Persian cats and cats: breed description and rules of keeping

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This is the most popular breed of long-haired cats with a stocky (cobby) dense figure, broad head and attractive round eyes. They apparently appeared almost simultaneously in remote mountainous areas of countries such as Persia, Turkey and China.

These cats are not very comfortable for a clean mistress, as they molt often and abundantly. However, due to its pleasant, soft and calm nature persian cats continue to be among the most popular pets. These benevolent, affectionate and intelligent animals with a calm character, which testifies to their relatively low demands and ability to live well even with a very busy owner, do not care about the “imprisonment” in the apartment, and access to the garden is not too important for them, Persian cats with pleasure climb trees and hunt.

Because a Persian cat standard requires an animal to have a small nose and large round eyes, some of the cats may have difficulty breathing or watery eyes. Therefore, carefully choose a Persian cat and its breeder: only in this case you will get a really healthy animal.

From the original and beautiful Persian cat it turns out a loving and responsive pet - for everyone who can give it attention and provide the care it needs. An ideal Persian gives the impression of a massively folded, but harmonious animal with a sweet expression of “face” and soft, rounded lines. Big round eyes, set far apart on a big round head, correspond to the general impression of roundness. The long fluffy coat softens the lines of the cat and also emphasizes the roundness of the overall look.

Svetlana M .: "I am not a breeder, and even not the owner of Persians, but only a veterinarian. And that is why I come across precisely the disadvantages, and not the merits of Persians.

As in any other breed, problems need to be sought in what distinguishes the representatives of this breed from "ordinary" cats. In Persians - is the wool and the structure of the skull.

Wool - long, thick, soft - extraordinarily beautiful, but only if it is properly cared for. For people busy or just lazy, daily combing a cat often turns into a problem. A well-groomed Persian does not just become ugly, he has health problems - the mats are formed, the skin underneath and inflammation beneath them, eczema begins. In addition, licking themselves, cats swallow wool, and hairballs can cause problems in the gastrointestinal tract (up to complete blockage).

Flat face, upturned nose, expressive round eyes - charming "baby face", which distinguishes Persians, in some animals are associated with abnormal bite (asymmetry, undershot bite) and with ophthalmic pathology - blockage and inflammation of the naso-lacrimal canal, incomplete eyelid closure, and as a result, conjunctivitis, keratitis, corneal ulcers.

Another problem of the Persians and their related breeds - polycystic kidney disease - congenital incurable disease. Unfortunately, in Russia (and not only), mandatory testing of all manufacturers for this disease (and others as well) has not yet been made.

I would like to note that all these problems are completely solvable: with wool - proper care, with the rest - competent breeding (for future owners - the choice of a healthy kitten).

In order for your Persian cat to look decent, you will have to deal with its fur coat daily - with the help of special brushes and combs with rounded ends. Unmarked wool falls into mats, which not only spoils the appearance of your cat, but can also cause irritation to delicate skin.

Of course, the mats can be cut off (sometimes due to improper care, you have to cut the wool on the cat's entire body). But the cat after that will not look very attractive, and you just have to forget about participation in the exhibition. In animals of some colors after a haircut, wool of a different shade may grow.

It should be understood and remembered that the Persian cat is simply not able to cope with the care of its luxurious long hair itself. Of course, the Persian cat is as clean as any cat in general. But she simply will not be able to comb her long, entangled fur with her tongue. And besides, during licking the cat will certainly swallow its long hair. If this happens all the time, intestinal blockage and obstruction may occur. So combing out a Persian is not only a cosmetic procedure, but also medically necessary.

To accustom kittens to daily combing should be from the age of one and a half months. You need to do this patiently and kindly, then you will have a better chance that your kitten will even love this procedure. You will have to choose the combing tactics yourself. Do not try to immediately comb out the formed koltun - try to untangle it first with your fingers, and then apply a comb with sparse teeth. But try to bathe the Persian cat as little as possible, using special shampoos.

