I might get a Persian cat any tips?

Question

she is about a yr. old, declawed, potty trained

i already have two dogs the cat is used to dogs and i AM rescuing it the owners are tired of the maintenance it will have a good home with me

Answer 1

The Persian cat is one of the oldest breeds of cat. In Britain, it is called the "Longhair" or "Persian Longhair" (tipped varieties are known as "Chinchilla Longhair").

The Persian cat is reputed to originate from Iran (Persia), but interbreeding of Angoras with native British domestic longhairs in the 19th Century makes the true origin of the breed unclear. The Persian's European debut is credited to Pietro Della Valle, an Italian traveller.

A show-quality Persian has an extremely long thick coat, short legs, a wide head with the ears set far apart, large eyes, and an extremely foreshortened muzzle. The breed was originally established with a short (but not non-existent) muzzle, but over time this feature has become extremely exaggerated, particularly in North America, and Persians with the more extreme brachycelphalic head type are prone to a number of health problems (specifically affecting their sinuses and breathing) caused by it. However, conscientious breeders eliminate this by careful choice of breeding stock with more moderate head type, as the goal is first and always healthy cats.

Persian cats can have any colour or markings including pointed, tortoiseshell, blue, and tabby. Persian cats with point are referred to as Colourpoint Persian in Europe and Himalayan (cat) in United States.

In the USA, there was an attempt to establish the Silver Persian as a separate breed called the Sterling, but it was not accepted and Silver and Golden longhaired cats, recognized by CFA more specially as Chinchilla Silvers, Shaded Silvers, Chinchilla Goldens or Shaded Goldens are judged in the Persian category of cat shows. In South Africa, the attempt to separate the breed was more successful: the SA Cat Council (SACC) registers cats with 5 generations of pure bred Chinchilla as Chinchilla Longhair. The Chinchilla Longhair has a slightly longer nose than the Persian, resulting in healthy breathing and no tearing of the eyes. Its hair is translucent with only the tips carrying black pigment: a feature that gets lost when out-crossed to other colored Persians. Out-crossing also may result in losing nose and lip liner, which is a fault in the Chinchilla Longhair breed standard.

Because their fur is too long and dense for them to maintain themselves, Persian cats need regular grooming. To keep their fur in its best condition, they must be bathed regularly, dried carefully afterwards, and brushed thoroughly every day. Their eyes need to be checked for problems on a regular basis because some animals have trouble keeping them clean.

A Persian cat without an established and registered pedigree is classed as a domestic longhair cat.

As the dusty desert caravans wound their way westward from Persia and Iran, it is supposed that secreted among the rare spices and jewels on the basket-laden camels was an even more precious cargo, an occasional longhair cat. They were called Persian for their "country of origin," but hieroglyphic references as early as 1684 B.C. shroud forever their exact beginnings.

Persians, with their long flowing coats and open pansy-like faces are the number one breed in popularity. Their sweet, gentle, personalities blend into most households once they feel secure in their new environment. Creatures of habit, they are most at home in an atmosphere of security and serenity, but with love and reassurance, can easily adapt to the most boisterous of households. Their quiet, melodious voices are pleasant and non-abrasive. They communicate delightfully with their large expressive eyes and make charming pets for all ages. Persians have short heavily-boned legs to support their broad, short bodies. They like to have their feet firmly planted and are not given to high jumping and climbing. Playful but never demanding, they love to pose and will drape themselves in a favorite window or chair, enhancing the decor in much the same way as a treasured painting. Persians are tremendously responsive and become a constant source of joy and delight to their owners. Pleasurable as an unexpected sunbeam, their companionship is close and enduring.

