This entry was posted on 2014-07-09 by Schalk.

Personality and Temperament

The Persian is nicknamed “furniture with fur” as it can remain motionless for long periods of time. However the Persian doesn’t deserve this reputation as it really enjoys playing and is extremely intelligent. One characteristic that differs it from other cats is its lack of curiosity.

If your looking for a companion that’s docile and pleasant then the Persian is the right cat for you. This breed won’t nag you for attention but is extremely affectionate and enjoys being in contact with its owner.

Traits

•    Other names: Longhair, Persian Longhair
•    Nickname: Furniture with fur
•    Weight: Male: about 5.5 kg; Female: 3.5 - 5.5 kg
•    Height: Male: 25-38cm; Female: 25-36cm
•    Coat: Long, thick coat
•    Colour: Over 80 types, including silver, solid, parti-colour, shaded, golden, Himalayan, tabby, smoke and bicolour.
•    Litter size: About 3-5 kittens
•    Life span: About 15 years

Physical characteristics

The Persian has a pleasant expression on its face and a very well balanced body. Its head is huge and rounded with small ears and a short tail. Originally this breed had a short muzzle but over time particularly in North America this characteristic has become extremely magnified. This feature has made these Persians susceptible to a many health problems, specifically impacting on their breathing and sinuses. Refuse and dust also builds up in their nostrils and makes it hard for them to breath.

This breed is very well known for its sleek, long coat that shimmers. The Persian comes in over 80 different coloured coats including silver, solid, parti-colour, shaded, golden, Himalayan, tabby, smoke and bicolour. The most popular colour among cat owners today is solid silver.

Care

This breed is quite high maintenance, a daily brush is needed to ensure that its stunning far is free from mats and is kept in place. Some owners crop the Persians long hair, specifically around the anus, which keeps the fur free from feces.

History and background

For a long time the Persian has been one of the most popular cat breeds. In 1871 the Persian participated in the first modern cat show which was held at Crystal Palace, London. Harrison Weier the “father of the cat fancy” oragnised the gala, there were many representatives of the breed present, which easily located it among the preferred breed.

In 1871 the Persian was registered with the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA). Even though in the 1500s its ancestor the longhaired was spotted in Europe. There is evidence stating that Phoenician caravans and Romans probably shipped them to the continent from Persia and Turkey.

In the 1600s Pietro Della Valle an Italian traveler shipped some of these Persian cats to Italy. Nicholas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc an astronomer then shipped the Persian from Turkey into France. The breed later managed to makes its way to Britain by other travelers.

In the 1900s the Blue Persians were very sought after, as Queen Victoria was the proud owner of two of them. Around the same time the British Governing Council of the Cat Fancy decided that the Persian should be called Longhairs, today this policy is still used.

Only in the 1800s was the cat imported into North America, where it was welcomed with open arms. In the United States they attempted to make the Sliver Persian a separate breed called Sterling, but it was refused. In cat shows today the Golden and Sliver longhaired are judged in the Persian category.

Nutrition

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