Before bathing the cat must always be combed well, and after bathing you must take steps to ensure that your cat dries quickly. The long and thick fur coat of a Persian dries for a very long time, so it’s best to accustom the cat to a hairdryer (however, remember that the air stream should not be too hot and that the hairdryer should not be brought too close). After bathing, the cat should be in a warm room, without drafts. Apply a special grooming powder to the slightly damp hair. It not only absorbs excess moisture, but also makes the wool more shiny and silky.

The ears and eyes of Persian also require regular attention. If the cat has watery eyes or problems with the ears, it is best to contact your veterinarian. If the cat's ears are healthy, it is enough to treat the visible part of the auditory shell once a week with a slightly damp swab. The main "problem" of the Persian breed is laziness and carelessness of the owners! The tendency to kidney disease - no more than other "wool" breeds or mestizos. Moreover, according to Western statistics, Burmese are leading in the incidence of urolithiasis! (information from a personal conversation with a veterinarian from the Netherlands, and not from promotional leaflets on dry food).

Problems of violations of the structure of the skull are significant - but this is only a matter of illiterate breeding. I also speak about the asymmetries of the skull, improper closing of the jaws and the location of the teeth, the structure of the naso-lacrimal canal, and many others.

But similar problems are also characteristic of other "extreme" rocks (the modern Siam may be a work of art - an elegant "chiseled statuette" and a "nightmare" from the category "Dracula is resting"). I repeat once again - this is a question of competent breeding, and not the shortcomings of the breed. Polycystic kidney disease in the same British is no less a problem.

Indeed, the "breed" problem is mats - well, the Persian woman herself is not able to care for her fur coat. It is not for nothing that the slogan “Persian for the lazy” was attached to the exotics - indeed, the reason for this is not in breed defects, but, excuse me, in human vices.

In all other respects, a healthy Persian is a normal adequate cat with a magnificent character and an impressive appearance. "Therefore, advice to everyone who wants to have this unique animal: before you take this crucial and serious step, you need to think carefully, are you ready spend as much time and effort as your pet will demand, because each of us must remember that "we are responsible for those whom we tamed."

M. Petrova
Photo A. Shchitovich

History of origin

History of Persian Cats began in ancient times. In the East, there is a legend that these fluffy creatures are created using magic from the light of stars, curls of smoke and a sheaf of sparks.

A beautiful legend is fully consistent with their image. But the real history of origin will remain a mystery of ancient times.

But further spread the Persians around the world quite tracked and therefore more prosaic. The first representatives of the breed arrived in Italy in 1620 with the help of Pietro della Vella, a traveler and writer. A few years later, they appeared in France, where the scientist Nicole-Claude Farby de Peyresz brought them from the Turkish Angora. The cats immediately conquered the heart of Cardinal de Richelieu, through whom they eventually became very popular with the French aristocracy.

Since these fabulous creatures from Angora came to France, they began to be called Angora. Whereas the representatives of the breed living in Italy were called Persian. Such a discrepancy led to the fact that, after entering the UK, not only the names became different, but also the selection work with each species. The result was two different branches of the breed, which remained the same name - Persian and Angora.

In 1887, the breed was officially registered. It happened in the same UK, where selection work was actively carried out. But the matter did not stop at two branches. At the end of the XIX century, cats came to America, where they became no less popular. But the Americans approached the breed creatively, reinterpreting some of its standards in their own way. As a result, the main distinctive features acquired some exaggeration: the body became more massive, the nose - shorter. A flatter face and wider eyes complete the picture.

Similar changes have led to some health problems. The cats had a bite, it became hard to breathe. Veterinarians did not approve of such alterations, but, nevertheless, the American type of breed spread and became more popular in the United States than the British predecessors. However, the selection work is not completed to this day, so the Persians may eventually acquire some new features.

Also, Persian cats and cats are actively involved in the breeding and development of other breeds. For example, very often they are used to increase the thickness of the coat or to strengthen the eastern features. Therefore, the Persians are to some extent present in many modern breeds.

