Persian

Often considered to be the most glamorous of all the pedigree cat breeds, the beautiful Persian was said to have originated from cats imported into Italy from Iran around 1620 by the Italian composer and author, Pietro della Valle, and into France at about the same time from Ankara, Turkey by the French astronomer, Nicholas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc. However, recent genetic research indicates that today’s Persian is related to cats from Western Europe rather than the Near East. Whatever the historical ancestry of the breed, Persian Longhair cats were exhibited at the first ever cat show held at the Crystal Palace on 13th July 1871. If you could get into a time machine and travel back to that day in south London and visit the show, it is doubtful that you would recognise the Persian of Victorian times as the same cat that appears at today’s cat shows. Illustrations of the time show that it was rounder headed and shorter faced than a domestic cat, but had larger ears and was longer nosed than the modern Persian, which is the result of selective breeding over decades.

Some pedigree breeds can vary quite considerably in type in different countries, and have slightly different standards, but the Persian appears to be pretty much universal wherever it is exhibited in the world. It is a medium to large sized cat, heavily boned, the head is round, with a broad skull, which should be smooth to the touch without depressions or protrusions. The ears are small and round tipped, fitting into the rounded contours of the head with long furnishings. The large round eyes are set wide apart lending a sweet open expression to the face. The nose is short and broad with a definite stop, the nose break should be wide and the nose leather fully formed with open nostrils, allowing free passage of air. The cheeks should be round and full, the muzzle wide and the chin firm. A short thick neck leads to a short, cobby shaped body, low on the legs with a broad chest, shoulders and rump. The legs are thick and the paws large and round. To balance this rounded shape the tail is short and well furnished, in proportion with the body. The Persian’s crowning glory is its long, thick coat, which is fine and soft in texture. When in full coat, during the colder months, a full frill will frame the face and cover the shoulders continuing into a deep frill between the front legs.

The Persian comes in many different colours and patterns. There are five different pattern groups:
Self (or Solid): Black, White, Blue, Red, Cream, Chocolate and Lilac. These all have orange or copper eyes, with the exception of the White which can have orange/copper/blue eyes or be odd-eyed (one orange and one blue eye).
Silver Series: Smoke (in 10 different colourways), Chinchilla, Shaded Silver & Golden, Cameo, which can be tipped or shaded (in 10 different colourways) and Pewter. These have orange or copper eye colour, with the exception of the Chinchilla, Shaded Silver and Golden which have emerald or blue-green eyes.
Tabby: There are 3 different patterns allowed, classic (or blotched), mackerel and spotted, in silver and standard colours and including tortie tabbies; all are orange-eyed.
Tortoiseshell, Tortie & White and Bi-Colours: The Torties can be both patched and intermingled and come in black & red, blue-cream, chocolate & red and lilac-tortie. The Tortie & White comes in standard colours and tabby. The Bi-Colours come in most of the above colours and patterns and can be high white (colour only on the face and a fully coloured tail), or low white, with just some white to the face, all four limbs, the underbelly and chest and some white to the face; again they are orange-eyed.
Colourpoint: This pattern is pointed, with the mask, legs and tail in a contrasting colour to the body. A wide range of colours is accepted, including tabby and tortie points, and the eye colour is blue.

The Persian has a sweet, gentle nature and blends easily into most households as they become comfortable in their new home. They are creatures of habit and prefer a calm atmosphere and gentle handling. They are happy to be combed and petted by children but are unlikely to join in boisterous games with them. They have quiet, musical voices but communicate mainly with their large expressive eyes. They like the security of the ground and are unlikely to be found leaping to the top of bookcases to explore the high ground. They eagerly play with a toy or a teaser but are equally happy to drape themselves decoratively in a favourite spot! The Persian cat will not demand your undivided attention but it will relish your attention when are ready to lavish some time on it. These are gentle cats that are comfortable in their own homes whether you are there or not – but will also be happy to see you when you return. Persians have a gentle, laid-back temperament and make excellent family pets. However, they will require regular grooming to keep their coat free of knots and in good condition. This need not be an onerous task; five or ten minutes careful combing each day will ensure your Persian looks good and feels comfortable.

The Persian is both hardy and vigorous. As with all longhaired cats, the coat requires continuous care to ensure it is free from tangles and matting does not occur. Cat food can sometimes be a problem as it may stain the bib – especially with the messy eaters! The coat needs daily combing with a metal comb to prevent tangles that can develop into mats and to remove loose hair that could result in hairballs. An occasional bath is recommended and the routine should be established early with the young kitten. Many Persians love their bath once accustomed to it. After a towel dry to remove a lot of the moisture, the coat needs to be combed smooth as you gently blow it dry. Use conditioners to prevent the coat from drying out. Eyes should be wiped daily as the large eyes can attract dust and other irritants that may cause the eye to run. A female Persian cat weighs 6 to 12 lbs and a male Persian cat weighs more than 12 lbs. A Persian cat usually lives 15 years or more.

The modern brachycephalic Persian has a large rounded skull and a shortened face and nose that may cause some health problems. This facial conformation may make individuals prone to breathing difficulties, skin and eye problems. Conscientious breeders are, of course, aware of this and selectively breed to avoid these problems. Persians can carry a gene that leads to kidney failure (called autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease) through the development of cysts in the kidney. This condition was found in more than a third of all Persian and Exotic shorthaired cats in the 1990s when screening tests became available. Using DNA screening, breeders are now working eradicate the problem – always ask the breeder to show the PKD certificates for the cats used to produce your kitten. The GCCF Persian Registration Policy includes mandatory testing for PKD for breeding cats registered on the Active Register from 1st January 2016. Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is also present in the breed, but there is a DNA test for this condition.