The Persian cat is widely recognised for its flat face, round head, expressive eyes, and long, lush coat. However, the breed is far more interesting than its adorable appearance. How well do you know your Persian?
1. One of the oldest breeds in the world.
Tracing back its lineage, the Persian cat dates back to the 1500s–1600s. However, the breed’s exact origin remains a mystery. Many believe that the Persian cat came from Iran, which was once called Persia, hence the name of the breed. It was bred for its round head and chubby cheeks trademark features. Nowadays, the said features have become more pronounced from breeding.
2. It used to look different.
The Persian cat has always been favourable-looking feline. However, its face was not as flat as how it looks nowadays. The breed’s brachycephalic features came from a genetic mutation in the 1950s. If you’re thinking of getting a Persian, it is recommended that you look for ‘traditional’ (with less-extreme brachycephalic features) or ‘doll face’ Persian cats.
3. A beloved breed by legends.
The Persian cat’s popularity has been on the rise, especially in the US and the UK. It is also loved by many celebrities.
- Florence Nightingale—Founder of modern nursing. ‘Cats possess more sympathy and feeling than human beings,’ says Nightingale, expressing her adoration of her felines. One of the pioneers for women in history is a cat lover. In her lifetime, she had owned over sixty Persian cats.
- Marilyn Monroe—One of the most influential actresses
Marilyn Monroe was once charmed by a white Persian cat named Mitsou. - Author Raymond Chandler—American-British novelist and screenwriter
His black Persian cat named Taki was one of the privileged living creatures who get to hear Chandler’s first drafts.
4. There are a variety of coat colours, but the most popular are the blue point, flame point, seal point, and tortie point.
The most iconic image of the Persian cat is a long, silky, white fur with blue eyes. However, the Persian breed has a wide range of colours and varieties:
- Bi-colour Persian
- Cameo
- Chinchilla
- Colourpoint
- Golden Persian
- Shaded Silver Persian
- Smoke Persian
- Pewter
- Tabby Persian
- Tortoiseshell
- Tortie and white
5. The world’s first cat show.
In 1871, the first cat show was held in London. Along with the Manx, a Scottish wild cat, Siamese, and others, the Persian joined for the crown. Best in Show was awarded to a Persian kitten. From then on, the breed’s popularity had dramatically increased.
6. With a Persian, your quiet nights will be over.
Persian owners all know one thing—these cats are loud sleepers, especially in a deep state of sleep. Click here to find out reasons why cats snore.
7. It is the purrfect lap cat companion.
The Persian cat is notoriously known as an inactive breed. This lovely-looking feline earned the moniker ‘furniture with fur.’ Although it can be playful like any other cats, the Persian is usually busy keeping up with its beauty sleep especially on your lap.
8. It has a short-haired twin.
Bred in the 1960s, the exotic shorthair is easily mistaken as the Persian. Save for the length of the fur, both breeds look alike. Known as the short-haired version of the Persian, it has a flat face, round eyes, and the same sweet personality of the Persian. If you think you are not ready to fully commit to the amount of work and attention required by the Persian’s grooming needs, you might want to consider the exotic shorthair.
9. Keep it away from toilet paper rolls.
If you don’t find these kitties asleep, perhaps they are scratching things they can get their paws on. They have an instinct to sharpen their claws as part of their grooming habits. With that in mind, keep the toilet rolls out of their sight. Persian owners often find problems with furniture scratches too. It is best to provide them with scratching posts where they can exercise their instinctual need. Check out other interactive cat toys for your Persian here.
10. They don’t always mix well with children.
Despite having a docile personality, the Persian cat can’t always keep a good relationship with young children. It cannot tolerate too much noise and unpredictable movements of young children. It is not as sociable as the Siamese. Instead, it is likely to develop a shy personality and will hide around the house if it finds the environment too uncomfortable.
