Persian

The Persian is this month’s featured breed. Persians’ beauty and grace will capture your heart, making them one of the world’s favourite breeds.

Snapshot
Persian cats are named after the ancient kingdom of Persia, which is now modern-day Iran in the Middle East. Persians have many unique characteristics, such as their short ‘cobby’ bodies, short thick legs and large paws. Persians are bred to have a short muzzle, wide head and large eyes. Since their body is so short and stubby, they generally do not jump up to or down from great heights. One of the best features of the Persian is its luxurious, long, silky, thick coat.  A Persian’s fur generally puffs around the body, making it look like a ball of fluff. They come in lots of colours — gold, blue, tabby, tortoiseshell and point. Persians can also be called by different names depending on their colouring. Persians that are golden or brown are called Chinchillas, while point Persians are known as Himalayans.

History

The Persian has a unique and debated history. It is widely believed that the cat was brought from Persia to the west, where the modern breed originated. However, some ancient hieroglyphics do resemble this unique breed, which has led historians to speculate that it may go back to the time of the ancient Egyptians. The first Persian was brought to Europe, specifically Italy, in 1620 by Italian traveller Pietro del la Valle. The first cat was traded by Valle in exchange for goods and services. By the 1800s the breed had become popular in Europe and came to be treated as a symbol of high status.  The breed was sent for trade in the 1800s to the Americas and soon after became a worldwide breed.

Personality
This cat is one of the mildest-tempered cats in the world. Persians adapt well to almost any environment, making them suitable for anyone who wants a cat. (Please see the Health section of this article before deciding if they are right for you.) They are very affectionate, loving and friendly even towards strangers.  Persians can be ideal for a family that needs a cat that can adapt to other pets or children. Persians tend to be a quiet, non-vocal breed. But they make up for that reticence with their loving nature.

Health
Be prepared to commit a subsantial amoung of time to general grooming and health if you’re thinking about getting a Persian. Extra attention needs to be paid to grooming. Brush the fur at least once a day, for about 10-15 minutes, to ensure knots do not form. These knots can be really painful for the cat and require special attention from a groomer or veterinarian to return the coat to a healthy state.  They also require a weekly wash to make sure their fur is clean. For the cat that doesn’t like baths, try an alternative such as cat wipes and sprays to keep the fur from becoming tangled. Persians do have some larger health problems, but most of these can be detected and eliminated due to selective breeding.  Persians whose muzzles are shorter than normal can have respiratory problems, jaw problems and ephiphora (an abnormal discharge of the eye).  These problems can be corrected by visiting a veterinarian or checking with the breeder to make sure these issues are not a problem in their cats.

The Persian breed also suffers from PKD, a form of kidney disease. The disease can be detected early in the cat’s life using DNA testing and most breeders will test to make sure their cats will not develop this disease. PKD usually affects these animals in adulthood, so it is best to make sure the cat is tested before it is a few years old to provide treatment.

The normal lifespan of these cats is around 10-15 years — and even longer in some cases.

Resources
If you are interested in purchasing a Persian, you can choose from a list of breeders in Australia. There are some rescue shelters and pet ads offering Persians, but make sure the cat is checked for health problems before taking it home to ensure you and your cat are happy and healthy.

Breeders:
http://www.cat-world.com.au/Persian.htm

http://www.catsofaustralia.com/persian_breeders.htm

http://www.persiankittenempire.com/Breeders/cat-breeders-in-Australia.htm