A Pet's View / October 2005
Pretty Persians
Persians, the elegant, long haired cats with a distinctive snub nose, probably originated in the area of Asia Minor, which includes the country of present day Turkey. Persians were introduced to Europe in the 1700s, where they were called French cats or Angoras. When short, stocky long haired cats from Persia, the country now called Iran, were incorporated into the gene pool, the breed became known as Persians. They became popular in Britain during Queen Victoria’s reign when the queen and other members of the royal family kept blue Persians.
They have been exhibited in cat shows as a recognized breed since the first cat show in Britain in 1871.
Early Persians had much longer bodies, larger ears, smaller eyes, and longer faces than today’s short-faced, round-eyed Persians. The longer, more slender Angora type gradually lost favor after the compact, sturdy Iranian type was introduced. The breed of cat known as Himalayan is identical to the Persian except for its color, which is pointed like a Siamese and the Exotic Shorthair is a short-haired Persian.
More Persians are registered with the Cat Fanciers’ Association, the largest feline registering body in the US, than any other breed of cat.
Aristocratic but by no means delicate, Persians have long, plush coats and heavy bones. They tend to be heavier than other breeds, weighing between seven and twelve pounds. They have broad chests and (for a cat) massive skulls, with round faces and a domed forehead. The eyes are large, round, full, expressive and set wide apart. Their ears are small and rounded and their small, flat nose is a trademark. Their coat is long from round head to short, plumed tail, with an immense ruff and frills between their front legs. And, they have large, round feet with short toes and usually, toe tufts.
While the white Persian has long been the darling of photographers and cat food companies, Persians come in an astonishing number of colors, which are divided into seven color divisions for purposes of competition, from the Silver and Golden Division to the Shaded and Smoke Division, along with Solid Colors, Bicolors and Particolors. Blue, black, and white are the most popular, but Red, Cream, Solid Chocolate and Solid Lilac are also favorites.
Persian’s frequent portrayal as snobs of the cat family is completely erroneous.
Persians are recognized for their sweet temperament and laid back nature. They are dignified, not snooty. Their sweet, gentle, personalities blend into most households once they feel secure in their new environment. Their sedate nature does not reflect lack of intelligence. Persians are very bright and many owners have described them as being doglike in devotion to the special people in their lives.
Playful but never demanding, Persians love to pose, draped in windows or chairs, like three dimensional trompe l’oeil paintings. They like to have their feet firmly planted and are not given to jumping and climbing. Although rarely vocal, owners describe the voice of Persians as melodious and pleasant. Compared to other breeds of cat, they are recognized as being especially responsive, providing close, enduring companionship.
Their long flowing coats require an indoor, protected environment and frequent maintenance. Proper maintenance requires a daily run-through with a metal comb to eliminate potential tangles and owners should be prepared to spend time each day grooming.
With good nutrition and care, Persians can be family members for well over fifteen years. A well-bred Persian is a hardy, healthy cat, no more prone to illness and respiratory infections than other breeds. However, their large eyes are accompanied by a certain amount of tearing is normal, so a daily face wash is recommended.
The amount of shedding and difficulty of grooming varies with each cat.
Just as human hair can be curly, straight, coarse or fine, each cat has different fur characteristics. Some Persians have thick, woolly hair that knots quickly, requiring daily brushing. Others have sleek, silky hair that never tangles. Shedding also varies from cat to cat, although it is not as bad as might be expected and, with regular grooming, much better.
Persians are eminently lovable, calm cats. Though just as curious as their counterparts, Persians rarely run, jump or climb. They are lap and living room cats, with little interest in the great outdoors. Not at all highbrow, Persians are just homebodies who like life in the slow lane. PL
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