Types of colors of Persian cats. Gorgeous Persian cat breed Red Persian cat

It is one of the record-breaking breeds for the number of types of colors. All of them are officially recognized. For convenience, colors at exhibitions are divided into five types:

one-color type of color;
"tabby" smoky;
shaded;
partially painted;
coloring is limited to the colors of the points.

Each type is divided into many subtypes.

Common Pets

The most common shades recognized by the world organization FIFA:

black Persian cat. Has dark black fur. The presence of patterns and other colors of the coat is a reason for culling; a gray undercoat is allowed. The eyes are orange, maybe copper;

Persian color point. Points of all shades are allowed, with the obligatory condition of a solid color of an animal shade of cream or ivory. The eyes resemble the sky;

white Persian. The fur is, of course, pure white. The eyes are blue, orange are also allowed. There is a variety of white Persian with eyes of different shades;

Persian blue. Mostly the tone of the hair is blue, but it can be absolutely anything. The main requirement is uniformity in coat color without the presence of another color. It is desirable that the tone be from a light range. The eyes of such cats are usually yellow or orange;

a cream cat is characterized by a fawn-cream color or the color of honey. Orange patches on fur are unacceptable. The eyes are the same as fur, or like copper;

red. The color is rich orange, even closer to red, always uniform. Eyes like copper or like wool;

bluish cream pers. The coat has a color similar to the mixture of shades listed earlier. The eyes are copper, closer to orange;

. The fur is snow-white, smoky silver or apricot with black or dark brown tips. The eyes are green with a beautiful black rim. This category also includes blue, chocolate and lilac chinchillas;

Persian cameo. May be cream, tortoiseshell or yellow in color. The eyes are orange or copper-colored;

smoky. Available in lilac, cream with different shades, chocolate, tortoiseshell with different shades, black, blue colors with colored tips. The undercoat is light silver. The eyes are orange;

two-tone beauties. These Persians are mostly white. But there are colored spots that must be evenly spaced and even. White should make up no more than fifty percent of the color, and spots should make up no more than two-thirds of the main range. Eyes like copper;

Once in my youth I worked in a bookstore. The New Year was approaching, and therefore a lot of calendars, calendar cards and calendar cards with birch trees, flowers, tanned nymphs in swimsuits and, of course, cats in bows, which are in great demand before the holidays, went on sale. Among other things, there was a calendar with the face of a snow-white Persian, which was bought almost more often than others, this fantastic beast looked at the buyers so touchingly.

“Mom, mom, look! Cloud with eyes! – a small child once shouted, poking his mittened hand right into the Persian face. This comparison was so vivid and imaginative that in the evening I myself left the required amount at the cash register and took home a thick pack of these calendars (“until they sold out”), and then, during the Christmas holidays, I “made happy” a dozen of my friends and acquaintances with a cloud with eyes – and the gift turned out to be extremely successful. If you think about it, this is exactly what the Persian is: an airy, “cloudy”, sweet and piercingly affectionate and gentle animal.

The unique character of the Persian cat

To do good description of any breed, it is necessary to include in the text all the best, the most outstanding that distinguishes this animal from hundreds of others, like a precious stone among rhinestones, like a snow-white rose in a thicket of wild rose hips. Doing this with a Persian cat is both simple and difficult at the same time. Simply - because the Persians are unique with only their appearance and temperament. But it’s difficult - due to the fact that neither beautiful words, nor bright photographs, nor videos convey the essence of the Persian cat. You need to look into the eyes of the Persian, you need to touch the magical silk of his incredible fur coat, and most importantly, be alone with him and see how this cat knows how to communicate, how to maintain self-esteem, and, of course, how to love. And the Persians love selflessly and devotedly. They love like no one else, they love in such a way that it is impossible not to love them in return. All this feeding, cleaning, grooming and affectionate scratching behind the ear is nothing compared to the colossal “return” that a small but faithful heart will give you, albeit hidden under luxurious fur, but this does not cease to be ardent and faithful to its owner .

