Persian

The Persian (Persian Longhair) is a long-haired pedigree cat with a round face, a short muzzle, large wide-set eyes and widely spaced ears. A show-style Persian has an extremely long, thick coat, short legs and a short, cobby, rounded body.

Persians can come in virtually any colour or marking, from solid shades to tabby, tortoiseshell, smoke, silver and colourpoint. Eye colours range from blue and copper to green, blue-green and hazel.

They are widely bred and shown by cat fanciers. Persians are among the most popular pedigree breeds worldwide, ranked fourth in 2021 by the Cat Fanciers' Association. In the UK, the Persian lost its top spot to the British Shorthair in 2001 and was sixth most popular in 2012.

No long-haired African wildcats are known, so exactly when long-haired cats appeared is unclear. The first Persians may have been brought to Italy from Khorasan, in eastern Iran or western Afghanistan, as early as 1620. There is stronger evidence for long-haired cats exported from Afghanistan and Iran from the 19th century onwards, and they were also traded to India.

The name Persian was given for marketing in Europe. Writers in the early 1800s noted that few of these cats were actually found in Persia.

A Persian was shown at the first organised cat show, at the Crystal Palace in London in 1871. The first breed standard was issued in 1889, which tried to separate the Persian from the Angora. Genetic research suggests modern Persians are related to Western European breeds such as the British Shorthair, rather than to Near Eastern cats.

Breeding later produced an ever flatter face, especially in North America, while some breeders kept the older Traditional Persian with a more pronounced muzzle. The Himalayan (Colourpoint Longhair in the UK) came from crossing with the Siamese in 1950, and the Exotic Shorthair from crossing with American Shorthairs in the late 1950s.

The Persian is generally described as a quiet cat. It is typically placid and adapts quite well to flat life.

Himalayans tend to be more active because of Siamese influence.

In a study of owners' perceptions, Persians rated higher than non-pedigree cats for closeness and affection to owners, friendliness towards strangers, cleanliness, predictability, vocalisation and fussiness over food.

Flat-faced, modern-type Persians are prone to breathing difficulties, eye and skin problems and difficult births. They can also have an incorrect bite, overlapping teeth and tear overflow, and the flat face can make picking up food hard. Entropion and eyelash problems can rub the surface of the eye. Difficult labour is relatively common, and stillbirth rates are higher than normal.

Polycystic kidney disease is common, affecting roughly 36-49% of Persians in studies, with kidney failure developing at an average age of 7. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a heart disease, has a reported incidence of 6.5%. Other conditions include progressive retinal atrophy, hip dysplasia, skin problems, ringworm and sensitivity to heat. White Persians, especially blue-eyed ones, are prone to deafness.

Lifespan varies by study. A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 10.93 years for Persians against 11.74 for cats overall, while a 2015 English study showed an average of 14.1 years.

This is general awareness only, not veterinary advice. Always consult a vet about your pet's health.

Are Persian cats quiet?

Yes, they are generally described as quiet and typically placid. They adapt quite well to flat life.

How long do Persian cats live?

It varies by country and study. A 2024 UK study found 10.93 years on average, slightly below the 11.74 years for cats overall. A 2015 English study gave 14.1 years.

Why do Persian cats have flat faces?

Breeders selected for an increasingly short muzzle, especially in North America, and some breed standards came to favour it. The traditional Persian has a more pronounced muzzle and breathes more easily.

Are Persian cats prone to health problems?

Yes. Flat-faced types are prone to breathing, eye, dental and skin problems. Polycystic kidney disease is also common in the breed.

What is the difference between a Persian and an Exotic Shorthair?

The Exotic Shorthair was developed by crossing Persians with American Shorthairs. It is similar to the Persian in almost every way, including temperament and shape, except for its short dense coat.

Persian-speakers are not documented as calling any cat breed a Persian cat. Dictionaries use words like borāq for long-haired cats.

The Exotic Shorthair has been nicknamed the lazy man's Persian because of its easier coat.

A silver tabby and smoke Persian litter in England in 1882 produced Silver Lambkin, regarded as the father of the chinchilla Persian line.

The Persian has appeared on stamps around the world. A large late 19th-century painting of Persians and Turkish Angoras, My Wife's Lovers, sold at auction for more than US$820,000.