Is a Persian the Right Cat for You?The grumpy looking face and long coat of the beautiful Persian cat are familiar characteristics to most cat lovers. After all, this striking cat breed has been well known since it was first developed in the eighteen hundreds. However, these cats are certainly not the perfect breed for everyone, since caring for the lush coat of the Persian breed can be a bit time consuming. The Persian’s most well known characteristic is probably it’s face. This breed has tiny, rounded ears, very round eyes that are set far apart, and a short nose that gives the cat’s face a pushed in appearance. A large, muscular body, a short neck, stocky legs, and a short, bushy tail complete the cat’s distinctive look. These cats weigh in at eight to fifteen pounds. However, Persians are also well known for their long, thick coats. A well groomed cat is breath taking. Hair flows gracefully around his body. Of course, if the cat has not been properly groomed, he can look quite shabby instead. This breed has a coat that tangles and becomes matted very quickly. You should be prepared to groom your cat once a day to keep his coat in good shape. Cats that do develop bad tangles will have to be clipped down to the skin. This is very stressful for the cat, since he will have to be sedated. In addition, clipping will make him more susceptible to the cold in winter months. The Persian’s beautiful coat comes in Black, Chocolate, Red, Blue, Lilac, Cream, Chinchilla, Silver, and White colors. White cats can have blue, orange, or mismatched eye colors. You can also find this breed in tortoiseshell, shaded, smoke, tipped, tabby, silver tabby, and bicolor patterns. If you don’t think you can handle an extremely active and overly affectionate cat, then the Persian may be the ideal choice for you. This breed is not very talkative and is much calmer and more placid than most other cat breeds. These laid back cats are also a good choice for multiple cat homes or for homes with both cats and dogs, as they rarely fight with other animals. If your cat doesn’t care for another pet, he will most likely just stay out of the other animal’s way. The Persian’s calm temperament also makes it a good family pet. These cats are fairly tolerant of children, as long as they are not abused. Just be sure that toddlers do not start yanking on your cat’s tail and everything should be fine. While most Persians are usually fairly healthy cats, there are a few serious problems that are common to this breed. These cats are often prone to kidney disease, breathing problems that are the result of their compacted faces, and reproductive problems. In addition, blue eyed white Persians are prone to deafness. If you are looking for a cat that is content to doze on the windowsills and enjoys an occasional petting, then the gentle Persian may just be the right cat for you and your family. |
Caring For Persian Cats
These days, Persian cats are among the most popular breeds of cat. Well known for their gentle and sweet personalities and their long hair, Persian cats have very attractive features. They are great companions for virtually anyone, and not very demanding. Unlike other breeds, such as the Siamese breed, Persian breeds need very little attention.
Although white is the color normally associated with Persian cats, they actually come in a variety of other colors as well. During competitions, they are divided into seven color divisions – solid, silver and gold, tabby, shaded and smoke, particolor, bicolor, and Himalayan. No matter what color of Persian cat it may be, they are best noticed during competitions by their long and flowing coats.
Persian cats should always be kept inside of the house, to protect their coat. If they travel outside, they can easily damage their coat. They will also need to be brushed daily with a metal comb, or their coat can become tangled, which will lead to hairballs. You’ll need to bathe your Persian cat on a regular basis as well, to help protect his coat. Bathing works best when the cat is young, as it will get him used to it. Bathing should never be overlooked, as it will keep your cats coat looking clean and healthy. Although some breeds can maintain their coats on their own, Persians can’t. Their fur is long and dense and you’ll need to groom them daily to ensure their coat stays healthy.
The Persian breed is gentle and sweet, getting along great with everyone – including kids. They have a pleasant voice that is always good to hear. Using their voice and their eyes, they can communicate very well with their owners. They are very playful, yet they don’t require a lot of attention. They love attention however, and love being admired. Unlike other cats, they don’t climb and jump much at all. They aren’t destructive either; they just love being admired and lying around. A majority of the time, Persian cats love to bask in the sun and show others just how beautiful they truly are.
Although most breeds can be kept indoors or outside, Persian cats should always be kept inside and never allowed to go outside of the house. Keeping them inside with protect their coats and also keep diseases and common parasites away from them as well. You won’t have to worry about cars or dogs either if you keep your pet inside.
To ensure that your Persian pet stays healthy, you should always take him to the vet on an annual basis. If cared for properly, such as grooming, shots, and checkups, Persian cats can live as long as 20 years. One thing you’ll need to be aware of that’s common with Persians is their eyes. Their eyes are very big and can sometimes be too much for the cat to clean. This is a common healthy problem with the breed, and should be checked on a regular basis to ensure that it doesn’t get out of control.
When you compare Persians to other breeds, you’ll notice that the Persians are among the easiest to keep. You don’t have to worry about things like jumping or climbing, as Persians don’t like to do either. All you’ll need to do is feed your cat and groom him or him on a daily basis. Even though grooming can be quite a bit of work in the long run – it’s well worth it when you have a healthy an beautiful Persian cat.