Frequently asked questions about Peterbalds
For frequently asked questions about Servals, scroll down to #40
For frequently asked questions about Savannahs, scroll down to #60
I have a respiratory problem and I need to get a hairless cat. Can I get a Peterbald?
Why do I have to leave a deposit? What if I change my mind after I leave a deposit?
Do you provide a written sale agreement that includes a health guarantee,
Do you provide registration papers (more commonly known as the blue slip or pedigree papers)?
Do you have retired adults, or 'fault' Peterbald kittens available at a lesser price?
I'm from Canada and I'm getting a kitten from the States. Do I have to pay taxes?
Are there any health issues that plague purebred cats in general?
I can't seem to find any references to health issues with the Peterbald. Why is that?
What is the difference between a Peterbald Sphynx and a Canadian Sphynx?
What is the difference between an Oriental and a Peterbald? What is the same?
How can I insure that my cat always uses the litterbox properly?
Will my Peterbald get lonely if I leave at home all day while I am at work?
What is the difference between a breeder Serval and a pet Serval?
How do I find out if it is legal to own a Serval in my city?
60. Frequently asked questions about Savannahs....under construction....
2. I have respiratory problems and I need to get a cat without hair. Can I get a Peterbald?
3. I'm allergic to cat hair. Can I get a hairless cat?
YES. We have successfully placed many Peterbalds with people who have cat hair allergies.
4. I'm allergic to cat saliva. Can I get a Peterbald?
5. When can I take the kitten home?
6. Why is the breeder asking me questions?
7. Why do I have to leave a deposit? What if I change my mind after I leave a deposit?
We ask for a deposit so that we know that you will follow through on the purchase. We have learned from experience that it is very common for people to say that they will take a cat. Then, we put them on our list, and when it comes time to pick a cat, they change their mind. In the meantime, we have turned away or lost customers because our waitlist was too long. We have also learned from experience that some people default on the kitten by not picking up the kitten on the pre-arranged pick-up date, or they change their mind, or they can no longer take the kitten, etc... So, all deposits are non-refundable. If you change your mind, fail to pick up the kitten, or default on the purchase in any way, you are forfeiting the deposit. This deposit can NOT be applied to any other purchase present, past, or futures. Once you have left a deposit on a kitten, you are bound to purchase that kitten. So, you need to MAKE SURE about your decision.
8. When is final payment for the kitten due?
9. What should I do after I bring the kitten home?
10. What are the characteristics of this breed?
11. Do you provide a written sales agreement that includes a health guarantee?
Yes. We offer a written sales agreement that includes a health guarantee. We typically send you the agreement about 4-6 weeks prior to the kitten being ready for his/her new home. If you wish to see the agreement before then, I can send you an electronic version for you to look at.
12. Do you provide registration papers?
Yes. We provide what is commonly known as the 'blue slip.'
13. How are the kittens raised?
Peterbald kittens are born on our bed (AKA the maternity ward). Their mom raises them and both mom and kittens are together until the kitten goes on to its' new home. We play with the kittens constantly. When the kittens have received their first vaccinations and health check, they (and mom) have access to the remainder of our house and can sleep and play anywhere they want. We do not use cages.
14. Are you a large or small cattery?
We are a small cattery, with only 5 breeder Peterbalds, 2 Servals, and 2 Savannahs.
15. Do you have retired adults, or 'fault' Peterbald kittens available at a lesser price?
Sometimes. This is a great way to get a hairless for those who can't quite afford one. However, if you can not provide for the basic care, food, and veterinary services for an animal, then you should not be getting one.
seal point
chocolate point
lilac point
blue point
red point
chocolate
black
brown
lilac
red
cream
white
combinations of the above
mackerel
spotted
pointed
patched
torbie
tortie
solids
18. Can you supply references?
No. We both have jobs. Breeding is our hobby.
21. Are there taxes on kittens?
Yes. We are required by law to collect taxes on all kittens sold. We have included the taxes in the price.
22. I'm from Canada and I'm getting a kitten from the States. Do I have to pay taxes?
Yes. You are required by law to pay taxes. When you go to pick up your kitten at the airport, you will be required to pay taxes/duty/customs clearing fee, a Canadian Food Inspection fee, and a receiving fee. They will make you pay before the kittens are released into your care.
If the kitten travels by ground (by car), the fees are collected at the border.
24. How much is shipping going to cost me?
Shipping varies a great deal depending on the method of shipping and the distance. In addition to the shipping, you pay for the carrier ($55.00), and anything else that the airlines may require. Once we know your city, we can give you an estimate on shipping.