Their long flowing coats require an indoor, protected environment. Proper maintenance requires a daily run-through with a metal comb to eliminate the potential drawbacks of tangles and hairballs. An occasional bath, attempted only after a complete comb-through and clipping of the nail tips, will keep the coat clean, healthy and beautiful. It is wise to establish the routine of the bath when they are young. While the white Persian has long been the darling of photographers and advertisers, Persians come in an astonishing number of colors, which are divided into seven color divisions for purposes of competition. Those are:


Solid Color Division
Silver and Golden Division
Shaded and Smoke Division
Tabby Division
Particolor Division
Bicolor Division
Himalayan Division
Keeping the Persian indoors also keeps it safe from transmission of disease and parasites, as well as the dangers of urban life. With an annual trip to a trusted veterinarian, and good nutrition and care, the Persian can live as a family member for easily 15 years, and some surpassing 20 years. Persian breeders dedicate themselves to breeding healthy cats, availing themselves of the latest in veterinary screening procedures to test for any heritable disease conditions. A well-bred Persian is a hardy and healthy cat and is not more prone to illness and respiratory infections than other breeds. However, the large eyes do mean that a certain amount of tearing is normal, and a daily face wash is recommended.

Pricing on Persians usually depends on type, applicable markings and bloodlines distinguished by Grand Champion (GC), National, National Breed and/or Regional winning parentage (NW, BW, RW) or of Distinguished Merit parentage (DM). The DM title is achieved by the dam (mother) having produced five CFA grand champion/premier (alter) or DM offspring, or sire (father) having produced fifteen CFA grand champion/premier or DM offspring. Usually breeders make kittens available between twelve and sixteen weeks of age. After twelve weeks, kittens have had their basic inoculations and developed the physical and social stability needed for a new environment, showing, or being transported by air. Keeping such a rare treasure indoors, neutering or spaying and providing acceptable surfaces (e.g. scratching posts) for the natural behavior of scratching (CFA disapproves of declawing or tendonectomy surgery) are essential elements for maintaining a healthy, long and joyful life.

There are CFA clubs devoted to the promotion, protection and preservation of the Persian breed. For more information, please send inquiries to CFA, PO Box 1005, Manasquan NJ 08736-0805.

Breed Books

The Longhaired Cat : An Owner's Guide To A Happy Healthy Pet by Anna Sadler
Guide to Owning a Persian Cat: Feeding, Grooming, Exhibition, Temperament, Health, Breeding by Juliet Seymour
Persian Cats: Everything About Purchase, Care, Nutrition, Disease, and Behavior (Special Chapter: Understanding Persian Cats) by Ulrike Muller, Matther M. Phd Vrieds (Editor)
Persian Cats by Edward Esarde
Persian Cats by Jeanne Alice Ramsdale
The Persian Cat by Joanne Mattern
Persian Cats by Marianne Mays
All About Himalayan Cats by Joan Brearley
Himalayan Cats : Everything About Acquisition, Care, Nutrition, Behavior, Health Care, and Breeding (Complete Pet Owner's Manual) by J. Anne Helgren
Guide to Owning a Himalayan Cat by Coleman McDonald

This breed was once known simply as "Longhair" - It is believed that the name Persian came from North American Breeders, some colours were briefly known as "Kashmirs."

The ancient history of the modern Persian will never be known with certainty, but indirect evidence suggests that the original ancestors came from Persia (Iran).

The first documented ancestors of the Longhair were imported from Persia into Italy in 1620 by Pietro della Valle, and from Turkey into France by Nicholas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc at about the same time. They probably came from France to Great Britain soon after, where they gained popularity with royal figures such as Queen Victoria and Edward VII. These longhaired cats may have mated with Angoras after they moved to Italy during the 16th century.

Historically, the Longhair was a temple cat, a companion of royalty, an emissary of souls passing from life to death. The heraldic Persian face made her the perfect cold-eyed complement of the mastermind villain Blofield in the James Bond series. This cat's classic impassivity is there in that cloud of fur and stamped on the flattened face, the gimlet eyes, inscrutable and empty as the sky. Oddly, the actual cat in the film versions of "You Only Live Twice" and "Diamonds are Forever" is a snowy white chinchilla whose appropriate biblical name is Solomon!

