Persian Cat Breed

The Persian is, almost without exception, the most popular breed of cat in the world. For every other kind of pedigree cat in the United States, there are several registered Persians. The Persians, or Persian Longhairs, as the breed is known in the United Kingdom, may have the longest history as champions, having appeared in shows for over 100 years.

All domestic cats native to Europe are shorthairs. The Persian most probably descends from the Angora cats of Turkey that sailors and merchants brought back with them from their trips to Turkey and Iran (Persia). About 1620 both Persians and Angoras, admired for their long, silky coats were imported into France and Italy by members of the nobility.

All Persians are large, solidly built cats. Though there is wide variation in color, there are few physical differences

The Persian is one of the most placid breeds. Gentle, quiet, and sweet-natured, Persian will not necessarily play with kids, but neither will a houseful of children bother them.Despite their tranquil nature, Persians will be interested in a game. Unlike other cats, however, they will wait for you to invite them to play. As a rule they will not run and play of their own accord. Kittens are as playful and tireless as any other kitten. These cats seem to be one of the least vocal breeds.

Compared with many other breeds they cope quite well with being left on their own, although they appreciate the company of another cat. The majority of Persians are perfectly happy indoors and show little inclination to go out, but this does depend on an individual cat and on whether it became accustomed to being outside at an early age.

Fur Colors and Patterns

ORANGE-EYE WHITE, BLUE-EYED WHITE, ODD-EYED WHITE, CREAM, RED, LAVENDER, BLUE, CHOCOLATE, BLACK, CREAM AND WHITE, RED AND WHITE, LAVENDER AND WHITE,, BLUE AND WHITE, CHOCOLATE AND WHITE, BLACK AND WHITE, BLUE-CREAM, TORTOISESHELL, DILUTE CALICO, BLUE-CREAM SMOKE, CALICO, CALICO VAN (HARLEQUIN), CHOCOLATE TORTIE, CHOCOLATE TORBIE, LAVENDER TABBY, BLUE TABBY, RED TABBY, SILVER TABBY, BROWN CLASSIC TABBY, TORBIE, SHADED SILVER, CHINCHILLA, CREAM SMOKE, BLUE SMOKE, BLACK SMOKE, BLUE-CREAM SMOKE, TORTIE SMOKE, PEWTER, GOLDEN PERSIAN, TORTIE CAMEO, CREAM SHADED CAMEO, CREAM SHELL CAMEO, RED SHADED CAMEO

A very important part of owning a Persian is the care of the coat, but the eyes also need considerable amount of attention. The coat is luxuriant and very thick, composed of long, soft hair that becomes tangled and matted very easily. If you fail to groom the cat for a couple of days, the coat will soon develop matted balls of fur that you will be unable to comb out without hurting the animal. You certainly cannot postpone grooming your Persian for more than a week.

Fortunately, most Persians enjoy their daily grooming sessions. About every 3 to 4 months you can bathe your Persian, but always use a good shampoo formulated specifically for cats. After a bath, the loose, dead hair that causes balls of matted hair in the coat can be brushed out more easily. Matted areas that cannot be removed in any other way can be very carefully cut out.

Health Problems

Persians have considerable problems with watering eyes (the condition is called epiphora, caused by partial or total obstruction of tear ducts), which can cause dark tear marks in the creases of the face. It seems as though light-colored Persians suffer more from this problem, but this is simply because the marks show up more clearly. Try to prevent this dark discoloration as much as you possibly can, because in most cases neglected tear marks will cause permanent staining. Avoid this by cleaning the folds of the face and the hair around the eyes every day, using a soft tissue moistened with a special eye lotion for cats or with cooled, boiled water. Finally, you will have to clean the ears every now and then by massaging in a special ear cleaner and then removing the surface dirt with a cotton swab. Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is a rogressive degeneration of the retina of the eye that may lead to total blindness. It is thought to be hereditary and there is no treatment. Deafness is seen in all breeds carrying the dominant gene for white coats, especially where the eyes are blue. Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is hereditary in Persians and can be screened. Cryptorchidism (undescended testicles) is common in male Persians. The condition is hereditary, and affected cats should be neutered before they reach full maturity.

Persian Breeders

If you would like to be listed here as an Persian Breeder or a member of an Persian rescue organization, please send us and email