We always check the plane flights just in case there is a seat sale and we can deliver the cat to you. In many instances delivery is CHEAPER than shipping, especially if we find a seat sale. Delivery means that we take a flight and bring the kitten in the cabin with us (yes, that is allowed). You meet us at the airport, and we hop on the the next flight back home.
For Vancouver and surrounding areas, we will deliver the kitten at a cost of $160.00 (ferry and gas).
25. I've changed my mind. Can I get my deposit back?
26. Are there any health issues that plague purebred cats in general?
Purebred cats work within a set gene pool, therefore genetic and inheritable diseases and illnesses are more commonly seen in purebreds. One such disease is called FIP, and 5% of all purebred cats develop it.
Furthermore, almost all breeds have a prelidiction towards a certain health problem and you can find out what they are with a little research. You can start by visiting this web page which lists cat breeds and their health issues: http://www.dr-addie.com/breeds.htm If a breeder tells you that there are no health issues with their particular breed, then they are most likely lying.
27. I can't seem to find any references to health issues with the Peterbald, why is that?
Peterbalds are a relatively new breed (since 1994) and we have yet to discover a specific prevalent health issue to this breed. However, there is emerging evidence that all hairless breeds, including hairless dogs, pigs, and rats, seem to have issues with gums and teeth. In essence, this is logical as the teeth are formulated out of a hair, and when your are dealing with a gene mutation that affects the hair, you can expect to see teeth issues. Peterbalds are therefore at a higher risk for teeth and gum issues, and owners need to use vigilance and regularly check the teeth and gums. Additionally, for very obvious reasons, Peterbalds and Sphynxs are more likely to get sunburns and chills.
Because Peterbalds are outcrossed with Siamese and Orientals, some health issues related to these breeds can be found in Peterbalds.
28. What is the difference between a Peterbald and a Canadian Sphynx?
The only similarity between the two breeds is the hairlessness and the need to have their eyes and ears cleaned regularly.
The Peterbald is a long, muscular, elegant, extremely intelligent, active cat with huge ears and webbed feet. Due to the vigilance of responsible breeders, the Peterbald is known to be healthy. Sometimes, a Peterbald will produce oil on his/her body and needs to be cleaned. This is usually done with a baby wipe, but sometimes a bath is necessary (depends on your flooring). We have 5 adult Peterbalds and only one requires a baby wipe every week, and the other 4 do not require anything.
The Canadian Sphynx has a body shaped like a wine bottle, looks like a Gremlin, and has normal intelligence. They are very cute and will share their humans. They have a wonderful, loving personality and love to cuddle. The Canadian Sphynx produces oil on their bodies and need to be bathed one to three times a week. The Sphynx seems to have some health issues with IBS.
29. What advice can you give me?
Buy a kitten from a breeder who offers a health guarantee and written sales contract. If they are not willing to put it on paper, then you should go somewhere else.
Buy a kitten from a breeder who is a member of a cat association. Although this is no guarantee as to the quality of the kitten, it does mean that the breeder has agreed to certain standards. Even better, ask the breeder if they have signed an ethical breeding contract or are part of an ethical breeding program with their association.
Although breeders know more about cats than the average person, they are still not veterinarians, and you should always consult your vet on appropriate care.
We highly recommend getting pet health insurance, especially for your kitten's first year when he/she is most vulnerable.
30. We live nearby, can we stop and visit?
If you are interested in purchasing a kitten, please e-mail us and we can set up a time for a visit.
31. What is the difference between an Oriental and a Peterbald? What is the same?
The Difference
The Similarities
32. What kind of toys should I buy my new Peterbald?
Peterbalds love to play with all kinds of toys, so any kind will do. DO NOT EVER BUY toys covered in fur. These toys are often made from real animals, including cats and dogs and this is a practice that needs to be stopped. Do not buy fur toys because you are encouraging cruelty to cats and dogs. Instead, buy toys as pictured below.
My own PDs really like the sparkly two-ball (pic #2). You should also provide a couple of scratchers, a cat bed or a solid igloo (not a soft-covered igloo), and some toys similar to these:
33. If I pay cash, can I get a break on the taxes?
34. What plants are poisonous to cats?
35. Does a purring cat mean a happy cat?
Cats will purr when they are content. But, they also purr when they are sick, injured, afraid or anxious. Some cats will also purr when they are dying, A kitten first sensation is to hear the purr of his/her mother. This purring comforted the kitten when it was young. Purring is related to comfort. And so, a cat will purr to convey its' comfort, or it will purr to comfort itself when it is not well.
