One of the most majestic and recognized breeds out there is the Persian cat, and this well-known feline is a favorite for a reason. With their lax personalities and beautiful (but high-maintenance) coats, here is what you can expect when considering adopting one of these gorgeous cats.
Basic Characteristics of Persians
Persians are a breed that can be traced back all the way to the 1500s, and some enthusiasts suspect they may have been around even before then. These elegant, long-haired cats were a favorite of England’s Queen Victoria and were featured in London’s first-ever cat show in 1871.
After their debut, they became a favorite of the upper class and royals in Great Britain and eventually made their way to the United States near the start of the twentieth century. As of 1906, this breed became officially recognized as a “foundation breed” by the Cat Fancier’s Association (CFA) and has remained a popular favorite ever since.
This is a medium-sized breed that stands between about 10 to 15 inches tall and has an average weight ranging between 7 to 12 pounds, with the males of this breed typically being larger than the females. Persians, unlike many other cat breeds, don’t tend to jump as much, and their thicker and more solid build reflects this. Their thick, long hair makes them look quite large, and their underlying body type isn’t too far from what all of the fluff would imply.
These cats typically have a lifespan that ranges between 8 to 11 years, and their more lax demeanors mean that cat parents will need to provide extra care when ensuring their dietary and exercise requirements stay well met to keep them healthy.
The Persian’s long, silky coat can come in a variety of colors. Some of the solid color options include black, red, silver, white, golden, blue, chocolate, lilac, and cream, and they may also come in a tortoiseshell pattern or with calico markings. They may also be tricolor or bicolor, have a smoke pattern, or have pointed markings. These beautiful cats have large eyes that may be copper, green, or blue—or a combination of any of these—along with flatter faces that appear quite pushed in and chubby, adding to the adorable roundness of their overall features.
Temperament of Persians
Persian cats are typically quite mellow and love to lounge around and receive affection from their fellow family members, but they are certain to have bursts of energy here and there in which they become playful and outgoing. However, their propensity to be lax about most things ensures that they will remain completely unphased by most changes in the home or the daily routine. These cats simply love to enjoy people’s company and enjoy a lifestyle of relaxation.
Exercise for Persians
Although they are quite low energy most of the time, it’s still important to play with your Persian cat and help them get a bit of exercise when they’re feeling frisky to avoid obesity and any other health concerns. These cats love spending time with their families, meaning they also thoroughly enjoy having their favorite people play with them to keep them running and chasing and staying active in addition to their numerous hours of comfortably lounging around the home.
Utilizing toys such as scratchers, teaser toys, and feather wands serves as a great way to provide your Persian pal with regular spurts of playtime throughout the day to keep them happy, active, and mentally stimulated.
Grooming Your Persians
One of the biggest commitments you’ll be making when bringing a Persian into your home is keeping up with his or her grooming requirements. As a luxurious, long-haired breed, these cats require daily brushing and maintenance to prevent mats. This means you’ll need to invest in a wide-tooth metal comb to make sure you’re catching every last bit of potential matting and then going back over their coat with a slicker brush, and this will need to be done daily. It’s essential that all combing and brushing are performed thoroughly, as their coats can be long enough to require pet parents to part through it and check closer to the skin for any early signs of matting.
Matting can become a very serious issue for Persians and can easily become difficult to manage. In some cases, enlisting the help of a groomer to provide your cat with a more manageable haircut may help cut down on the risks of matting and make daily grooming practices much easier.
Additionally, the beautiful Persian coat requires regular bathing as well. Taking your Persian to a groomer may be ideal if you don’t have the right setup, grooming equipment, or time to perform such activities to the extent required for the optimum health of your beautiful feline, as bathing the members of this breed also requires you to very carefully dry their long, thick coats with special pet hair driers than provide effective but cooler air that’s safer for your furry companion than using a standard human hair dryer.
Aside from the daily brushing and combing, as well as the regular baths, Persians will also need their faces cleaned on a daily basis due to tearing, regular checks and cleaning of their ears, and regular nail trims performed.
Vet/Medical Care for Persians
Due to their flat faces, most members of this breed are likely to be sensitive to heat, even if they don’t appear to have any significant breathing concerns stemming from their anatomy. It’s essential to keep these cats in a comfortable environment to ensure that they don’t experience any respiratory distress. Eye problems, dental problems, respiratory issues, and heart-related concerns are not uncommon in this breed.
Persians also have increased chances of developing certain hereditary conditions, such as progressive retinal atrophy, liver shunts, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, polycystic kidney disease, and cystitis (bladder infections). If you acquire your Persian from a reputable breeder, most of those involved in the breeding and improvement of the overall health of this breed will have checked for such issues and be able to provide you with the medical history of your cat’s parents and siblings to give you a better idea of what to expect. Many are trying to “breed out” these conditions to ensure that future Persians are as healthy as possible, but this is an ongoing goal still working to be achieved.
Despite the hereditary likelihood of a Persian having certain conditions, providing your feline companion with the best possible care and staying on top of regular veterinary checks will help you keep an eye on any areas of concern and ensure that your furry pal receives the medical assistance necessary to help manage such conditions.
Bringing a Persian Kitty Home
If you’re looking for a calm, mellow cat to simply share your space at home in peace and semi-regular moments of snuggling and affection, the Persian is likely to be the best possible fit. There are no significant home or schedule modifications required for this breed besides keeping them comfortable and keeping them well-groomed.
When adopting a Persian, you can adopt from a reputable breeder that is knowledgeable about the breed and can provide you with significant health information regarding what to expect of your pet for the long term, or you may also want to consider adopting from a rescue. When going with a breeder that provides a purebred Persian, you can expect to pay between $1,200 and $1,800 dollars on average. If adopting from a rescue, you are likely to pay anywhere between $75 to a few hundred dollars. Additionally, some retired show Persians may be available for adoption as well for those interested in providing a loving home for an older cat.
Regardless of which option you choose to go with, we here at Space Coast Pet Services are ready and willing to help you with any of your pet care needs after you’ve brought your new companion home. Reach out and contact us today for more information!
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