The Persian cat is one of the most popular pedigreed cat in the world. Their name came from the country where they are thought to have originated, Persia, Iran. They became the most popular cat pets in animal-mad Victorian Britain and were seen at the very first cat shows in that country. Persian cats have always been bred to have a round head, short face, snub nose, chubby cheeks and a short and a cobby body.
Over time those features have went to extremes, resulting into two types, the show and the traditional Persian.
The show Persian has a round head enhanced with a thick ruff, small ears, a flat nose, big round copper eyes, a broad, short body with heavy boning atop short tree-trunk legs, and a thick, flowing plume of a tail. The traditional Persian, also known as the Doll Face, does not have the extreme features of the show Persian, and the nose is a normal length. Persians have a long glamorous coat that comes in many colors and patterns, and share a very wonderful personality and sweet expression.
The Persians sweet, gentle face turns up to gaze at their favorite people the way a pansy turns its face to the sun, communicating with their expressive eyes and melodious soft voice. The Persian is the epitome of a lap cat, with a restful and undemanding personality, loves to cuddle, but also playful and curious. The Persian cat is not quite a jumper or climber, instead it is more into posing beautifully on a chair or sofa or playing with a favorite feather toy. Persians prefer a serene, predictable environment, but they can be adaptable enough to weather a loud, boisterous family as long as their needs are understood and met.
The Persian’s long flowing coat must be combed daily to prevent or remove mats and tangles. The Persian needs regular baths to stay clean and sweet-smelling. Introduce a kitten to bathing as soon as you bring it home will be very helpful and learn to accept it readily.