Appearance and character

The frowning expression of the muzzle and the snub nose is the first thing that comes to mind when mentioning Persian cats. But official breed standards are not limited to these two distinctive features.

They include the following features:

well-built body with a strong skeleton and developed muscles,
average size, weight can reach 7 kg in cats and 5 kg in cats,
a large head with a flat skull, wide cheekbones and chin, a small flat nose,
strong strong neck
widely spaced large round eyes, the color of which depends on the color of the animal: green attached to a complex color, yellow to a simple color, but more often blue, which are possible with any color of wool,
at least strong legs, straight back and not too long but very bushy tail are attached to a strong body,
wool soft, thick, silky, straight and long, lush collar around the neck.

The number of colors is so great that in such a variety you can get lost. Persians can be black, gold, blue, tortoiseshell, tiger and many others. However, breeding work in this direction is still underway, so in the future we can expect the appearance of new shades.

Character traits

At a certain period of time, the Persians had a reputation for unsociable and sometimes aggressive animals. The reasons for such fame are unclear, since such a description of the character is very far from the truth. The Persians are independent, it is a fact, but they are kept within the rules established in the host family. True, they expect the same observance from all inhabitants of the dwelling. If it turns out that the rules are different for everyone, then the pet may even earn depression. Although it will end quickly.

Grudge is alien to them, so you can not wait vengefully spoiled sneakers. Persian cats are generally very polite and friendly. Thanks to their intelligence and quick-wittedness, they very quickly learn all the intricacies of cat life at home. The habit of walking into a tray and using a claw is usually easily acquired even by small Persian kittens.

Another advantage of this breed is considered a delicate communication. The Persians have a quiet, pleasant voice and a phlegmatic temperament; therefore, it is unusual for them to emit loud cries in an attempt to attract attention. Even during the period of courting the opposite sex, these aristocratic Fuzzies behave exclusively culturally.

In general, the Persians are very calm, even the hunting instinct is not included in them at the sight of a running mouse. But still, in case of danger, they can stand up for themselves. Attacking Persian is a rare but impressive sight. And when the battle is over, the cat will quietly go to the favorite soft sofa, turning back into a brooding phlegmatic before our eyes.

Maintenance and care

Despite all the phlegm, the Persians are very curious creatures. Therefore, from them, as from small children, you need to hide everything that can be dangerous: medicines, cleaning products, nails, needles and small toys.

If there is a Christmas tree in the house, then there should not be either tinsel or a “rain” on it, since the pet will be interested in them and try to eat them. And this is extremely dangerous.

On the windows you need to install durable mosquito nets. Washing and dishwasher must be checked before starting for the sudden presence of a cat in them. During cooking, the animal is generally better to keep away from the kitchen, since he can not overthink the pot of boiling water over himself. In general, you need to protect your pet from anything that could be potentially dangerous for a cat.

Persians are quite demanding and care. First of all it refers to wool. Long and thick, it can look gorgeous only with the regular execution of the necessary procedures.

Combing out. It should be done at least twice a week, and during the molt it is advisable to do it daily. Otherwise, the wool will be shredded around the whole apartment, and the pet will be knocked down in mats, which then will not be combed in any way. For combing, you must purchase several quality cat brushes of different sizes and shapes. You should not take the tool from cheap plastic, it will only make it worse by electrifying and confusing the wool. It is better to spend one time on a good brush, which is enough for several years.
Bathing. Very unloved cats, but the necessary procedure. Long wool tends to collect dirt, including getting dirty after a pet goes to the toilet. Therefore, the Persians have to be washed quite often. After bathing the cat you need to blot with a towel, and then you must comb it until the wool dries.
The use of cosmetics for wool. This is not a compulsory, but very easy life affair. Various sprays and conditioners for wool will make combing a much simpler and more enjoyable procedure for both owners and Persian cats.
Claws haircut. Usually cats successfully use claw hands. But sometimes the claws still grow excessively, and then they need to be cut. At the same time, only the tip is cut off, since blood vessels go further. Their damage is very painful and fraught with infection, so you need to carefully cut the claws.
Regular eye and ear examinations. This is a preventive procedure that is needed for the timely identification of problems encountered. If dirt is detected, the ears should be carefully cleaned and the eyes wiped with a damp cotton swab.

