|
Persian Cats
A short history of Persian Cats has been developed but a longer history remains unclear. Generally, however, Persian cats are thought to be
one of the older varieties of cat with possible blood lines back to original wild cats. What is known is that Persian cats were originally
found on the Iranian Plateau near present day Turkey. In Western reference, this region would be referred to as Persia. Given the climate of
this region the longer hair characteristic is understandable.
Western introduction
One of the reasons that the true history of Persian cats is so murky is that the cat was bread with domestic British long haired cats after
it was introduced to Europe in the 19th century. From this point forward the true lineage of the Persian cat was muddled.
The original form of Persian cats may have been modified over the years but the general personality of the cat has changed little. Considered
a "laid back" sort of cat it plays well with children, is thought of a "sweet cat" that generally tolerates humans.
Standard
With the "muddling" of the breed it is not surprising that there are varying forms of the cat from country to country. Each may have a
differing name as a result of breeding but the variances are fairly subtle, except for around the face. Generally, a top quality cat will
weigh between 9-12 pounds and have a very thick coat. Given the thickness of the coat a distinctive face is a deciding factor of the cat.
A wide head with round eyes sets the cat apart. The ears should be set fairly far apart and have a slight forward tilt.
Persian cats should have a fairly stout body with stubby legs. The tail should be short and the bones should be thought to be heavy. A low to
the ground moving ball of fur may be a way of thinking about the overall look of the cat.
Flat face
Generally, defining of the cat can be found in the "pug" nature of the face. Over time the face has become more and more "flat. Particularly
in North America, this characteristic has lead to issues regarding eyes that water and sinus issues. In other parts of the world this characteristic
has been bread out of the cat in an effort to introduce a new line surrounding the names of "Silver" or "Chinchilla."
In North America this attempt, to establish an entirely new breed, failed. This variety of Persian cat, as well as others with similar names and
characteristics, remains judged under the Persian classification in North America. In South Africa this attempt was a bit more successful with the
Chinchilla Longhair being accepted by that countries council. This breed has a distinct difference from the North American variety in that the nose
is a bit longer. In effect, this eliminates the sinus and eye watering issues.
Care
Care of Persian cats takes a bit of work on a daily basis. The long thick hair of the cat dictates a daily brushing while bathing requires a blow
dry and careful brush afterwards to prevent matting. In cats bred in North America there will likely be a need to care for watery eyes and a poor
sinus. Other varieties in new breeds, but very similar to Persians will not require this attention.
Around the house
Outside of having to pay attention to the cats coat the Persian cat is a great friend to have prowling around the house. Whether sitting and observing
or looking for a scratch Persian cats are always ready to claim their part of being a family member.
|
|
