by Shawna L. Krautheim & Debbie Moore
Persian Cat Breed Facts:
Origin: Iran (formerly known as Persia)
Weight: 7-12 pounds
Average Litter Size: 3-5
Grooming Needs: High
Life Expectancy: 15+ years
Good With Kids: Yes
Good With Other Animals: Yes |
While many are quick to say that the Persian cat originated in
Persia, the country now known as Iran, it is actually believed by
others, that the Persian may be a mutation that occurred in
shorthaired cats that had come from Egypt. Considering the
colder climates that the cats were subjected to in both Iran and
Turkey, these long-furred cats would be better-suited to their
surroundings and more likely to survive in the cooler temperatures.
Regardless of how they came to be, however, these unique cats
definitely caught the attention of foreigners and were considered a
valuable item of trade. This, if nothing else, would help to
preserve the breed in the ancient times.
It’s generally agreed that the first Persian cats to be introduced
into Europe made their way to the continent during the Great
Crusades, around 1300 A.D.
Other
people, however, say that the credit should go to the Italian writer
and traveler, Pietro della Valle (1586-1652). Some claim that
he was the one to introduce the Persian cat to Europe, mainly his
home of Italy. From there, the Persian cats were supposedly
bred to the Angoras already popular to that area.
Unfortunately, with so many different historical references, the
true origins and history of the Persian cat have been obscured by
the sands of time. Today, in the United Kingdom, the Persian
cat is referred to as the Longhair and every color of cat is
considered to be a separate breed.
The Persian that we know today is believed to have made his way to
North America during the late 19th century. Since his
introduction, the Persian cat has become the most popular breed of
cat in the United States with Persian kittens being bred across the
country.
Persian Cat Breed Facts
| Persian Cat Breed History |
Persian Appearance |
Persian Temperament
Grooming Your Persian Cat |
Persian Cat Health Information |
Is a Persian The Right Choice For You?
The Persian cat is a well-balanced animal,
rather heavy of bone and yet possessing a very sweet and
endearing face with prominent round eyes. Often referred
to as “pansy-faced cats,” the Persian’s forehead, nose and chin
should all appear to be aligned, giving him the desired
flattened look that is trademark of the breed and his head
should be both massive and round in shape. The Persian is
a study in both power and gracefulness.
In the UK, the Persian is called a Longhair and every color is
shown as a separate breed though, in the United States, the
colors are broken up into several divisions, which are as
follows: Solids (white, black, blue, cream, chocolate,
red, and lilac), Silver and Goldens (chinchilla silver, shaded
silver, chinchilla golden, shaded golden), Shaded and Smokes
(shell cameo, shaded cameo, shell cream, shaded cream, shell
tortoiseshell, shaded tortoiseshell, shell blue-cream, shaded
blue-cream, black smoke, blue smoke, cream smoke, red smoke,
tortoiseshell smoke, blue-cream smoke), Tabbies (these can be
found in either classic tabby or mackerel tabby styles: silver
tabby, silver patched tabby, blue-silver tabby, blue-silver
patched tabby, red tabby, brown tabby, brown patched tabby, blue
tabby, blue patched tabby, cream tabby, cameo tabby, cream
silver tabby, chocolate tabby, chocolate patched tabby, lilac
tabby, lilac patched tabby), Parti-colors (tortoiseshell,
blue-cream, chocolate tortoiseshell, lilac cream), Calico and
Bi-colors (calico, dilute calico, chocolate calico, lilac
calico, calico smoke, dilute calico smoke, chocolate calico
smoke, lilac calico smoke, bi-colors), and the Himalayans
(chocolate point, seal point, lilac point, blue point, flame
point, cream point, tortie point, blue-cream point, chocolate
tortie point, lilac-cream point, and the tabby-marked lynx
point). In other words, there’s a Persian colored for
everyone!
The Persian is a laid back and lovable loafer
who enjoys nothing more than to be pampered and petted.
Known for their docile and laid back temperaments, they do very
well with other cats and animals, and are very tolerant of
children, provided they are old enough to know better than to
poke at kitty’s big eyes or pull the long hair. Generally
a very lazy cat, the Persian is not much of a climber, nor one
that is prone to getting into mischief.
Persian Cat Breed Facts
| Persian Cat Breed History |
Persian Appearance |
Persian Temperament
Grooming Your Persian Cat |
Persian Cat Health Information |
Is a Persian The Right Choice
For You?
The
Persian is the supermodel of the cat world and, as such,
requires a lot of primping and pampering to look her best.
If you’re interested in one of these cats, be forewarned that
they are high-maintenance - there is no other way to describe
caring for the Persian cat. Daily combing must be done, in
order to prevent matting of the long and beautiful fur and the
occasional bath should be given, in order to prevent an
over-abundance of oil in the coat.
Bathing the Persian cat should only be done after the cat’s
toenails have been clipped and the coat has been thoroughly
combed through to ensure that all mats and snarls have been
removed. Failing to remove the tangles first will only
make them worse and result in a vicious rat’s nest that you
simply can’t loosen and comb out. Always comb them first.
Another thing to remember, when bathing your Persian cat, is to
dilute your soap, prior to use. Not only is undiluted
shampoo hard to work into your cat’s coat, but it’s equally
difficult to rinse out again. For best results, dilute a
small amount of shampoo into water and use a bottle to
distribute it through your cat’s coat, doing a small section at
a time. After you’ve worked it through the coat, you
need to rinse it well - usually done by rinsing the coat for at
least 5 minutes or by filling the tub numerous times until the
rinse water remains free of any soap residue.
The use of conditioner is also very important when one has a
Persian cat. Like humans, you will need to choose your
shampoo and conditioner based on the quality of your cat’s coat.
A little show trick? Add a small amount of fabric softener
to your cat’s bath water and then rinse thoroughly once again.
This will make the coat very soft and help to prevent tangles -
just be sure to keep it out of kitty’s eyes, nose, and mouth as
many chemicals can make your Persian kitten ill.
When blow drying your Persian cat, you should always use the low
setting and always ensure that the temperature is set on cool.
While it’s tempting to use warm settings, realize that this can
not only burn your kitten’s skin, but can just generally make
the kitten uncomfortable and turn bath time into something that
she is afraid of. To keep your Persian kitten cooperative,
start at a young age and always make bathing a pleasurable
experience, filled with lots of love and praise.
The Persian is generally a very robust and
healthy breed of cat. Like many purebreds, however, they
are still prone to a few genetic problems. Some of the
health concerns of the Persian cat include:
There are few cats who are as laid back or
loveable as the Persian. Loving the opportunity to sit
beside you in the chair or drape across your lap, most love to
be pampered and petted, and are content to soak up the attention
for hours. However, owning a Persian cat is no picnic for
the inexperienced and uncommitted. Caring for a Persian
cat takes a great deal of time and effort. If you tend to
be somewhat lackadaisical, are always on the go, or don’t like
to spend a lot of time combing cats, chances are that a Persian
is not the cat for you. Make your choice wisely.
Ready to add an exquisite Persian cat or kitten
to your family? Visit our
Persian Cat
Breeders Showcase where you can find contact information for
responsible Persian catteries and view photos, detailed
information and litter announcements for Burmese kittens for
sale. Click here!
