 The
Persian cat is one of the oldest breeds
of cat.
In Britain, it is called the "Longhair" or "Persian
Longhair" (tipped varieties are known as "Chinchilla
Longhair").
The Persian cat is reputed to originate from Iran
(Persia),
but interbreeding of Angoras with native British domestic longhairs
in the 19th Century makes the true origin of the breed unclear . The
Persian's European debut is credited to Pietro
Della Valle, an Italian
traveler.
A show-quality Persian has an extremely long thick coat, short
legs, a wide head with the ears set far apart, large eyes, and an
extremely foreshortened muzzle. The breed was originally established
with a short (but not non-existent) muzzle, but over time this
feature has become extremely exaggerated, particularly in North
America, and Persians with the more extreme brachycelphalic head
type are prone to a number of health problems (specifically
affecting their sinuses
and breathing) caused by it. However, conscientious breeders
eliminate this by careful choice of breeding stock with more
moderate head type, as the goal is first and always healthy cats.
Persian cats can have any colour or markings including pointed,
tortoiseshell,
blue, and tabby.
Persian cats with point are referred to as Colourpoint Persian in
Europe and Himalayan
(cat) in United States.
In the USA, there was an attempt to establish the Silver Persian
as a separate breed called the Sterling,
but it was not accepted and Silver and Golden longhaired cats,
recognized by CFA more specially as Chinchilla Silvers, Shaded
Silvers, Chinchilla Goldens or Shaded Goldens are judged in the
Persian category of cat
shows. In South Africa, the attempt to separate the breed was
more successful: the SA Cat Council (SACC) registers cats with 5
generations of pure bred Chinchilla as Chinchilla
Longhair. The Chinchilla Longhair has a slightly longer nose
than the Persian, resulting in healthy breathing and no tearing of
the eyes. Its hair is translucent with only the tips carrying black
pigment: a feature that gets lost when out-crossed to other colored
Persians. Out-crossing also may result in losing nose and lip liner,
which is a fault in the Chinchilla Longhair breed standard.
Because their fur is too long and dense for them to maintain
themselves, Persian cats need regular grooming.
To keep their fur in its best condition, they must be bathed
regularly, dried carefully afterwards, and brushed thoroughly every
day. Their eyes need to be checked for problems on a regular basis
because some animals have trouble keeping them clean.
A Persian cat without an established and registered pedigree
is classed as a domestic
longhair cat.
As the dusty desert caravans wound their way westward from Persia
and Iran, it is supposed that secreted among the rare spices and
jewels on the basket-laden camels was an even more precious cargo,
an occasional longhair cat. They were called Persian for their
"country of origin," but hieroglyphic references as early
as 1684 B.C. shroud forever their exact beginnings.
Persians, with their long flowing coats and open pansy-like faces
are the number one breed in popularity. Their sweet, gentle,
personalities blend into most households once they feel secure in
their new environment. Creatures of habit, they are most at home in
an atmosphere of security and serenity, but with love and
reassurance, can easily adapt to the most boisterous of households.
Their quiet, melodious voices are pleasant and non-abrasive. They
communicate delightfully with their large expressive eyes and make
charming pets for all ages. Persians have short heavily-boned legs
to support their broad, short bodies. They like to have their feet
firmly planted and are not given to high jumping and climbing.
Playful but never demanding, they love to pose and will drape
themselves in a favorite window or chair, enhancing the decor in
much the same way as a treasured painting. Persians are tremendously
responsive and become a constant source of joy and delight to their
owners. Pleasurable as an unexpected sunbeam, their companionship is
close and enduring.
Their long flowing coats require an indoor, protected
environment. Proper maintenance requires a daily run-through with a
metal comb to eliminate the potential drawbacks of tangles and
hairballs. An occasional bath, attempted only after a complete
comb-through and clipping of the nail tips, will keep the coat
clean, healthy and beautiful. It is wise to establish the routine of
the bath when they are young. While the white Persian has long been
the darling of photographers and advertisers, Persians come in an
astonishing number of colors, which are divided into seven color
divisions for purposes of competition. Those are:
- Solid
Color Division
- Silver
and Golden Division
- Shaded
and Smoke Division
- Tabby
Division
- Particolor
Division
- Bicolor
Division
- Himalayan
Division
Keeping the Persian indoors also keeps it safe from transmission
of disease and parasites, as well as the dangers of urban life. With
an annual trip to a trusted veterinarian, and good nutrition and
care, the Persian can live as a family member for easily 15 years,
and some surpassing 20 years. Persian breeders dedicate themselves
to breeding healthy cats, availing themselves of the latest in
veterinary screening procedures to test for any heritable disease
conditions. A well-bred Persian is a hardy and healthy cat and is
not more prone to illness and respiratory infections than other
breeds. However, the large eyes do mean that a certain amount of
tearing is normal, and a daily face wash is recommended.
Pricing on Persians usually depends on type, applicable markings
and bloodlines distinguished by Grand Champion (GC), National,
National Breed and/or Regional winning parentage (NW, BW, RW) or of
Distinguished Merit parentage (DM). The DM title is achieved by the
dam (mother) having produced five CFA grand champion/premier (alter)
or DM offspring, or sire (father) having produced fifteen CFA grand
champion/premier or DM offspring. Usually breeders make kittens
available between twelve and sixteen weeks of age. After twelve
weeks, kittens have had their basic inoculations and developed the
physical and social stability needed for a new environment, showing,
or being transported by air. Keeping such a rare treasure indoors,
neutering or spaying and providing acceptable surfaces (e.g.
scratching posts) for the natural behavior of scratching (CFA
disapproves of declawing or tendonectomy surgery) are essential
elements for maintaining a healthy, long and joyful life.
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