Representatives of the Persian cat breed extremely love to eat.

If you give them uncontrolled access to food, then obesity is almost guaranteed.

Therefore, the diet of the Persians should be carefully planned both in regimen and composition. Feeding an adult animal should occur twice a day, not more often.

The best option would be high-quality dry food, in which all nutrients, vitamins and microelements are balanced. In this case, the task is simplified as much as possible: it is enough to measure the amount of feed in time in accordance with the norms indicated on the package.

You can feed and natural food, although this is a more time-consuming process, requiring attention and calculations. The basis of the diet should consist of proteins. To do this, the cat must be given meat (not pork), cheese, eggs, various by-products and low-fat cottage cheese. Fish can be given only twice a week. Raw meat should be doused with boiling water before serving.

Also in the diet should contain cereals and vegetables. You can give and low-fat soups. But all dishes should be cooked without salt and spices.

Breeding

A Persian cat reaches puberty at the age of two. Then the first mating should be carried out. Партнеров следует подбирать так, чтобы они либо оба были идеальны с точки зрения стандартов породы, либо обладали отличающимися недостатками.

Период вынашивания у персидских кошек длится от 64 до 72 дней. Обычно рождается 4–6 котят. Мамы кошки очень заботятся о своем потомстве, но им не повредит помощь хозяина.One of the important tasks lying on a person in this case is to monitor the health of the babies. Persian kittens are often blind. To cope with this disease can not always. But the sooner treatment starts, the more likely it is to make the kitten sighted again.

The difficult task of raising kittens also lies almost entirely on the mother. She will teach her children how to use both the tray and the scraper. But as they grow, the owner can also join the process, gradually teaching the kitten to the rules adopted in the house. The earlier the upbringing is started, the greater and quicker the effect will be.

Possible illnesses

Persians are not too susceptible to disease, but they have a hereditary predisposition to certain diseases:

polycystic kidney disease
early blindness (may occur already in four-week Persian kittens),
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy,
gingivitis.

In order to notice the disease in time and start treatment as soon as possible, it is necessary to undergo regular routine checkups at the vet.

Even with the possible health troubles, the life of the Persians is quite long, it is 15–20 years old. With regular proper care and good attitude, these fluffy oriental beauties will feel great over the years and give everyone close warmth, love and a feeling of comfort.

Care and maintenance

Persians are a rather naive and curious breed. therefore need special conditions accommodation as:

away all drugs and chemicals,
during cooking, make sure that the pet does not jump on the stove or hot dishes,
check the washing machine and dryer - the cat can easily fall asleep there,
provide windows with high-quality nets - this breed loves to sit on the windowsill.

Caring for a Persian cat's coat is a whole art requiring special means and consistent actions.

Combing pet occurs in several stages: “passable” with a rare comb, then carefully comb out the middle one and smooth it with a frequent brush. Frequency - once every 2-3 days.

Conditioner or spray can be used during or at the end of the procedure, they will give the Persian fur coat a healthy look and shine. Do not forget about the cat antistatic.

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Bathe the animal once every 2-3 weeks with a quality shampoo for long-haired cats.

Persian cats shown haircutwithout touching the tail. But remember that it is impossible to cut the colorpoint Persians in order to avoid pigmentation.

How to feed a Persian cat - one of the most important issues of breed maintenance. Ideally, you need to equally combine good food with homemade food:

almost half of the diet – squirrels - (lean meat, fish, milk, soybeans),
carbohydrates (cereals, bread, roots, oatmeal),
essential vitamins (olives, asparagus, boiled or raw vegetables, fruits).

The main thing - do not allow condiments and spices in the cat's diet.

