Persian Cats and Kittens
The credit for the Persian cat breed usually goes to Iran, Turkey and the surrounding countries, though references made in ancient hieroglyphs date this pansy-faced longhair
cat clear back to Egypt in 1684 B.C. or, perhaps, even earlier. How the Persian cat truly came to be, however, is likely to be one of those forever-shrouded mysteries.
Persian Cat History
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
cat may be a mutation that occurred in shorthaired cats that had come from Egypt. Considering the colder climates that the
Persian cats were subjected to in both Iran and Turkey, these long-haired cats would be better-suited to their surroundings and more likely to survive in the cooler temperatures. Regardless of how
the Persian cat breed 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
Persian cat 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 Angora
cats 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 Unfortunately, with so many different historical references, the true origins and history of the Persian cat have been obscured by the sands of time.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 cat 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 one of the most
popular breeds of cat in the United States with
Persian kittens being bred across the country.
Persian Cat Appearance
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.
Some Persian cat breeders even refer to this as "Doll-Faced
Persians". Often referred to as “pansy-faced cats,” the Persian cats 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 cat is a study in both power and gracefulness.
In the UK, the Persian cat breed 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: Solid
Persians (white, black, blue, cream, chocolate, red, and lilac), Silver and Golden
Persians (chinchilla silver, shaded silver, chinchilla golden, shaded golden), Shaded and Smoke
Persians (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), Tabby
Persians (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-color
Persians (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
Himalayan Persians (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 cat or kitten in a color for everyone! |
Persian Cat Temperament
The Persian cat 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,
Persians 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 Grooming Requirements
Persians are the supermodels of the cat world and, as such, require a lot of primping and pampering to look
their best. If you’re interested adopting a Persian cat, 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 Persians 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
your Persian cat first - before you bathe them.
Another thing to remember, when bathing a 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
Persian 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
Persian cat’s coat.
A little show trick? Add a small amount of fabric softener to your Persian 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
Persian 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.
Persian Health Information
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:
- feline urological syndrome
- Polycystic kidney disease
- Corneal sequestrum
- Stenotic nares
Is A Persian Cat the Right Breed For You?
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.
by Shawna Krautheim and Debbie Moore
Copyright 2007 - 2008
All rights reserved
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