CATS CAT BREEDS LONG-HAIRED CAT BREEDS
Persian Cat: Breed Profile,
Characteristics & Care
Appearance, Personality, History, Care, & Helpful Information for
Pet Owners
By JACKIE BROWN Updated on 08/14/24
Reviewed by BARTLEY HARRISON
The Persian cat comes in several solid shades, including blue. Getty Images/Alexandra Draghici
IN THIS ARTICLE
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Characteristics
Breed History
Training and Care
Health Problems
Appearance
Diet and Nutrition
Where to Adopt or Buy
Breed Overview
Further Research
FAQ
The Persian cat has been cherished for hundreds—if not thousands—
of years, tracing their origins to the deserts of Persia and Iran. The
Persian cat is a medium- to large-sized breed, easily identifiable by
their round, flat face and long, flowing coat that comes in almost
every color. Persian cats are gentle, loving companions even if their
face makes them look a little grumpy.
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Learn more about the characteristics, care, and history of the Persian
cat.
Breed Overview
PERSONALITY: Sweet, gentle, and affectionate
WEIGHT: 7 to 12 pounds
LENGTH: 14 to 17 inches
COAT LENGTH: Long hair
COAT COLORS: Blue, black, white, red, cream, chocolate, lilac,
silver, golden
COAT PATTERNS: Solid, tabby, tortoiseshell, bicolor
EYE COLOR: Copper, blue, green, blue-green, hazel and odd-
eyed
LIFESPAN: 15 to 20 years
HYPOALLERGENIC: No
ORIGIN: Persia and Iran
Characteristics of the Persian Cat
The Persian cat is known and loved for their very sweet, gentle, calm
disposition. Though Persian cats are quite friendly, they require
gentle handling, which means no roughhousing or grabbing from
young children. They get along great with kind, respectful kids, but
would rather be stroked and admired than engage in strenuous
activities. Persians also enjoy the company of other cats and gentle
dogs if they are introduced properly.
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Persians love to sprawl out in their favorite spot in the home with
good vantage points to keep an eye on the goings-on in the
household, be it a plush chair or atop a cat tree. Persians are
homebodies. It’s best to keep them indoors to prevent overheating or
tangling up their profuse, long coats. Persian cats love their human
families, but they don’t mind being left alone for short periods of
time as long as they are in their own homes where they feel
comfortable and safe.
RELATED: 10 Most Affectionate Cat Breeds
Affection Level High
Friendliness High
Kid-Friendly Medium
Pet-Friendly Medium
Exercise Needs Low
Playfulness Medium
Energy Level Low
Intelligence High
Tendency to Vocalize Low
Amount of Shedding Medium
History of the Persian Cat
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The earliest written history of the Persian cat dates back to the early
1500s, but some breed fanciers believe the Persian might be even
older. According to the Cat Fanciers' Association, ancient hieroglyphs
found in the region show longhaired cats that may have been the
ancestors of what became the Persian cat breed. The earliest
examples of what eventually became the Persian cat were exhibited at
the very first cat show, which took place in London in 1871.
Queen Victoria became enamored with the breed and owned several
Persian cats, which made the breed popular with other royals and the
British upper class. The breed found their way to the United States in
the late 1800s and early 1900s. As in England, the Persian won over
the American people.
The Persian was recognized by the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) in
1906 as one of the foundation breeds. The International Cat
Association recognizes the Himalayan, which has a light-colored body
and darker “points” of color on the face, ears, legs, and tail, as a
separate breed within the Persian breed group. In the CFA, cats with
Himalayan coloration are judged with the rest of the Persian
colorations.
Persian Cat Care
Persians are fairly easy to care for in terms of exercise and mental
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stimulation
requires extensive care and is not for the faint of heart. If not
properly cared for, the Persian's coat can form mats, which are
extremely painful for cats.
Grooming
The Persian cat’s luxurious, flowing coat requires a lot of grooming—
perhaps the most in all of the cat kingdom. To prevent mats from
forming, a Persian cat needs daily combing with a wide-toothed metal
comb, followed by daily brushing with a soft slicker brush. When
combing, Persian cat parents must take care to part the hair and
ensure they are combing all the way down to the skin, or mats will
sneakily form underneath the long hair.
Regular bathing is necessary to keep the coat clean. After a bath, the
coat should be carefully dried with a pet hair dryer that runs cooler
than a human hair dryer so you don’t burn your cat’s sensitive skin or
cause them to overheat. Persian cats also need their faces washed
daily (the large, round eyes are prone to tearing), their nails trimmed
weekly or every other week, and their ears checked and cleaned if
they become dirty.
