Few can deny just how cute the Persian cat breed is as a whole, heck, it’s probably why it is the most “recognizable” cat breed in the entire world. And while there are some that may say that they would never actually want to own a Persian, we would challenge them to try and pick up a Persian kitten and want to immediately adopt him or her on the spot! And here lies the problem.
You see…
Because the guys are SOOOO cute, it often causes folks or “overlook” some personality “traits” and grooming requirements that the Persian cat breed has which later on down the road become a real issue for the ill prepared Persian cat owner.
This is why…
In this article, we wanted to take a moment and discuss exactly what it’s like to actually own a Persian cat so that if you ever have a chance to own one of these incredible animals, you won’t be disappointed six months later!
So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.
Persian Cat Breed Fast Facts
Country of Origin: Persia, or modern-day Iran
Size: Medium to large
Weight: 9 to 12 pounds
Eyes: Round
Head Shape: Round
Lifespan: 12 to 17 years
Origin of the Persian cat breed
The Persian cat is believed to have first originated in ancient times in the Mesopotamia area which then became Persia and now is Iran.
It was there…
That these cats slowly developed into what we now know and love relatively “attention” free. That is until they caught the eye of the Italian world traveler Pietro Della Valle who brought the Persian cat into Europe around the 1626 timeframe.
Back then…
The first Persians had a beautiful shine to their coats and were gray in color but now with years of selective breeding, Persians are found in many different colors all throughout the world.
Over the years…
The popularity of these cats has continued to grow which is why they are now considered one of the most popular cat breeds in the United States if not the entire world.
Persian Cat breed characteristics
Over the years, the Persian cat breed has been slowly “selectively” breed to accentuate certain characteristics where are now the “hallmark” of the breed. Characteristics such as their:
- Stubby nose,
- Round head,
- Fat cheeks,
- Big eyes
- And rounded ears.
Then from there…
Breeders began to create different “types” of Persian cats, and “categorize” them based on their color and coat patterns. Common “types” you may encounter can include:
- Silver/ gold:
These cats are quite small and have black and white tips with small amounts of silver and gold, green eyes. - Solid colours:
These range from blue, black, cream, lilac, chocolate and white.
Funny enough the white ones will often have odd coloured eyes. - Shaded/smoke:
These cats are often shaded with a cameo or tortoiseshell or cream/blue, lilac/cream smoke. These mostly have beautiful copper colour eyes. - Tabby: These cats are the classic patched type often seen in blue/silver, red, brown, cameo with cream. Eyes are normally copper, but the silver types can have green eyes.
- Patched:
colours found are blue/cream, tortoiseshell, and chocolate tortoiseshell. Eyes again will most likely be copper. - Three colored:
These cats have three colours of the solid combinations. - Himalayan:
These cats are distinctive in appearance from being bred with the Siamese cat as you will tell from their coloring. They’re most commonly fawn or white, but their face can be of any colour, yet their eyes will always be found to be blue.
Temperament of Persian cats
We here at IndulgeYourPet firmly believe that a Persian cat will help make any house “calmer”. After all, it’s difficult to get excited or cause a ruckus when looking at a Persian because they just seem to make you want to sit down and relax.
A feeling that is…
Made even stronger when you combine this with the Persian’s overall laid back and gentle attitude towards life.
Now we don’t want to…
Imply that these cats are boring, because they also have some behaviors that are same as the other cats such as play fighting, furniture scratching and jumping on the counter which can frustrate the owner. But these guys aren’t overly active and once you’ve told them not to do something 5 or 10 times, they seem to finally understand.
The best thing about…
These cats are that they are friendly and very loving. They love it when you pick them and hold them, you can find them even friendly to strangers where they can even sneak on the stranger’s lap. Mostly you will find them purring and they rarely meow making it a quiet and soft-voiced cat.
You’ll rarely find…
Persian cats making demands to their owners. They will not demand for food unlike other cats, most of the time you’ll find them sitting quietly or even sleeping. Mostly these cats are known to be extremely laid back, they have no problem living indoors for the rest of their life, but some do also enjoy being outside.
They are said to be…
Not extremely intelligent. But we here at IndulgeYourPet prefer to think of them as too relaxed to learn and too relaxed to pay attention. Either way though, if you’re looking for a cat that will perform tricks for you or lean how to fetch, it’s fair to say that a Persian is definitely not right for you.
And while we’re…
On the topic of why a Persian cat might not be right for someone we should point out a few additional points that you will want to consider.
First…
Persian cats have a lot of fur. Fur that will need to be maintained and combed by you daily if you want to prevent him or her from developing knots or to prevent your home from begin covered in fur.
About their coat and how to groom them
The coat is long, with thick fur. The type of color depends on its breed and it needs to be groomed to maintain its natural beauty. Here are a few guidelines on how to groom Persian cats.
- Their fur needs to be brushed regularly and begin as early as possible. Use a comb every day to remove excess hair dirt and also knots. Check if the cat has fleas, unusual lamps, and wounds. Do this slowly to avoid pulling the hair mats which causes pain.
- Groom the coat depending on the length of the hair. Use a toothed glove for short-haired cats and a large toothed metal comb for the long-haired cats. Ensure that you comb gently to avoid scratching the skin.
- If you want to bathe the cat, use formulated soap after consulting the vet. To prevent water from getting into the ears you can use cotton balls.
Second…
Persian cats do have special feeding requirements that will be different for your typical cat breed.
What to feed your Persian
Be aware Persian cats are quite picky eaters. Persians have trouble picking up small food and those that have an x shape. The fact Persians are indoor cars puts them at risk of calcium oxalate urolithiasis which are very painful bladder stones. Feeding your cat, the one type of food all the time can increase their risk for getting the stones, so it can be a good idea to mix up their food a little bit and swap them around every so often. They are at an increased risk for bladder stones too when they are given just one food. Some foods are specially made for those who are prone to hairballs, offer extra nutrients or food for those kitty’s that need an easy to chew type food.
It can help to monitor your cat eating when you are feeding dry food to make sure there are no difficulties eating the type of food you have supplied.
And third…
Because Persian cats have been highly bred over the years, they are susceptible to quite a few inheritable diseases that you should be aware of.
Health problems that are common in Persian cats
There are common diseases that affect the Persian cat and they include.
- Polycystic kidney disease. Persian cats are prone to this disease where a cyst develops in the kidney area and keeps on multiplying if the cat is not treated.
- Problem of the respiratory system. The face of Persian cat is flat and huge with round eyes and these are features that make the cat experience respiratory problems. The cats have a small nose which makes the nasal passage short thus its efficiency to breathe is affected.
- Trichobezoars and hairballs. They have a dense coat on their bodies which causes the growth of hairballs in the stomach and digestive tract. If the veterinarian does not intervene quickly the cat can suffer from serious health issues.
- Heart problems. Due to not breathing properly and being less active, the cat can suffer from obesity which may lead to heart problems.
And while…
It’s true that these diseases are not necessarily life threatening, most if not all can become quite expensive to treat particularly if they recurring.
This is why…
We here at IndulgeYourPet always advise any new pet owner to take a moment and see what it might cost to purchase a pet insurance policy on their new loved one. This way if they ever do become sick or injured in the future, you won’t be on the “hook” for 100% of the cost of treatment.
For more information on who we “feel” currently offers some of the “best” pet insurance policies on the market right now, be sure to check out our Best Pet Insurance Companies article.
