Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Persian Cat Personality: Interested in The History of The Persian Cat Breed?
Persian Cat Personality: Interested in The History of The Persian Cat Breed?
Persian Cat Personality: Interested in The History of The Persian Cat Breed?
If you want your cats bouncing around like hyperactive popcorn, don't buy a Persian. Persians are perfect
companions, if you like placid, sweet-tempered cats. Don't count on using your Persian pal as a furry doorstop,
however. They love to play between periods of regal lounging on your favorite davenport. Proponents say that
Persians do not deserve their 'furniture with fur' reputation, they are intelligent, just not as inquisitive as some
breeds, and not as active.
Persians are devoted to their humans, but can be selective in conferring that honor. You must earn their trust and
love. They crave affection and love to be petted and fussed over, but won't harass you for attention the way some
breeds will. They will, however, let their feelings be known if they are not getting the requisite amount of attention.
Owning a Persian requires a significant time commitment. That beautiful coat requires daily grooming to keep it in
good condition and free of mats. Because of the long coat and docile temperament, Persians should be
considered indoor-only pets. Many Persian fanciers keep at least part of the coat clipped, particularly the
hindquarters and around the anus to avoid the accumulation of feces. This should be done, though, only if the cat
will not be shown soon.
In the early 1900s the British Governing Council of the Cat Fancy decided that the Persian, as well as the Angora
and Russian Longhairs, should be known simply as Longhairs, a policy that continues today. Each color is
considered a separate breed in the British cat fancy. In North America, however, the Persian is considered one
breed, regardless of color.
Persians were imported to America in the late 1800s, where they were enthusiastically received. The Persian
quickly shoved aside the competition and quickly took its place as the top cat. Using British standards as a
starting point, American breeders began their own breeding programs to refine the coat, color, and conformation.
Soon the American Persian developed a style of its own and evolved into the type we see today.