Persian: In the Lap of Luxury

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There’s nothing more symbolic of luxury than a beautiful white Persian lounging on a velvet cushion, it’s long, silky fur looking so incredibly soft and perfect that you’re not sure you’re allowed to touch it. Persians are one of the oldest breeds in the cat fancy, and they remain the most popular breed in North America today (1-3). You don’t have to be an aristocrat or a super-villain to own one. If you did, they wouldn’t be nearly so popular. But these cats do have a certain aura of elegance and refinement that they bring wherever they go. People have known they were special from the very beginning.

A Long and Furry History

The Persian breed is very old, but just how old is hard to say. They are believed to have originated in the cradle of civilization itself: Mesopotamia, later known as Persia and now known as Iran (4). The first domestic cats were shorthairs, and long fur arose through natural mutations. Early Persians may have arisen in the cold mountains of Persia and persisted because the climate favored their long, thick coats (3). However, Egyptian hieroglyphics depicting similar cats as early as 1684 BCE complicate the issue of where, let alone when, these cats first arose (1).

It is generally agreed that Persians took the first step toward the cat fancy in 1626 when the Italian traveler Pietro della Valle brought home the first ones from Persia (3, 4). These ancestral Persians were gray and had the very long, glossy fur the breed is known for today (3, 4). Soon, these new long-haired cats became highly prized, as well as the white longhairs from Turkey known as Angoras (3, 5). Confusingly, these Angoras were a different breed than the one of the same name we know today (5). The Persians and Angoras weren’t considered separate breeds at first and were commonly interbred (3, 5).

Persians started to become a distinct breed in the late 1800s when cat shows became popular (4, 6). Queen Victoria had two blue Persians, helping make them the most prized version of the breed at the time (3, 5). Persians were imported to the United States around the same time, where they outpaced the native Maine Coon as the most popular long-haired cat in the country (4, 6). Over time, breeders made the breed’s distinctive traits more extreme (2, 6).

Breed Characteristics

The Persian is a brachycephalic breed. Brachycephaly comes from the Greek for “short head,” and it means just what it sounds like. The skull is shorter and wider than normal for the species. This gives Persians flat faces with short muzzles and large eyes. The degree of brachycephaly varies. Show Persians, sometimes called Peke-face, have more extreme features and may have more breed-associated health problems (2, 4, 7, 8). Traditional, or Doll-face, Persians have a lesser degree of brachycephaly (2, 4, 7, 8). While they don’t meet show standards, they still make wonderful pets. Both types have small ears, but sometimes less so with traditional Persians (5).

Persians have what is known as a “cobby” body type: stocky, stout, and broad-chested. They’re legs are short and thick. The tail, too, is on the short side. They are on the whole very solid cats. Then there’s the fur.

Persians are known for their very long, thick fur. It has a silky texture and glossy sheen. Their incredibly fluffy coat forms a ruff around their necks and a plume on their tails. Persians often molt their top coats in the summer (5). In the cat fancy, this is called being “out of coat” (5). Even then, though, their coats are pretty amazing.

Personality

It isn’t just the look of Persians that make them so beloved. They also have a charming personality. These cats are sometimes called “furniture with fur” (3). That’s selling them a bit short, but they are seriously mellow creatures. Persians aren’t very energetic or active. They’re moderately playful, usually in short bursts between lounging in their favorite spots. They enjoy attention but don’t demand it. Their soft, melodious voices gently express their thoughts. Persians do tend to prefer favorite people that have earned their trust and affection. They can be aloof towards others.

Persians are pretty adaptable, but they prefer quiet environments with predictable routines. They get along well with gentle children and pets but aren’t big fans of loud, boisterous housemates. However, Persians will tolerate a lot. Daughter wants Fluffy to play tea party? Fluffy probably won’t mind. Fluffy probably won’t be learning any tricks, though. Persians aren’t the most intelligent breed, and are therefore not very trainable.

Caring for Your Persian

Persians may have a low-maintenance personality, but they are still a high-maintenance breed. All that fluff requires a lot of special care, and their long history of selective breeding has resulted in risks of certain health problems.

Grooming

Grooming a Persian is a big job. Their long, soft coats tangle and mat easily and can also cause lots of hairballs. Not to mention the shedding. So Persians require daily combing, preferably with a metal comb (1, 2). That coat also tends to cling to dirt (6) and is so thick that it’s hard for the cat to groom it effectively (9). Persians need a bath at least once a month to keep them clean. It’s important to start bathing as early as possible, so make sure that you start a routine with a Persian as soon as you get them.

Because their coats are such dirt magnets, it is important for Persians to be indoor-only cats. Additionally, Persians are prone to overheat, and purebred cats are at high risk of being stolen. Everybody knows what a Persian is, so there is a serious likelihood of an unscrupulous person realizing what an expensive cat that is and walking off with them. By the by, microchip your animals.

Brachycephaly also has its own grooming needs. It alters the shape of the tear ducts, so a lot of Persians have excessive tearing. This not only causes ugly tear stains but can actually irritate their faces, so make sure to wipe clean the corners and undersides of the eyes every day.

Brachycephalic cats tend to have weird teeth as well, so it’s often necessary to brush a Persian’s teeth regularly. I know, no one wants to brush a cat’s teeth, but no one wants their pet to suffer painful dental problems, either. Ask your veterinarian how often to brush your Persian’s teeth and what cat dental products they recommend. It can differ depending upon your individual cat’s needs.