Due to the difficulty of upkeep, some Persian cat parents opt to have
their cats professionally groomed. The groomer can shave a Persian
cat’s belly to take off some bulk and eliminate the issue of mats
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forming on the stomach and under the armpits. Another option is a
lion trim: the body of the cat is shaved short, leaving fluffy hair on the
head, legs, and tail.
Exercise
Persians are fairly sedate cats, though they enjoy playing with feather
wands or other teaser toys. Engaging your Persian cat in play sessions
a few times a day can provide a bit of exercise to keep your cat
physically and mentally stimulated.
Scratching is another physically engaging activity that cats naturally
want to do. Encourage scratching in the right places by setting up
approved scratching areas in your house. Be sure to use both vertical
scratchers (such as tall posts or cat trees) and horizontal scratchers
(such as cardboard or sisal scratchers that lie flat on the ground),
because these can provide an outlet for your cat to scratch in different
ways.
RELATED: How Much Exercise Do Cats Need? Here's What To Know
Common Health Problems
Persian cats are genetically predisposed to the following conditions:
■ Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: This is a heart condition that
inhibits blood flow and can cause health issues throughout the
body
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■ Progressive retinal atrophy and trichiasis: These eye conditions
can lead to sight issues or blindness
■ Polycystic kidney disease: This is a disease that causes cysts to
form on the tissue of the kidney and can lead to kidney failure if
untreated
■ Brachycephalic syndrome: Because of the shape of their heads,
Persian cats tend to have narrowed airways that can cause
breathing issues from snoring to respiratory distress.
Reputable Persian cat breeders have their adult cats screened for
these problems prior to breeding to keep from passing unwanted
health traits to the next generation.
Appearance
The Persian is a medium-to-large-sized cat with short, muscular legs,
a short back, sturdy body, and a deep chest. The Persian cat is
immediately recognizable by their flat face with full cheeks, a short
muzzle and a short snub-nose, round cheeks, a firm chin, medium-
sized ears, and large, round eyes, creating a sweet expression.
The Persian cat’s coat is extremely long with a dense undercoat that
provides a lot of volume. The Persian cat comes in many different
colors and patterns.[1] Patterns include tabby, tortoiseshell, solid, and
bicolor. Colors include black, white, blue, cream, red, lilac, silver,
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golden, and chocolate.
Diet and Nutrition
Because the Persian cat is heavily built, the breed may become
overweight if allowed to eat too much. For all cats, staying lean is
healthier and can prevent obesity-related health issues like diabetes
and heart disease.
To manage your Persian cat's food intake, feed measured meals twice
a day instead of filling up the food bowl all the time (a practice called
free feeding). Young kittens should eat three times a day. If you’re not
sure what to feed or how much food your Persian needs daily, talk to
your veterinarian or breeder for advice.
Also, Persians might have problems eating if they have a misaligned
jaw—they might have trouble grabbing food and chewing it. Talk to
your vet about specialty kibble and a water fountain for these cats.
RELATED: The 9 Best Premium Dry Cat Foods, According to 299
Cats
Where to Adopt or Buy a Persian Cat
Purebred Persians are expensive, with breeders often charging $1,000
or more.
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The Cat Fanciers Association and The International Cat Association
both list active Persian cat breeders on their respective websites.
You can also find adult Persian cats in animal shelters and through cat
rescue groups if you would rather rescue a cat. Local Persian cat
breeders might also know of someone looking to re-home their
adult Persian.
Breed Overview
Happiest when at home, the Persian cat is neither needy nor aloof,
but a mixture of quiet affection and calm independence. Persians
tend to be fairly quiet, but when they vocalize, they have sweet,
musical voices. They love to cuddle or hang out next to you and will
happily greet you at the door when you come home.
Pros of Persian Cats
■ Mellow and sweet personality
■ Affectionate and friendly with adults, gentle kids, and other pets
■ Doesn’t mind hanging out alone occasionally
Cons of Persian Cats
■ Doesn’t enjoy loud and boisterous activity
■ Needs daily face washing to combat tear stains
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■ Coat requires daily combing and possibly professional grooming
More Cat Breeds and Further Research
If you like the Persian cat, you might also like these cat breeds:
■ Exotic Shorthair
■ Himalayan
■ Ragdoll
FAQ
Are Persian cats good pets?
Persian cats make great pets because they are gentle, sweet,
friendly, and calm. They are affectionate, can get along with
respectful kids and other pets, and are fun to watch when they
play.
Are Persian cats expensive?
Yes, Persian cats are expensive. Many breeders charge $1,000 or
more for a purebred Persian kitten.
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Are Persian cats cuddly?
Persian cats love to cuddle and be near their family. Their long
coats make them especially great for snuggle time!
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