Is The Persian Cat Good For You?
- 1Persian cats are docile and relaxed cats, so they make great lap cats.
- 2The Persian can sometimes seem aloof and disinterested but they are ready to love someone who proves their worth.
- 3Persian cats require regular grooming to avoid matting of the fur.
HISTORY
The Persian cat is thought to be one of the oldest breeds, their likeness cropping up in hieroglyphics dating back to 1684 BCE. Named for their country of origin, the Persian cat comes from an area that is now somewhere inside Iran, by the Hindukush Mountains and Mesopotamia. They were first brought to Europe by an Italian traveler, Pietro Della Valle.
Quick Facts
Size
Medium, Large
Lifespan
15 - 20 years or more
Hair Length
Long
Litter Size
3 - 4 kittens
Male Weight
9 - 14 pounds
Female Weight
7 - 11 pounds
Personality
Typically a laid back, quiet, calm breed, these cats love attention, but wont beat you over the head with their affection. They have a voice unlike any other, and use it, along with their big doe eyes, to burrow their way into your heart. They are extremely adaptive cats who do well in nearly any environment, except outdoors. They should probably be kept as an indoor cat, and they are more than happy to have it that way. .
Color
The Persian comes in a number of different patterns (Solid, Silver & Golden, Shaded & Smoke, Tabby, Particolor, Bicolor, and Himalayan), each of which comes in a wide variety of colors.
Health Concerns
Some of the major health problems and diseases that affect Persian cats are:
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia
- Chedial-Higashi syndrome (ocular and cutaneous albinism)
- Congenital polycystic liver disease
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Idiopathic facial dermatitis
- Idiopathic periocular crusting
- Epitrichial cysts
- Seborrhea
- Facial fold pyoderma
Appearance
A very unique looking cat, this heavily boned, flat faced, rotund breed has one of the most easily identified faces in the whole of the cat universe. They have big, full cheeks like they are hiding nuts in there, and a squish face you just cant help but cuddle. They have little, rounded ears that pop up delicately on top of their broad, flat head. Their overall appearance is that of a fat baby, and their thick, full coat only adds to their baby like physique.