Like most animals, they perceive the family as a pack, where they will certainly find a dominant, a leader, the main “boss”, to whom they will obey until the very end. A priori, a cat cannot play a lower role in the hierarchy, but it will never be able to become a leader in a human “pack.” Therefore, she will choose a Master (or Mistress) for herself, and will treat the rest of the household affectionately, loyally and condescendingly, as equals or inferior individuals. Alas, we will have to come to terms with this. There is an opinion that most often cats choose women as their owners, and cats prefer to give the warmth of their hearts to a man, the head of the family.

For the Persians, this statement is also true, but, as you know, there are exceptions to all rules. However, the choice - who to listen to, on whose lap to purr most often, on whose heels to follow and in whose bed to sleep at night - always remains with the cat, and you will never be able to influence it. So that your beloved Persian does not prefer his grandmother, brother-in-law or sister, ignoring all your good intentions and attempts to get closer, you need to deal with the kitten from the very first days of his appearance in the house and spend as much time with him as possible. It is by capturing your image from childhood that the cat will remain devoted to you forever.

So we have come to a point that can be considered both a “plus” and a “minus” of the Persian breed, namely: this cat requires a lot of attention. Moreover, this feature is associated with all aspects - with the rather complex care of the coat, with the behavior, and with the upbringing of the Persian. Let's explain in order.

Firstly, even if you have enough money for a good grooming salon, you cannot avoid daily brushing and other hygiene procedures with your Persian. And caring for the hair of a Persian cat is a whole science! In the last issue we already mentioned this, but touched upon grooming issues only slightly. Here, alas, the reader is in for an unpleasant surprise: tangles cannot be avoided even in the most well-groomed Persian. Despite seasonal shedding, small amounts of dead hair fall out all year round on any animal. The Persian cat has such long and silky hair that some hairs that should fall out cannot simply come off and fall to the floor - they twist among themselves, become entangled with the “living” hair and form a tangle that is easy to detect and “disassemble” with your hands, and then comb the area and throw away any loose or tangled hairs.

Do not cut the mat with scissors under any circumstances! Persian cats have very thin, delicate and elastic skin that stretches behind the hair, so when cutting a mat, you risk injuring the animal by cutting off a small piece of skin. It is better to try to do this in a different way or contact a professional groomer. Find good master or a grooming salon is very difficult. Most companies are focused on dog grooming; few specialize in cats and know how to handle such a complex breed as the Persian.

A Persian cat also needs to be bathed - once every 1-2 months. Selecting shampoo for long-haired cats is also a “science”; you will have to consult with breeders and try products from different companies in order to achieve a good washing effect. Summarizing all of the above, one can guess that the Persian should be accustomed to such manipulations from the very beginning. early age. A good breeder will start brushing and bathing the kitten at 3-4 weeks! Otherwise, if the animal came to your house as an adult or is not accustomed to hygiene procedures, at first it will receive extreme stress. To console readers, I will say only one thing: if you fall in love with a Persian cat, then daily inspection and combing of the animal will not be a heavy burden for you. Many owners even enjoy the process of grooming, and if you do it calmly, slowly, affectionately and in a good mood, the pleasure from this daily “meditation” will be mutual - for both the person and the cat.

We talked about grooming, but that's not all! The lion's share of your time will be spent raising and communicating with a Persian cat. The fact is that Persians are very smart, intelligent cats. Many people, seeing the Persian’s “doll-like” cat face (baby face, as foreign felinologists call it) and his unhurried, slow movements, compare him with a simple-minded phlegmatic lump or a living “toy,” but this is fundamentally wrong! Indeed, most Persian cats are phlegmatic, but few remember the basics of psychology and understand the types of temperament. Unlike melancholic people, phlegmatic people, although they tend to be introverted, are a strong, stable type. They are slow, thoughtful, unhurried, but not hysterical and have hidden leadership abilities; they often say about such a person: “he is on his own.”

The same is true of animals, including Persian cats. Many of them are very playful and remain so until old age. However, after talking with your pet, admiring his habits and looking into his wise “owl” eyes, you will understand that running after a ball for a Persian is baby talk, banal physical exercise, and he himself needs more intellectual pastime. And there can be only one way out: communication, communication and more communication! On the website of the FeeryaVita nursery there is an aphorism that explains the essence of the Persian breed and its intelligence in one capacious and in a beautiful phrase: "Eat little secret: you need to communicate with a kitten as with an adult cat, and with a cat as with a rational being. And then the Persian cat will not be inferior in intelligence German Shepherd. Don't believe me? Check it out for yourself!”

