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At
a glance...
Body Size... Med
to Large
Coat Length... Long
Life span... 15 yrs |
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Chinchilla |
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A~ Z index |
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Description... |
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 (includes the Persian and
the Himalayan) Persian cats have a medium to large, square body
type, often referred to as "cobby". The face is round and quite
flat, and the ears are small. The tail is relatively short and
bushy. The coat is long and silky. It is very fine and mats easily.
Many coat colour variants and patterns exist. The Himalayan variant
has a cream coat with darker "points" (the ears, face, paws and tip
of the tail). Colours accepted for the points include lilac,
chocolate, blue, seal and patterning. The Chinchilla variant has a
pure white chest and chin, and the rest of the coat is solid coloured
with silver tips. The Persian breed variants are referred to as
"colour point longhairs" in the United Kingdom, instead of being
recognized as a specific breed with colour variants as it is in the
United States.
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History...
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Persian cats have been popular
since Victorian times. The original Persian cats were from Turkey,
and probably had a solid white coat. These cats were called Angoras,
after the Turkish capital of Ankara, and should not be confused with
the present day breed, the Turkish Angora. There are historical
claims that Queen Victoria and the royal family had Persian cats.
The Chinchilla variant was promoted in England in the 1880's, and
the first known Chinchilla is preserved at the Natural History
Museum in South Kensington, London. The Himalayan variant was
developed in the 1920's by a Swedish geneticist, Dr. Tjebbes, and
was first bred in the United States in the 1930's.
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Traits...
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Persian cats are very docile
and make good pets for those that do not mind grooming their cat
daily.
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Health...
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 The flattened face
configuration prized in the breed predisposes Persian cats to upper
respiratory infections and abnormalities of the oral and nasal
cavities. Some lines of Persian cats are predisposed to renal
(kidney) failure. Persian cats are more prone to dystocia
(difficulty giving birth) than are other breeds. If not carefully
brushed daily, the silky coat mats to the skin, predisposing the
animal to skin infection. Animals with a white coat and blue eyes
are more likely to be deaf than are animals with a coloured coat or
eyes.
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Summary...
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The
ideal Persian should present an impression of a heavily boned,
well-balanced cat with a sweet expression and soft, round lines. The
large round eyes set wide apart in a large round head contribute to
the overall look and expression. The long thick coat softens the
lines of the cat and accentuates the roundness in appearance.
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