History of the Persian cat:

The Persian is one of the oldest known breeds of cat. The early history isn't entirely known although it is generally accepted that the early cats came from Persia (now Iran) & Turkey. Italian traveller Pietro della Valle (1586 - 1652) is credited with bringing the first Persian cats back to Europe, arriving in his homeland of Italy in 1620 with them.

By the 1800's the Persian had become a popular breed in Europe & the first Persians arrived in America in the late 1800's. In the Harpers Weekly supplement dated January, 27, 1872 there is an illustration of several feline exhibits from the London Crystal Palace show, including an Persian cats. See pictures below.

Appearance of the Persian cat:

Early drawings (see above) & photographs of the Persian show quite a different cat to to the Persians of today. The images below are taken from Country Life in America dated September, 1908.

The Persian is a heavy boned, cobby type with short, thick legs with large paws. Persians are well muscled & medium to large in size. They have a short, thick neck, large shoulders & a broad chest.  It has a short tail which is in proportion  to the body.

It has a large, broad head with large, round, expressive eyes set wide apart, small round tipped tufted ears which are set low on the head & wide apart.  The nose is short, with a stop (or break) centered between the cat's eyes. The overall expression is sweet and sometimes described as "pansy like."

Persian cat temperament:

Persian cats have a sweet & gentle nature. Typically they have a laid back personality. They are an affectionate breed & enjoy the company of their carers.

Persians are a quiet cat, easy going & generally get along with other pets & family members although boisterous children should be avoided.

Persian cat colours:

Persian cats come in a multitude of colours, including solids, smokes, tabby, bi-colour & van.  Some colours have been given their own breed name including:

Himalayan which is a pointed Persian.

Chinchilla which comes in silver or golden.

Special Requirements:

Persians require daily grooming to avoid knots & mats in their coat. This will only take a few minutes per day.

Some Persians may have runny eyes, these can be gently wiped clean.

Due to their flat faces and heavy coats, some Persians may have problems during hot weather and they are best keep indoors.

Suitable for:

With their gentle & laid back temperament, the Persian is suited to almost any family, although families with young children should seek advice from Persian breeders before proceeding. They will require daily grooming so it is important that the family has time to ensure this is done to avoid knots & mats. If the coat does become knotted/matted then a professional will be required to fix the problem. Not only is an unkempt coat untidy but it is also extremely uncomfortable for the cat. So it really cannot be emphasised enough that proper attention be paid to the coat. If done daily, it will only require 10-15 minutes of your time.

Also see:   Persian Cat Breeders in Australia

Thanks to:

Tracy of IceRegal for her beautiful Persian photos.

Also see:

Persian cat breeders

Persian cat photos