All Persian lovers have the impression that their cats understand the meaning of every human word literally. For example, if you want to go to the country for a few days (and separation is a huge stress for a Persian cat), no amount of treats, no amount of “kiss-kiss”, flirting and lisping will help. But if with a cat talk(we deliberately use this verb without quotation marks!), tell her that she is loved, that they are leaving her for a while, that everything will be fine, and so on - she will understand and take your departure for granted. Lively speech, gentle intonations, constant light chatter is more valuable and desirable for a pet than any treat! The cat understands that they are addressing her, that she is needed, that they are paying attention to her.

This is interesting!
Many people, especially people of older generations, have the wrong opinion that the Persian is an unsociable and rather aggressive breed. To understand where this wrong attitude comes from, it is necessary to touch upon the history of the Persian cat in Russia. As with other cats and dogs, a rather sad story happened to Persians. Perestroika began, then the dashing gangster nineties. The “Iron Curtain” was destroyed, and not only “God’s chosen ones,” but also “mere mortals” were able to go abroad and see distant overseas countries. Of course, cynologists and felinologists were delighted - so many new breeds, so many new opportunities! And it was during these years that everyone, or almost everyone, wanted to have a Persian cat.

Every second Russian, who has seen no one but striped leopards and murkas, dreamed of getting a fluffy beauty with witchy eyes into his home, and demand, as we know, gives rise to supply. Unfortunately, taking advantage of the illiteracy of the Russian people and their complete ignorance of the world animal market, many dishonest foreign breeders offered animals for sale on the principle “on you, God, what is of no use to us,” but our enthusiasts were happy with these grains of the most valuable breeding material. All more or less “pedigreed” cats brought from other countries were used for breeding; there were practically no cullings based on temperament back then. Not only did Persian cats of that time often not meet breed standards, but among them there were also aggressive and unbalanced individuals that gave birth to their own kind.

Today the situation has changed radically. In just 10-15 years, Russian felinology has made an unprecedented, colossal leap - from the “wild”, dense Soviet Union to the world level! Many animals of St. Petersburg residents, Muscovites and other Russians successfully participate in international exhibitions and take prizes there. Many cats of various colors have been imported, business ties are being established between different states, clubs and collective nurseries are being created, and world-famous experts come to judge our animals. The Persian cat should not be aggressive or nervous; such animals are not allowed to participate in exhibitions and are under no circumstances used for breeding. Now it is more difficult to meet an aggressive Persian than a green Martian, and very soon the myth about the “evil” character of the Persian cat will remain forever buried on the dusty shelves of history.

Who is the Persian cat suitable for?

As you already understand, the Persian is not suitable for every person. If some other cats strive for independence and get used to the house rather than the owner, then Persians will wither away without a daily dose of affection and conversation. Constant stress, a feeling of abandonment and “lostness” can even lead to serious illnesses for the animal. Therefore, the owner of a Persian should be, if not a homebody, then at least a person who returns to his home every evening and spares no time and effort in communicating with his pet. Let's try to draw a psychological “portrait” of a lover of the Persian breed. Temperamental, active, active, fussy people are usually irritated by slow phlegmatic people found among their work colleagues, friends or household members. The same thing awaits you with a cat if you are in constant motion, rushing around all the time, inventing household chores for yourself (even if the apartment is sparkling clean), talking loudly, gesticulating, twirling something in your hands. And what kind of furry creature is this, staggering around underfoot with nothing to do, when everything around is boiling, bubbling, seething, emotions are going through the roof, there is no time for anything, why is it needed and what is it even doing here? Even if you don’t get annoyed with the animal, you still won’t understand and appreciate the true essence of the Persian, you won’t be able to speak the same language with him and you won’t provide this cat with comfortable conditions for existence. The cat will restrainedly tolerate the noisy antics of its choleric owner, but it will never become happy. Better buy a kitten of some other breed!