Persian is a breed of cats with quite good health, but they have several hereditary diseases, for example:

polycystic kidney disease
blindness (manifested by 4-8 weeks, after a couple of months the animal goes blind completely),
excessive tearfulness of the eyes due to a flat muzzle (need eye care - soaking with a napkin, treatment with a special lotion),
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy,
Persian cats are also prone to gingivitis, tartar and plaque formation.

Pet should be checked at the vet at intervals of several months.

Persian cats are the most charming pets:

Anastasia

I read somewhere that Persians are born human for man. Our Grishka is not a cat, but a home decoration, a fluffy toy. We live in a private house, but does not like Grishan street, does not catch mice. Either plays with children, or lies where it is warmer, periodically (20 times a day!) Running to the trough. Apparently, he chose his eldest son as his favorite - when he is at home, the cat does not leave him, often climbs on his shoulders, and sometimes sleeps on his chest.

Sergei

Of all the rocks I chose the most peaceful, I stopped at the Persian. But my Shawn was a real teacher! It is silent, and can not stand, when someone screams - can come up and bite. The rest is a wonderful pet: quiet, important, sympathetic. The only problem is wool: decently sheds, long to scratch, and also to wash after her “affairs”.

You will surely fall in love with the main features of the Persian cat - “childish” attractive face, calm temper and unlimited devotion. And reciprocal love will not keep you waiting.

In addition, you will need knowledge of how to choose the right cat food, so as not to overpay for the “brand” and not harm the health of the pet with poor-quality nutrition. Feeding a kitten is slightly different, more info here.

And a little about the secrets.

The story of one of our readers Irina Volodina:

My eyes were especially frustrating, surrounded by large wrinkles plus dark circles and swelling. How to remove wrinkles and bags under the eyes completely? How to cope with swelling and redness? But nothing is so old or young man as his eyes.

But how to rejuvenate them? Plastic surgery? I found out - no less than 5 thousand dollars. Hardware procedures - photorejuvenation, gas-liquid pilling, radio lifting, laser facelift? Slightly more accessible - the course is 1.5-2 thousand dollars. And when to find all this time? Yes, and still expensive. Especially now. Therefore, for myself, I chose another way.

Breed history

Domestic and German experts-felinologists have suggested that Persian cats owe their origin to the wild cat, Manul, and also to Asian and desert cats from the Middle Eastern territories. The development of the breed has undergone a large number of changes, which were due to numerous breeding work and the almost uninterrupted process of improving the natural appearance of the animal.

Initially, the Persians were represented only in black and blue coat color, but the work on improving the breed characteristics made it possible to get the breed, represented by a hundred shades of color. Also, in the course of history, the breed has undergone some morphological changes..

It is interesting! The first domestic animals of this breed were brought to our country by diplomats in the late eighties of the last century and were very expensive, therefore they were acquired only by wealthy people.

Appearance Description

To date, breeders recognize only three intra-breed species of Persians, which differ in the appearance of the nose:

open species. Modern short-nosed Persian cat, having an open look. It is characterized by a short and slightly elevated back of the nose, as well as a tip that is flush with the lower eyelids. The eyes are large, wide open. Completely absent "gloomy expression"
extreme variety. Nose and the corners of the eyes are located on the same line. The stop-fossa and the upper eyelid are also located on the same level. This appearance is characteristic of the American type of Persians,
outdated variety. It has a noticeable nose with a downward or vertically located lobe, the upper edge of which is 0.5-0.6 cm lower than the lower eyelid. Classical or outdated type refers to the Persians, lacking access to breeding, therefore do not compete with other species within the breed.

A distinctive breed trait is not only the presence of a small, wide and snub nose, but also fairly short and muscular limbs. In accordance with the standards established by the association of felinological clubs and the World Federation of Cats WCF, the Persians have the following breed characteristics:

medium-sized and squat body with a wide, muscular, massive thoracic and low, stable legs,
The length of thick, fine and silky wool can reach 120 mm. Also characteristic is the presence of a short, with a slightly rounded tip, fluffy tail,
a round and massive, very proportionate head is represented by a wide skull, a prominent forehead, full cheeks, a well-developed chin, wide and strong jaws,
small ears are very wide set, have a slight rounding and are quite low.

