- Breed name: PERSIAN CAT
- Original breed name: Felis cats
- Origin: Persia (Iran)
- Size: Medium to large
- Average life expectancy: 15 – 20 years
The Persian cat is one of the oldest breeds of domestic cats. At the beginning of the 20th century, it became one of the most popular purebred cats and the most represented breed at exhibitions. They are considered the most peaceful and tolerant of all other cat breeds.
ORIGIN
The exact place of origin of the Persian cat is not known, but they were included as a breed around 1871. They were first seen in Europe around the 1500s in caravans from Persia (now Iran) and Turkey. It is believed that they got long coat over time, spontaneously mutating the cat gene in the cold mountainous regions of Persia.
They were shown for the first time at a cat show in England, and the popularity of the breed was contributed by the fact that Queen Victoria had Persian cats.
APPEARANCE
The body of a Persian cat is large and muscular. Although not visible by their coat, Persian cats are extremely muscular. The head is round and wide, and the eyes are set wide. It is interesting that the colour depends on the colour of the hair.
The tail is proportional to the body and full. The paws of a Persian cat are large and round, and you should not be surprised by the tufts of hair between the pads. Their nose is as wide as it is long, with the tip at the level of the lower eyelid.
CHARACTER
As we mentioned, Persian cats are the calmest and most restrained cats. They do not know hyperactivity and have a reputation for being “furniture with hair”. Still, they like to play. Don’t get them wrong, they are very intelligent, they are just not as active as some other breeds and they prefer to lie down.
They are loyal to people, but only when you gain their respect and love. They love attention and cuddling, but won’t bother you to give it to them right away. On the other hand, mood swings are known if you deprive them of attention for a long time, so it will surely show you that.
HEALTH AND CARE
The Persian cat has a thick, woolly undercoat, which can lead to entanglement. If the coat becomes tangled, it must be cut. Persians should also bathe because clean coat is less greasy. The coat requires daily maintenance and brushing, and many need professional help with that.
Due to long coat, they can have the most health problems on the skin, due to irregular or incorrect maintenance. In addition, due to the shape of the head, this breed has a higher risk of respiratory infections, excessive tearing of the eyes, irregular teeth.
STATISTICS
(on a scale of 1 to 5)
- Energy level: 1
- Level of playfulness: 3
- Relationship to other pets: 4
- Attitude towards children: 4
- Required maintenance: 5
- Independence: 2