Health Concerns

Persians are unfortunately prone to quite a few breed-associated health problems. A 2019 study of 3,253 Persians in the United Kingdom found that 65% had at least one disorder (8). Some of these health problems are much more worrisome than others. The same study recorded that the most common disorders were hair/coat disorders, periodontal disease, overgrown nails, and eye discharge (8). All fairly mundane and manageable afflictions. However, there are less common but much more serious diseases that can afflict Persians which owners and prospective owners need to be aware of as well.

Let’s start with the more common conditions. In the last section, I alluded to the problems Persians can have with their coats and teeth without meticulous care. They also tend to have eye problems due to the shape of their skulls. They have large, shallow eye sockets and tears ducts that don’t drain correctly into the nose (9). In addition to the excessive tearing, Persians are prone to conjunctivitis; cherry eye, a protrusion of the third eyelid; and entropion, the eyelid folding inward (4, 6, 8).

Brachycephaly means that there is the same amount of tissue in the skull, but not the same space for it to grow in (10). Because of this, respiratory and eating problems are not that uncommon in Persians. The nostrils can be too short, the soft palate too long, and, obviously, the nasal passage compressed (8-10). This can lead to difficulty breathing, snoring, sleep apnea, and chronic respiratory infections. The cramped airway contributes to the Persian’s heat sensitivity, too. The jaw can be an abnormal shape and/or the teeth can be crowded, leading to the dental problems and occasionally even problems eating.

On the other hand, sometimes Persians have the opposite of difficulty eating. Obesity can be a problem for this breed due to their low activity level. Because they are stoutly built and very floofy to begin with, it can be hard to tell that they’re gaining weight until things have really gotten out of hand. That’s just one reason annual vet visits are important.

There are some genetic diseases this breed is prone to. The most important may be Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), a dominant genetic condition that is inevitably fatal. It causes kittens to be born with microscopic cysts in their kidneys and occasionally livers (10). The cysts grow over time and eventually destroy the affected organs (10). The progress of the disease can be slowed somewhat, but there is no cure. Cats usually start to get sick around 7-10 years old (2, 6, 10). When PKD was first discovered in Persians in the 1990s, it was estimated to be in over a third of the population (9). Thanks to the careful planning of breeders and a genetic test, in 2016 the prevalence was estimated at about 2% (8).

Persians are also at risk for a genetic form of Progressive Retinal Atrophy, which can lead to vision loss and eventual blindness. They also occasionally inherit a rare lysosomal storage disease. Lysosomal storage disease is caused by a mutation which prevents a cat’s body from making enzymes it needs to break down waste products (10). The toxic waste products accumulate and eventually cause the cat’s death early in life (10). These kittens are normal at birth but develop symptoms within a few months (10). The symptoms are mostly neurological: poor balance, poor vision, exercise intolerance, abnormal behaviors, fainting, seizures, and poor growth (10).

Thankfully, most Persians don’t experience these severe disorders. If you are thinking about getting a Persian, you’ll want to make sure you talk to your vet about all the breed-associated disorders at their first appointment. And of course, it’s always best to adopt, not shop. Even these luxurious cats can find themselves homeless. Contact your local shelter, or look for a breed-specific rescue like Persian and Himalayan Cat Rescue of Northern California or St. Francis Persian Cat Rescue.

Fun Facts

• Almost all colors of Persian are required to have copper/orange eyes to be shown (1, 5).
• Persians were shown at the first formal cat show–the Crystal Palace Cat Show of 1871.
• Marilyn Monroe had a white Persian named Mitsou, and Raymond Chandler had a black Persian named Taki (7).
• The world’s largest cat painting sold for $826,000 in 2015. It is titled “My Wife’s Lovers” and features 42 Persian and Angora cats.

Works Cited

1. Cat Fanciers’ Association. (n.d.). About the Persian. https://cfa.org/persian/
2. VetStreet. (n.d.). Persian. http://www.vetstreet.com/cats/persian#overview
3. Petfinder. (n.d.). Persian. https://www.petfinder.com/cat-breeds/persian/
4. Cat Time. (n.d.). Persian. TotallyPets. https://cattime.com/cat-breeds/persian-cats#/slide/1
5. Edwards, A. (1999). The ultimate encyclopedia of cats, cat breeds, & cat care: A comprehensive, practical care and training manual and a definitive encyclopedia of world breeds. Anness Publishing Ltd.
6. Mueller, L. (2019, October 7). Persian cat: Cat breed profile. The Spruce Pets. https://www.thesprucepets.com/persian-cat-4584356
7. Basepaws. (2020, October 27). Persian cat: The glamour puss of the world. https://basepaws.com/blogs/news/persian-cat-breed-introduction
8. O’Neill, D.G., Romans, C., Brodbelt, D.C., Church, D.B., et al. (2019). Persian cats under first opinion veterinary care in the UK: Demography, mortality and disorders. Scientific Reports, 9, 12952. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-49317-4
9. International Cat Care. (2018, October 4). Persian. https://icatcare.org/advice/persian/
10. Cat Care Center of Baton Rouge. (n.d.). Persian. https://www.catcarecenter.com/services/cats/breeds/persian

Published December 13, 2020