Of all the breeds, the Persian is still the most popular worldwide. Perhaps the cat's popularity comes from the Persian myth of King Hormus, who was told by a fortune-telling priest that his kingdom would one day be besieged. "You will have only twelve-thousand men," the seer said, "but you will have to vanquish three-hundred-thousand enemies." The king begged to know how he might overcome the odds that were so heavily against him, and the seer answered, "You will have to find, somewhere in your kingdom, a man with the face of a cat." When the time came, the king did just that thing - found the man - and defeated the armies against him.

There is also the tale of the old Gaelic king who was, it's said, cat-headed. His name was Carbar, and in Ireland, to this day, tales are told of the cat armies that went out into the field and of warriors with strange wildcat skins on their helmets.

A 14th Century Persian myth sings the praises of the Persian cat hero in the great battle of the cats and rats. Such a fight is so universal that few countries do not have some version of it. The rodents, the story goes, have superior weaponry, but the felines have their natural defences - claws, wits and fangs. In the final battle, the hero cat is taken prisoner, in one version of the tale, the rats as a result of this manoeuvre, are victorious. In other versions, however, the cat hero is greatly underestimated by the rat leader, who, merely ties him to a stake. With "the claw like an eagle and the tail of a serpent," the Persian cat hero bursts his bonds and single-handedly routs all the rats.

So it is that the cat and the rat (not forgetting the dog!) are the most pervasive, universal fables we possess as a world culture, but of the cats, none figures more elegantly, more persistently, and more heroically than the gimlet-eyed mistress of the cloud realm, the Artistic Persian.

The Persian is also known as "The Lounge Lizard" a relaxed observer, the quietest and least active of cat breeds, and the one most likely to accept other cats into the home. If allowed outdoors, then they do guard their territory and catch prey with surprising ease, given its shortened face.

The coat needs daily care. Veterinarians are frequently called on to clip densely matted coats, never attempt to clip the coat yourself. Breed problems include polycystic kidney disease, which can be scanned for, and a high incidence of retained testicles.

Their coats span a wide range of colours, including solid, shaded, smoke, tabby, particolour and point colours.

Persian care and health, grooming tips, Persian characteristics and more about this breed can be found at www.persian-cats.com - A wonderful and resourceful site.,Good luck with your new adoption hope this helps-

Answer 2

Kudos to you for rescuing this cat. Get some good combs and brushes--you will need them. Since she is declawed, you should not let her outside, as she does not have her natural defenses against other animals. Brush her at least once daily. I know some people who get their cats clipped in the summer, because they don't like to deal with all the fur; I guess that's a possibility if the hair gets to you.

Answer 3

The abuse was probably in the form of an inadequate diet, and he's suffering from malnutrition. Good food and maybe a multivitamin will help alot, but it will take about 5-6 months, no matter what you do, because that's how long it takes to grow a whole coat back.

Answer 4

I have had persians myself in the past, they require alot of brushing or combing to keep the mats down. Or you will have to take the cat to a groomer which of course cost money but at least you won't have to do it. But at least you are willing to give the cat a good home and that is what counts the most. Good luck

Answer 5

My suggestion would be to stock up on hair rollers and consider purchasing a Dyson Animal vacuum. We have two Bengals and can hardly stand the hair, and a Persian will be a million times furrier! They have sweet personalities, however, and you will enjoy yours. Just be prepared for the attack of the fur!

Answer 6

Cats are wonderful but I suggest getting a kitten in need of a home from your local animal shelter instead. They will love you just as much and without you their future is probably bleak.

Answer 7

Be prepared for alot of maintenance and alot of hair all over everything.

Answer 8

Get a dog instead.

Answer 9

Find a VERY good grooming brush, that's for sure.

Answer 10

get a dog instead

Answer 11

they have extra vet expense due to the flatness of their face,keep that in mind