The Persian Cat

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The Persian cat is the number one most popular cat breed in the United States, and around the world. Lets take a look at some of the characteristics that make this breed of cat so popular.

As the name suggests, these cats were first bred in Persia (modern day Iran). They are related to the Angora cats of Turkey. Like the Angora, the early breed of the Persian cat were predominately white in color. The Persian cats were a very popular breed with the royalty and aristocracy of Great Britain starting during the Victorian age. They had many famous owners, such as Queen Victoria and Florence Nightingale. They were then brought to the United States during the 1800s. During this time, breeders began the process of lengthening and thickening the coats of the breed until today the Persian breed has the longest and thickest coats of all cat breeds. This is also when they developed some, but not all, of the of the physical characteristics of the modern Persian. This includes large, round paws, short legs, short, strong necks and compact, deep chested bodies. The changes have continued until very recently, with breeders concentrating on the heads, and particularly the shape of the face.

In just the last 50 years, the face of the Persian has gotten flatter and flatter. This has led to some potential problems for the Persian. These include problems with the jaw, dental problems, respiratory problems and even problems with the tear ducts. Along with the now classic flat face, the face of the Persian has other distinctive characteristics. The head itself is very rounded. and all of the other features of the head also reflect this. The ears are short and rounded at the tip, and are located lower down on the sides of the head. The eyes are also large and round, and are typically copper, dark orange, green or blue in color, or even two different colors. The eyes should also be level with the bridge of the nose.

Let's look at that thick, luxurious coat. While the coat color started out as predominantly white, in the early 1900's the Blue Persian grew in popularity. Today, the Persian comes in just about every color and pattern commonly found in modern day cats such as tabby, tortie, solid colors, silvers and smokes. The thick, beautiful coat does have one drawback for many people, and that is grooming your Persian. Unlike shorthairs, where grooming can be done on a weekly basis, you have to set time aside every day to brush and comb your Persian to try to prevent matting. And I do say try, because it seems that no matter how much attention I give my Persians, mattes can still develop, especially in the winter when static electricity here in the northern US makes my cats less than enthusiastic about getting brushed. One product that I like to use on the really bad days is a product called "Grooming Mist Plus". Also, if you can convince them, a bath every three months or so can also help with the beauty and luster of your cats coat. Your Persian's coat will be thickest in the winter, and the time of maximum shedding will be during the springtime. Another daily grooming practice for many Persians is taking a damp cloth and washing your cats face at the inner corners of the eyes. Otherwise your cat can develop tear staining on the fur under the eyes.

Persians are especially subject to a few illnesses including urinary tract blockages, kidney disease and respiratory problems. However, they are a long lived breed, with the average lifespan being 15-20 years of age or even more.
Ok, we have talked about the physical, lets talk about the behavioral. Early in this article, I talked about how the Persian cats were much loved by the European royalty. This has caused people to call the Persian the royalty of cats. Of course, others have called them the sloths of cats, lazy, or if being polite, "docile" and "laid back". They are very mellow, being happy to lounge for hours in their favorite spot. They do like to be invited to play, but you have to ask them. Otherwise, they are happy to be a couch potato. Because they are so mellow, they make a great family pet. They get along very well with other pets, and are an especially great cat around children. They are not easily provoked, and will very rarely bare their claws for anything other than climbing. All in all, a wonderful, loving family member.
　
　
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Grooming Mist