Large sizes, rounded, with glitter, very expressive and widely spaced eyes can have a blue, orange or multi-colored coloring.

White persian cat

The FIFe and WCF standards recognize the white species of the Persian cat, but it does not stand out as a separate breed. The animal has a long coat, soft and thick undercoat.. A characteristic feature is the presence of round, large, dark blue, dark orange or differently colored eyes. Many individuals have one eye of deep blue color, and the other one of dark orange color, which looks very unusual. Wool should have a pure white color, without impurities and shades. The presence of black, blue, red or cream-colored spots on the head of the kittens on the head completely disappears with age.

Important! The Persian white blue-eyed species may be deaf or blind from birth, so an animal that does not have such a deficiency must be chosen as a pair, which minimizes the risk of getting sick or weakened offspring.

Contrary to popular belief, the sun's rays are not able to have a negative impact on the white wool, so there is no need to limit the animal in sunbathing.

Black persian cat

This type of Persian has black wool, like a raven wing, color, without inclusions and shades, both on the wool itself and on the undercoat. The main breed deficiency can be represented by brown color or rusty-brown shade of color. Black or gray-black coloration is characteristic of the nose lobes and pads.

Eyes smooth copper or dark orange. Species feature is the instability of coat color in young animals, which often changes with age. The sun's rays adversely affect the color and condition of the coat, and this must be considered when keeping and caring for an animal.

Popular colors

Persians in recent times lead in the number of all possible coat color. There are representatives of the breed not only with pure black or white wool, but also having a cream or turtle color. Today, in addition to the classic monochromatic colors, the following types of coloring are most popular:

color "Agouti" with hair having a simultaneous dark and light coloring,
Color Tabby with alternating stripes, markings and rings
smoky or silver color with a light base of wool and a darkish finish, resembling iridescent haze,
patient bag, represented by a mix of shades, with a white base,
Color “Chinchilla” with most of the hair in bright colors and a darker-colored tip.

It is interesting! The famous color-point or Himalayan color, characterized by the presence of dark marks on the face, paws and tail, until recently also belonged to the Persian cat breed, but relatively recently it was decided to separate it into a separate breed.

Of course, wool is the main decoration of the Persian; therefore, modern domestic and foreign breeders carry out an enormous number of breeding works aimed at obtaining new, unusual and most attractive colors.

Breed character

Persians can be safely attributed to the category of artificially bred breeds, which affected their character and behavior when kept at home. An animal of this breed is docile, trusting and extremely devoted to its owner. Persians love attention and caress, very badly tolerate loneliness. The result of numerous breeding works was the complete loss of survival skills in natural conditions, therefore, such a pet left on the street is likely to die very quickly.

Diet

A full-fledged diet is the key to preserving the decorative attractiveness of wool and the health of a pet. Persa is recommended to teach to two feeding. The main part of the diet should be represented by protein food. A sufficient amount of protein is found in lean meat, boiled sea fish and eggs. To maintain wool in good condition, you need to use mineral-vitamin complexes and additives based on algae. It is best to use high-quality dry, properly balanced composition of food, super-premium.

Purchasing Tips

When buying a kitten, you need to decide on the purpose of acquiring a pet. If the animal is supposed to be shown at exhibitions, then the purchase must be made in well-established nurseries. If you want to get just a beautiful and affectionate Persian friend, you can consider the option of purchasing a kitten from private breeders.

In any case, the purchased animal must be completely healthy and accustomed to self-feeding. It is desirable that the age of the kitten was two months or more. It is important to make a careful visual inspection and ensure that there are no diseases. A kitten, acquired for the purpose of further breeding, must meet all standards and pedigree characteristics. A pedigree animal with a complex color is recommended to acquire, enlisting the help of a competent expert. You can buy a kitten with hands for 5-10 thousand rubles. The average cost of a pedigree animal from the nursery, depending on the color, starts from 20-25 thousand rubles.