Persian Cat

The Persian makes an attractive, sweet and undemanding pet. It is docile, quiet, companionable and elegant. It likes being with people and is generally good tempered, unless teased. However, it must be protected from dogs and traffic because, with its short legs and rather heavy body, it cannot always escape quickly. However, the Persian is quieter and less adventurous than some of its shorthaired cousins, and can often be kept in a fenced area of the garden from which a longer legged cat would escape, though the cat should not be permanently penned up on its own. A Persian will also live happily in an apartment, provided it is given the run of the place and plenty of fresh air. Persians are not as prolific as some of the shorthaired or foreign varieties, and therefore may cost more to buy. However, if you want a pet rather than a show champion, it is possible to purchase a non show class kitten, which will make a super pet, much more cheaply.

Grooming

The Persian's main disadvantage for a busy person is that it must be groomed daily. The cat will molt all year, but especially in the summer months, and if it swallows large quantities of hair, fur balls may form and cause an obstruction in the stomach that, in extreme cases, would have to be removed surgically. When it runs free outside, because of its short legs, leaves and debris may be caught up in the long fur, and if left, will knot up into hard balls. Their removal will then be very painful for the cat. Consequently, owning a Persian is quite a responsibility, but if you have plenty of time to look after one, then you will be sure to find it an excellent, loving and devoted companion.

Daily grooming is essential and involves removing any knots and tangles (which may not always be readily visible) with a wide toothed comb, then using a fine toothed comb to remove dead hairs and finally giving the coat a good brush with a long handled pure bristle brush (as this gives rise to less static electricity than brushes with synthetic fibers). The tufts between the toes should be combed carefully, as mats here would be very uncomfortable for the cat. The eyes should be checked regularly, as Persians are prone to blocked tear ducts. If destined for show, the paler coloured Persians will benefit from a bath a week before the show, followed by a powdering with fuller's earth or a proprietary non toxic grooming powder to remove grease marks from the coat. The powder should be rubbed in well down to the roots, then brushed out thoroughly.

Origin and history
Longhaired cats have been known in Europe since the sixteenth century, but their precise origin remains obscure. Records show that there were two types of long haired cat, one from Turkey the Angora and the other from Persia (now Iran), although it is likely that both these types origin ated in Russia and were brought by traders to Europe via Asia Minor. Whereas cats with long hair are found today in both Turkey and Iran, they are still much more common in parts of Russia, and it is possible that the harsh climate there may have favoured the evolution of the long coat. The so called Persian cats had broader, rounder heads, smaller ears, shorter bodies and plushier coats than the Angoras, and were undoubtedly the forerunners of the modern Persian type. Selective breeding of these cats over the years, particularly in the last 100 years, has produced the typical Persian type and the numerous colour varieties known today.