is playful and easy-going. They are just your typical middle-of-the-road cats that are not too much or too little of anything.

The Tiffany is playful, docile, happy and content and he wants to be your friend and companion.

If you are looking for a breed of cat that is loyal to its human family, allow this cat into your home... you won't have any regrets.

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.

There is no health issue that the Tiffany is prone to. Like any cat, a healthy diet will keep the Tiffany healthy for years.

These cats are known to have delicate digestive systems so avoid foods with grain if possible. The Tiffany has full hair in their ears, and wax build-up can occur so the inside of his ears must be checked. Checking the ears once a week, as part of a regular routine that includes brushing, and tooth care, should be sufficient to keep the ear canals clear.

Other issues, which are not detrimental but should be kept in mind, are reports that the Tiffany has delicate digestion. This cat relies on a regular diet that doesn't chop and change often.

Because the Tiffany is a low-shedding cat, it is thought to be a popular breed with those people who are allergic to cat hair.

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.

Diet:

The Chantilly needs an excellet diet and exercise to ensure he doesn’t become to overweght. Remember that cats are carnivores, and this means they have nutritional requirements that can only be met with meat – they can never do well on a diet high in carbohydrates and will develop digestive problems. Your cat will also require clean, fresh water aroud thd clock to ensure his good health.

Ensure each cat you have has a litter box andencourae good litter box habits by cleaning th litter box every day. Keeping the litter box clean also alerts you anything unusual with your cat’s toilet habits.

Provide your cat with a scratching post and a climbing tree.

The cat doesn’t have an undercoat and is therefore easy to groom. With his semi-long hair, you can brush him once a week to keep the coat soft and shiny. The coat is also low shedding.

Check inside his ears and inside his mouth to ensure there is no redness and signs of infection.

Schedule regular vet visits for your cat for his cat vaccines and for when he is sick.

Spay or neuter your cat to prevent unwanted kittens. Spaying and neutering prevents uterine infections and certain cancers in the felines.