Prized for 400 years
Long-haired cats from Persia were brought to Europe in the 1600s and have been treasured ever since.
Fancy cats · A lot of time and space
Persian
Pedigree breed · from Persia, now Iran
A stocky cat with a very long, thick coat, a round flat face, small ears and big round copper eyes.
- Size
- About 25cm at the shoulder; 3 to 6kg
- Lives for
- 12 to 17 years
- Suits
- Quiet homes, with someone willing to groom every day
Pads after you, coat swaying. Move your pointer and see.
Good to know
Six things about the persian
The longest coat
The fur can grow to twenty centimetres long. It cannot look after it alone.
A face that changed
A hundred years ago Persians had longer noses. The very flat face was bred in much later.
A calm cat
It prefers a quiet house and a soft cushion to climbing the curtains.
Runny eyes
The flat face means its tears do not drain properly, so the eyes need wiping every day.
Dozens of colours
It comes in more colours and patterns than almost any other breed.
The real thing
Photos of the persian
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Photos are from Wikimedia Commons, used under the free licences shown. They have been resized, and cropped where they appear in link previews.
Looking after one
The coat must be combed through to the skin every day, or it mats painfully. Wipe the eyes daily, and keep it indoors.
Before you get one
A Persian is gentle and undemanding in temper, but its coat and face need a great deal of care. Choose one with a visible nose.
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