36. Can I train my cat to do tricks?
Absolutely! Peterbalds are very intelligent and naturally want to please their owners. They can be taught to play fetch, shake, come, sit up, wave bye-bye, speak, give me a kiss, take a bath, roll over, jump through a hoop, lie down, sit, and use a human toilet.
37. How can I insure that my cat always uses the litterbox properly?
Litterbox Guidelines:
Provide one litterbox for every cat, plus one more. This allows cat to avoid conflicts and territorial issues with other cats.
Litterboxes should have two entry/exit points. This prevents the cat from feeling trapped.
Place litterboxes in low-traffic and quiet areas.
Scoop the litterboxes every day. No one wants to use a dirty toilet!
Provide positive reinforcement when your cat uses the litterboxes: lots of hugs, kisses, and petting.
Clean out the whole box every week, and re-fill with fresh litter.
38. Will my Peterbald get lonely if I leave him/her at home all day while I am at work?
Peterbalds are social cats who always want to be around you. If a Peterbald is left at home alone all day, it will want to monopolize your attention when you get home. He/She will follow you around, rub up against your legs, and will meow at you for attention. A simple solution to this situation is to get a feline friend for your Peterbald to play with. Another Peterbald is ideal. A second option is to get a similar breed, such as an Oriental.
41. Servals are expensive. Can I get a price discount?
No. If you can not afford the initial price of buying the cub, then you are not financial stable enough to own a Serval. If you are looking for a deal, then that tells me that you may skimp on the essential of caring for your Serval, such as food and basic vet care. Servals are a high-class animal and we expect you to be in a situation where you can financially care for them. Don't buy the Mercedes-Benz if you can't afford the oil change :)
It takes a lot of time and effort to breed and raise Servals. This is reflected in the cost.
42. I have heard that anyone can keep a Serval. Is this true?
NO. Servals are an exotic animal with special requirements. The following are examples of people who should not own a Serval:
People who are not dedicated to a lifetime commitment. Statistically, this Serval will most likely last longer than your marriage.
People living in cities that prohibit private ownership (check your city by-laws for any exotic animal by-laws).
People who cannot dedicate a significant amount of time to their Serval.
People who foresee financial difficulties, or those that can not adequately provide for their Serval.
People who need to move from city to city often.
People with babies. This is because a Serval will think a baby is a great play toy.
People who spend more waking hours at work than at home.
People living in non-permanent homes (apartments, rentors, etc...).
People who are neglectful of basic veterinary care (vaccines, yearly check-up, etc...).
People who travel a lot and will leave their Serval with a cat-sitter on a regular basis.
43. When can I take the Serval home?
It is essential for Servals go to their new homes as early as possible to allow for a strong bond with their new owners, typically around 6 or 7 weeks of age.
45. How many Serval cubs do you have in a year?
46.What is the difference between a breeder Serval and a pet Serval?
47. How many times a year do you breed your females?
49. I want a white Serval. Do you have any?
There are currently only 2 white Servals in the world.
We have had 1 white Serval in the past. We do not expect to get another one. In the unlikely event that we should have a white Serval, the price of a white Serval is $80000.00 (eighty thousand) as a pet and $100000.00 (one hundred thousand) as a breeder.
50. What generation are your Servals (F1-F5)?
I hate hearing this question. It means you haven't done your research and you have no idea what a Serval is. When people refer to generations (F1, F2, F3, etc.), this indicates how many generations back you have to go to get to the wild ancestor. An F1 hybrid means that the parent is a wild ancestor. An F2 hybrid means that the grand-parent is a wild ancestor. A Serval can not have generations seeing as IT IS the wild ancestor.
51. How do I find out if it is legal to own a Serval in my city?
You need to check two places. You have to check your municipality bylaws. It is ultimately your responsibility to verify this. Check the animal bylaw and check to see if there is any exotic animal bylaws. You also need to check with your provincial bylaws. I have listed SOME bylaws on my website and you can check those, but bylaws change all the time so you need to verify again. If you are having difficulties doing this, I can assist you.
No. You will lose your deposit. As mentioned above, it is ultimately your responsibility to verify your bylaws. We put a lot of time, effort, and money into what we do, and we do not refund deposits because you are not able to fulfill your part of the obligation for whatever reason.
