The Persian is one of the best-known and best-loved cats in the world. There are plenty of theories about where this breed came from. In this article, we reveal all the secrets of the breed you should know before you buy one.
Breed History
According to one theory, the Persian cat appeared in Europe quite a long time ago, more than 400 years back. There are records that a famous Italian aristocrat, during a 12-year journey (through the East and India), noticed an extraordinary cat. Its unusual look completely won him over. The Persian cat was brought to Italy for breeding, but what happened to it after that has been lost.
A little later, the charming Persian cats appeared in France, when a statesman brought them from Ankara. Very soon, Cardinal Richelieu heard about the extraordinary Persian and became one of the first to breed these cats. They were especially popular at the French royal court.
After France, these cats appeared in Great Britain, where selective breeding began and gave the breed the look we know today.
Persian Personality and Traits at a Glance
| Affection for family | ★★★☆☆ |
| Shedding | ★★★★★ |
| Health | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Playfulness | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Vocality | ★★★☆☆ |
| Good with kids | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Friendliness toward strangers | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Ease of grooming | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gets along with other pets | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Intelligence | ★★★☆☆ |
Breed Overview
A Persian kitten is a “miracle” of nature: one look makes you smile and want to give it a squeeze. You can describe these cats in just a few words: a fluffy, wide-eyed teddy bear with a flat little face.
From that description, it’s easy to picture what a Persian looks like, but that’s not enough if you want to buy a purebred kitten. To figure out whether a cat is a true Persian, you need to know the breed’s key features.
Breed Standard
Here are the main features that tell you a cat is a purebred Persian:
- Body: large and cobby, on short legs. The chest and shoulders are muscular and fairly broad.
- Head: massive, round, and well proportioned.
- Neck: strong, medium-length (or short), but sturdy enough to reliably support the big head.
- Ears: small, set wide apart and low on the head. The tips are slightly rounded and a little fluffy (tufts of fur).
- Coat: long (it can grow up to about 5 inches), silky, and very thick. There should be a very fluffy ruff around the neck. Tufts of fur should be visible between the toes.
- Tail: medium length with a slightly rounded tip, very fluffy.
- Face: flat, with a rounded forehead, a strong chin, full cheeks, and a short, broad nose (with well-open nostrils).
- Eyes: round and wide open, as if the cat is always surprised.
- Jaws: strong and broad.
- Color: can vary: solid, bicolor, or tricolor.
Personality
What sets Persians apart is that they’re true homebodies. Affectionate, trusting, and very calm, they aren’t afraid of children and act like puppies, following their owner everywhere.
Persian kittens are very curious, love to explore anything new, and will happily play with just about anything. Some Persians love to sit on their owner’s shoulder, but don’t worry: they keep their claws tucked in.
Peaceful and gentle, they’re the dream of many cat lovers. Reviews from people lucky enough to have one are only positive (the one downside: the coat, which constantly needs care).
In size, they’re not much different from other breeds. A medium-sized adult Persian weighs up to about 15 lb. They look bigger than ordinary cats because of their long, thick coat.
Persians live 10 to 15 years on average.
Care and Feeding
Caring for a Persian takes real work, since the coat constantly needs brushing and bathing. On top of that, there are 2 more downsides that came with the way the breed was developed:
- A narrowed nasal passage, which causes constant snuffling and snoring;
- Blocked tear ducts, which make these cats constantly “cry.”
You can feed a Persian just like any other cat, choosing either a natural diet or commercial food (dry or canned).
Colors
A Persian cat can come in completely unpredictable colors, and these photos prove it. A Persian can be a solid color (gray, black, white, red) or something else (bicolor, tortoiseshell). Let’s take a closer look at the most common Persian colors:
- The white Persian is stunning, but needs more careful grooming than cats of other colors.
- Gray Persians are very interesting cats. They come in both light and dark shades of gray.
- Black is fairly rare. These cats have a special charm and never fail to impress.
- The orange Persian is a very sweet creature, and people say having one in the house brings money.
- Blue Persians were especially popular in Victorian England, and Queen Victoria herself had two blue Persians as favorites.
- Red (bright orange) is one of the oldest colors.
- Cream kittens are born to cats carrying the dilute gene, which produces this shade.
- Chocolate Persians appeared fairly recently but have already won over plenty of cat lovers.
- Lilac is fairly rare but in demand.
- Bicolor Persians have been around for a long time, in a huge range of shades.
- Tortoiseshell cats are very fun; their coloring can come in both light and dark shades.
- Chinchillas are especially beautiful cats, but they’re still rare.
There are other Persian colors too, mixed from the ones above, both bicolor and tricolor.
Where to Buy a Persian Kitten in the US
There’s no single answer to how much Persian kittens cost or where to buy one, since it all depends on several factors. The price depends on the pedigree, color, and age. You can buy one from a cattery or a breeder; Persians are one of the most popular breeds in the US, so you won’t have much trouble finding one.
On average, a pet-quality Persian kitten from a reputable CFA- or TICA-registered breeder costs about $1,200–$3,000 in the US. Show-quality kittens and rare colors can cost $5,000 or more. But every kitten is different.
Start with the breeder directories:
- CFA (Cat Fanciers’ Association) Find a Breeder – https://find-a-breeder.cfa.org/;
- TICA (The International Cat Association) breeder listings – https://tica.org/find-a-cat/find-a-cat-breeder-listings/.
Some US Persian catteries:
- Beaubell (Ocala, Florida; CFA Cattery of Excellence);
- Alchemist Silver and Golden Persians (Atlanta, Georgia; CFA Cattery of Excellence; silver and golden Persians, including chinchillas);
- Castlegate Persians (CFA, breeding and showing for over 25 years);
- Kitty Cature (McKinney, Texas; CFA).
