The Persian cat has been cherished for hundreds, if not thousands, of years, tracing its origins to the deserts of Persia and Iran.
This medium to large-sized breed is easily identifiable by its round, flat face and its long, flowing coat that comes in almost every color. Persian cats are gentle and loving companions, even if their face makes them look a bit grumpy.
Discover more about the characteristics, care, and history of the Persian cat.
Personality: Sweet, gentle, and affectionate
Weight: 6.6 to 12.1 pounds
Length: 13.8 to 16.9 inches
Hair Length: Long Hair
Colors: Blue, black, white, red, cream, chocolate, lilac, silver, golden
Hair Patterns: Solid, tabby, tortoiseshell, bicolor
Eye Colors: Copper, blue, green, blue-green, hazel, and heterochromatic
Life Expectancy: 15 to 20 years
Hypoallergenic: No
Origin: Persia and Iran
Persian Cat Characteristics
The Persian cat is known and loved for its very sweet, gentle, and calm disposition. While Persian cats are quite friendly, they require delicate handling, meaning avoiding rough play or holding them by young children.
They get along very well with gentle and respectful children but prefer to be petted and admired rather than engage in strenuous activities. Persians also enjoy the company of other gentle cats and dogs if properly introduced.
Persians love to sprawl out in their favorite spot in the house, with good vantage points to keep tabs on what’s happening in the household, be it on a cozy chair or the top of a cat tree. Persians are homebodies.
It’s best to keep them indoors to prevent overheating or tangling of their profuse long fur. Persian cats love their human families but don’t mind being alone for short periods as long as they are in their own homes, where they feel comfortable and secure.
Affection Level: High
Friendliness: High
Child-Friendly: Medium
Pet-Friendly: Medium
Exercise Needs: Low
Playfulness: Medium
Energy Level: Low
Intelligence: High
Vocalization: Low
Shedding Amount: Medium
History of the Persian Cat
Appearance
The Persian cat is a medium to large-sized cat with short, muscular legs, a short back, robust body, and deep chest.
The Persian cat is immediately recognizable by its flat face with full cheeks, large round eyes, a short muzzle, and a flat nose, round cheeks, a firm chin, medium-sized ears, and large, round eyes, creating a sweet expression.
The Persian cat’s fur is extremely long with a dense coat that provides a lot of volume. The Persian cat comes in many colors and patterns.
Persian Cat Care
Persians are relatively easy to care for in terms of exercise and mental stimulation (a few play sessions per day are sufficient), but their fur requires extensive care and is not for the faint of heart.
If not properly cared for, Persian cat fur can form mats, which are extremely painful for cats.
Grooming
The luxurious and flowing coat of the Persian cat requires a lot of brushing – perhaps the most of all in the realm of cats. To prevent matting, a Persian cat needs daily brushing with a wide-tooth metal comb, followed by daily brushing with a soft brush.
When brushing, Persian cat owners should take care to separate the fur and ensure they are brushing down to the skin, or mats can sneakily form underneath the long fur.
Regular bathing is necessary to keep the fur clean. After bathing, the fur should be carefully dried with a pet-specific hair dryer that runs cooler than a human hair dryer to avoid burning your cat’s sensitive skin or causing them to overheat.
Persian cats also need their face washed daily (the large round eyes are prone to tearing), nails should be trimmed weekly or every two weeks, and ears should be checked and cleaned if they get dirty.
Common Health Problems
Persian cats are genetically predisposed to the following conditions:
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: A heart condition that inhibits blood flow and can cause health problems throughout the body
- Progressive retinal atrophy and trichiasis: These eye conditions can lead to vision problems or blindness
- Polycystic kidney disease: A disease that causes cyst formation in the kidney tissue and can lead to kidney failure if left untreated
- Respiratory issues: Due to the shape of their heads, Persian cats tend to have narrow airways that can cause respiratory problems, from snoring to breathing difficulties.
Respectable Persian cat breeders screen their adult cats for these issues before breeding to avoid passing on undesirable traits to the next generation.
Diet and Nutrition
Since the Persian cat is heavy, the breed can become overweight if allowed to overeat. For all cats, staying lean is healthier and can prevent obesity-related health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease.
To manage your Persian cat’s food intake, give measured meals twice a day instead of filling the food bowl all the time (a practice called free feeding).
Young kittens should eat three times a day. If you’re unsure what to feed or how much food your Persian cat needs daily, talk to your veterinarian or breeder for advice.
Where to Adopt or Buy a Persian Cat
The Persian cat is a relatively popular cat breed. The International Cat Association lists active Persian cat breeders on its website.
A fun way to meet Persian cat breeders and see cats of many different breeds is to attend a local cat show. Newcomers are very welcome at cat shows, and breeders enjoy educating people about their breed.
Persian cats don’t usually end up in animal shelters, but we list below a few rescues that might have a Persian cat available:
Breed Overview
- Calm and sweet personality
- Affectionate and friendly with adults, gentle children, and other pets
- Doesn't mind being alone occasionally
- Doesn't appreciate noisy and hectic activities
- Requires daily face washes to combat tear stains
- The fur requires daily brushing and possibly professional grooming