Persian cat: Nutrition, character, training and much more about the Persian cat

By Roswitha Berger

Not every cat with long hair is a Persian. This used to be different, because in the beginning breeders crossed long haired cats, it didn't matter which origin the cats had. The modern Persian cat, besides the long hair, is characterized by short legs and a flat face. Since the short nose leads to various problems, the trend towards the "Persian cat with nose" is gaining ground in Europe.

The book informs you in detail about Peke-Face and Doll-Face and answers many questions about keeping Persian cats.

Why Persians do not need regular outdoor access?
How time-consuming is the care of the cats?
What diseases are common in Persian cats?
Why you should train a Persian cat?

The reading gives a deep insight into the character of Persian cats. You will also get valuable tips on how to gently prepare the animals for necessary, but unpleasant procedures.

The contents of the book include the following:
- History of the breed and hereditary diseases
- Breed characteristics - appearance and character
- Care of cats - brushing, combing or bathing
- Healthcare
- Selection and purchase of the animal
- Preparation for moving in - Necessary purchases
- Training and dressage - Socialization and tricks
- Dealing with problems
- and much more!

There are over 10 illustrations waiting for you. The book is aimed at people who want to learn about the breed before acquiring a Persian cat, beginners who need advice on how to keep the animals or long-time cat owners who are happy to have some additional information.

We wish you a lot of fun with the cat.

• Language: English
• Publisher: XinXii
• Release date: Apr 16, 2022
• ISBN: 9783986469313

Book preview

List of Figures

Figure 1: Turkish angora cat

Figure 2: The Exotic Shorthair can be recognized by its plush coat.

Figure 3: Colorpoint, Himalayan or Masked Persian, a Persian cat with the typical pattern of Siamese.

Figure 4: Peke-face Persians usually appear angry.

Figure 5: Care set should be helpful.

Figure 6 The detangling brush, actually intended for human children, works very well for us. ©rgladel

Figure 7: Our letter opener to remove tangles. ©rgladel

Figure 8: Some cats prefer water dispensers to bowls.

Figure 9: A playful cat.

Figure 10: You will definitely need a transport box.

Figure 11: Where the syringe is placed is important.

Figure 12: Funnel collar is sometimes unfortunately necessary.

Figure 13: You can also read in the chip yourself.

Figure 14: Our ceramic bowl for the cats.

Figure 15: The cat loves our drinking fountain,

Figure 16: Our cat under the hood toilet,

Figure 18: We need our comb from time to time. ©rgladel

Figure 19: You will need a leash for the vet visit.

Figure 20: Clicker training works very well with our dogs and cats.

Figure 21: A claw shoe from our cat. © rgladel

Figure 22: Our scratching facilities for our cat, © rgladel

Figure 23: Our tick card and tick hook in different sizes, © rgladel

Background information about the breed

The breed name of the pretty long-haired cats has changed over the years as well as the breed standard. In addition, it is clear that German breeders no longer adhere to the international breed standard for Persian cats.

Less exotic than often assumed

It is certain that the long-haired cats do not originate from Persia, today's Iran. Genetically, long-hairedness is a recessive mutation, which probably first appeared in Turkish cats. However, there are drawings of long-haired cats in China as early as the Song period (960 to 1279). Biologists assume that the mutation occurs independently again and again and that it prevails in regions with cool climate. Genetic studies revealed that today's Persian cats are descended from Russian longhaired cats. These, in turn, may be descendants of the Turkish cats with long hair.

When considering genetics, it must of course be remembered that all domestic cats are descended from the dun cat, i.e. the African wild cat (Felis silvestris lybica).

Angora became Persian

Until the beginning of the 20th century, all long-haired cats were called Angora, after the Turkish province where the present capital Ankara is located. Even today, many people refer to long-haired cats as Angora cats.

At the end of the 19th century, clubs began to formulate breeding standards and also gave names to the breeds. The long-haired variations were exclusively listed as Persian cats in England. From this point of view, Persians are an English breed.

In 1929, the German biologist Friedrich Schwangart distinguished between Persian cats after the English breeding goal with round head and stocky shape and animals in the traditional type of the Angora cat. The latter he called German Longhair instead of Angora cat. Thus the term Angora disappeared from the technical literature. The breed Deutsch Langhaar could not establish itself either. The Angora cat survived the development as Turkish national cat in the zoo of Ankara and is bred today again as Turkish Angora.

Figure 1: Turkish angora cat

Other Persian cats

Breeding of the Persian cat in today's sense began in the second half of the 19th century in England. Longhaired cats were mated with each other without regard to their geographical origin. The breeding standard was changed several times. Over the years, the cats became smaller, shorter-legged, the forehead rounder and the facial skull shorter and shorter. A flat nose became the breed standard. In addition, a lush coat with extremely abundant undercoat was desired. Around 1970, many mass breedings were established in America, which unfortunately made the breed sicker.

Some breeders cared less about the breed standard, but attached importance to special coat colors. They bred with long-haired cats of the old type, i.e. with longer nose. The breed Exotic Shorthair originated from such lines. It was originally recognized as a Sterling breed by the International Cat Association (TICA) in 1994 and by the International Cat Exhibitors (ICE) in 1998.

Background: Some American Shorthair breeders crossed silver Persians with American Shorthairs to get the beautiful silver color and green eyes. The kittens from the mating did not meet the true American Shorthair standard. The breeder Jane Martinke proposed a new breed, which she named Sterling because of the coat color. The animals were to look like Persians but have a short, dense plush coat. In 1979, the breed name was changed to Exotic Shorthair when all colors were accepted. In September 1992, the English Sterling was introduced as a new breed, but it did not catch on.

Figure 2: The Exotic Shorthair can be recognized by its plush coat.

The English breeder Brian Sterling-Webb crossed Siamese cats with Persians in order to introduce the pattern of the Siamese also in long-haired cats. In 1955, he approached the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) and obtained recognition of this variety. In North America, Mrs. Goforth applied for recognition at the CFA annual meeting in Washington in 1957. Mrs. Goforth claimed that it was a new longhair breed. The breed was named the Colorpoint or Himalayan. Since most breeders merely crossed the animals with each other or with Siamese, the typical appearance of Persian cats was lost. The Himalayan became a long-nosed, longhaired cat with a mask. Around the 1970s, attitudes changed and breeders crossed more Persians. Since the cats soon looked like Persians with masks, this raised the question of whether Colorpoint should continue to be considered a long-nosed cat in its own right. Although there were resistances, the cats were counted to the Persians from 1984 on. Beside the designations Colourpoint and Himalayan also the term mask Persian is used for the breed.

Figure 3: Colorpoint, Himalayan or Masked Persian, a Persian cat with the typical pattern of Siamese.

Breed characteristics of Persian cats

Most people consider the long hair to be the most important breed characteristic. But not every long-haired cat is a Persian and the Exotic Shorthair largely meets the breed standard, despite the shorter coat.

Physique

The body should be large to medium in size and stocky. The short, stocky legs emphasize the image of a low, but strong cat, as well as the broad as well as muscular build of chest and shoulders. Males bring up to 10 kg on the scales, cats with 8 kg a little less. Tufts of hair should appear between the toes of