Persian

What is a Persian?

A medium-sized longhaired cat of 3-6kg with a very dense coat, a cobby body and a short face. Two types exist in practice: the modern show Persian, with an extremely flat "peke" face, and the older traditional or doll-face Persian, with a visible muzzle. They are the same breed on paper. In welfare terms they are not the same animal, and the distinction should drive your choice.

History and origins

Longhaired cats reached Europe from Persia and Turkey in the seventeenth century. British and American breeders developed the type through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and the extreme flat face is a mid-twentieth-century American development from a spontaneous mutation that was then selected for.

Appearance and size

25-38cm, broad and low, with short thick legs, a full coat up to 10cm long, a large round head and big round eyes. All colours and patterns, including colourpoint (called Himalayan in some registries), chinchilla, smoke, bicolour and solid.

Temperament and personality

Quiet, placid and gentle. They are not climbers, not chatty and not busy. They like routine, warm places and predictable households, and they dislike noise and upheaval. This makes them an excellent cat for a calm home and a poor one for a chaotic one.

Intelligence and trainability

Not a breed that seeks out problem-solving, though they will use a puzzle feeder if it is easy enough. Handling training matters more than trick training: a Persian must accept daily grooming, and the time to teach that is at eight weeks, not at eight months.

Children and other pets

Good with gentle, older children. They will not defend themselves energetically, which makes them vulnerable to rough handling. Fine with calm dogs and other cats.

Health problems

The breed's problems are largely structural and largely a consequence of the flat face.

• Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) - historically affected around a third of Persians. There is a definitive DNA test and both parents must be clear. This is the single most important question.
• Brachycephalic airway syndrome - noisy breathing, exercise and heat intolerance. Look at and listen to the parents.
• Tear duct overflow - constant eye staining requiring daily cleaning; in flat-faced cats the ducts are physically kinked.
• Dental malocclusion - crowded, misaligned jaws.
• Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA-pd) - DNA test.
• HCM - echo screening.
• Also: skin fold dermatitis, and a high rate of caesarean and neonatal loss in extreme types.

A doll-face Persian avoids most of the structural problems above. If you want the breed, this is the version to look for.

Daily care routine

Grooming, daily, non-negotiable. Face and eyes wiped daily with a damp cloth and dried. Litter tray kept very clean - the coat picks everything up. Play sessions to keep the weight down.

Grooming and coat care

Daily, with a wide-toothed comb through to the skin, plus a slicker for the ruff and trousers. A Persian that is not combed daily mats into a solid pelt within a fortnight, and the only remedy is a full clip under sedation. Many owners keep a "lion clip" year-round, which is entirely reasonable. Bath every four to six weeks. Trim the fur around the anus and between the pads.

Exercise needs

Low, which is the risk. Ten minutes of wand play twice a day and a puzzle feeder is the minimum.

Feeding and diet

Measured meals, £20-£35 a month. Flat-faced cats struggle with standard kibble shape - flat or almond-shaped biscuits and shallow wide bowls help. Watch the weight closely.

Price

£600-£1,500 from a registered breeder with PKD clear parents. Setup £250-£400; ongoing £40-£75 a month plus grooming if you use a professional.

Buying advice

Ask for the PKD DNA certificate for both parents - not "PKD free line", the certificate. Look at the parents' faces and listen to them breathe at rest. Consider a doll-face breeder deliberately. Ask how the litter has been handled for grooming. Kittens at 13 weeks, vaccinated.