Peterbald vs Devon Rex - Breed Comparison | MyCatBreeds

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 Devon Rex is a cat known for its large ears and its curly, soft coat. It hails from England, emerging in the 1950s.

The cat is recognized by quite a few cat associations. The first of these cats was discovered by Beryl Cox in 1959 in Buckfastleigh, Devon. When the cat started appearing in cat shows in the UK, people starting becoming interested in owning these unusual cats.

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.

Known for its slender, light build, and weighing roughly between 2 and 4kg, the medium-sized Devon Rex has large, rounded ears. It is the large, rounded ears, set low on the sides of the broad head that make it slightly gremlin-like in appearance.

Their eyes are also large, and their noses are slightly upturned. It’s short, curly coat is another unusual feature and comes in many colors and patterns. The eyes can be blue, yellow, copper or he can be odd-eyed.

Temperament:

Your Devon Rex is quite a naughty cat, enjoying getting up to all kinds of mischief. Energetic, they love leaping up high onto perches so you’ll often find your Devon Rex in odd spots, more so if it's a spot in the sun as he loves warmth. It is why it is important to buy a cat tree for this cat.

It’s a loving, loyal cat and it will attach itself to one member of the family and then they are capable of pouring out the love and affection on this particular person. They’re also playful cats, as well as being intelligent.

He can learn a few tricks and can also be trained to walk on a leash. This is an active, energetic breed and will provide his human family with hours of amusing entertainment.

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.

Your Devon Rex is a social cat and is happy to be found on your lap. He doesn’t take kindly to being left on his own though. He isn’t a suitable fit for someone who works all day.

If you love animals, then maybe another companion animal would be a good idea as he is an amicable cat and gets on well with other animals.

When you spend time with your cat, make sure it is a special time, full of treats and stimulating play as he will learn to even fetch a small ball.

Just give him lots of attention and he’ll be your provider of companionship and entertainment.

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.

This particular cat isn’t known for any extreme health issues but even so, there are some health problems that are important to know about -

Patella Luxation:

This is where the patella or knee cap moves out of its usual spot. It can occur because of a number of reasons such as an injury or congenital malformation. The vet will want x-rays because sometimes hip dysplasia is also present.

Devon RexMypathy:

This is an inherited condition seen in both male and female cats and usually in young kittens. The cat has an odd gait with a head that bobs along as is tries to walk. The cat has tremors and also has difficulty with swallowing. With a visit to the vet and special care, your cat can do well.

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.

The Devon rex cat breed is known for its unusual looks with its wavy fur, large ears and large eyes. It is considered a rare breed and you want to make sure that you take proper care of him.

Owners of the Devon Rex know that these cats love their food and it has to be top quality food to enhance good feline health.

Cats are carnivores, ad this actually means that they should stick to a meat diet. Any food you buy your cat should be mainly meat. Look at the packaging of the commercially manufactured cat foods you want to buy, and make sure that the first few ingredients are some sort of meat.

Remember that any uncertainty with feeding your cat, you can chat with your vet.

Keep the inside of your cat’s ear free of an accumulation of wax and dirt as well as infection. If you don’t like the idea of probing in your cat’s ears, be in contact with your vet or a reputable, professional cat groomer.

Trim the cat’s nails.

Check inside his mouth for bad teeth as this could be causing him pain.

Clean your cat’s litter box every single day and also replace the grit regularly.

Get your cat veterinary care as soon as he shows signs of illness. Certainly, make sure all his vaccines and deworming are up to date.