The Persian will not fit and business people, prominent leaders, businessmen and public figures. Such strong personalities are not interested in squeezing a “sofa” beauty; they are more interested in taming a small wayward tiger! True, under the mask of a pragmatist and an assertive person, a naive and vulnerable soul often hides. And sometimes the most “unbreakable”, tough and seemingly down-to-earth person looks for an outlet in some hobby, or gets an animal, which he looks after with almost parental tenderness, but never makes his feelings public. Perhaps, somewhere in such houses, behind kilometers of barbed wire, entangled in alarm wires and surrounded by concrete fences, lives a meek, silky creature with angelic eyes and an almost human intellect and heart...

You should also not think that having a Persian cat is the lot of a lonely “bluestocking”, a “loser” and a loser. The owner of a Persian must be not only a good-natured romantic, but also an artistic person, not devoid of a vivid imagination. You can take a lifetime to learn to understand and comprehend the complex nature of even one cat. So who is he, the happy owner of a Persian? It doesn’t matter what gender, age, marital or social status he is. The main thing is that he must love beauty, appreciate affection, and be able to sacrifice small egoistic joys for the sake of his beloved being. And most importantly, such a person must be a sensitive observer who not only takes good care of those around him, but also catches their glances, senses the slightest shades of their changeable mood and will never regret a kind word for a pet, which, as the old proverb says, is pleasant even for a cat . Especially for a Persian cat! Thus, such a person should look for a pet not in contrast to his own tastes and preferences, but one similar to himself.

Is a Persian cat suitable for a family with children? Of course, it will do if your child is adequate and capable of taking responsibility for his actions. It should be explained from the very beginning little man that appearance is deceptive, and behind the “toy” face of the Persian lies an ordinary cat with its advantages and disadvantages, independent and calm, affectionate and gentle, but not tolerating any violence against itself. Most likely, the Persian will shy away from vigorous affection and noisy children's games, but if the child is not too “motor” and is able to show sensitivity to the pet, the cat will become his best friend. The Persian cat is a good way to express yourself. If you don’t know how to paint oil paintings, sing in opera, conquer Everest or jump with a parachute, raise a healthy Persian and raise him correctly! In everything connected with the Persian cat, from combing fur to intimate conversations on long winter evenings, there is some kind of meditative, contemplative, creative, constructive principle. A Persian cat is like clay, from which you can fashion a beautiful vessel, but you have to constantly take into account the opinion of this “clay,” but this makes the vessel even more valuable...

Summary: the Persian cat requires not only complex care, but also a thoughtful, respectful and sensitive attitude towards its person. It is perfect as pet, both for a single person and for a young couple or a large family. Due to complex coat care and delicate mental organization, the Persian will feel good both in a city apartment and in a country house, but in no case will it be suitable as a “street” cat or a mousecatcher. The Persian's purpose is to reign in the homes and hearts of people!

Anna Kurtz

Persians are rightfully considered one of the most popular breeds of domestic cats. They have a captivating appearance and are distinguished by a calm disposition. Persian breed cats are known in every corner of the world. The only drawback of the Persian cat is poor health, but all the advantages of the breed cover this nuance.

Description of the Persians

The Persian cat has a flattened muzzle with soft features, very thick and tall hair, a short nose, and a massive head in relation to the body. The combination of these appearance characteristics makes her very attractive. In Ukraine this breed is the most popular. But the first mentions of this pet were found in records belonging to the Victorian era.

Currently, there are two varieties of the breed: standard and decorative. The latter variety has a rounded head with small ears, large eyes and a flattened nose. A small but voluminous body is completed by a curly tail. The average Persian cat has a slightly longer nose, and this is the main difference between the varieties. The general thing is beautiful wool of various shades and patterns, kind and piercing gaze, melodious and quiet voice.

The modern Persian cat is the result of long-term selection. Everyone in the breed united positive traits, which have been selected by people over several centuries. A balanced character, intelligence and affection are combined in the Persian cat. Unlike other breeds, the Persian is attached to the owner and the family in which he lives. He is always where his family is, and does not seek solitude.

History of the Persians

For more than a century and a half, long-haired Persian cats have occupied pride of place among breeders in many countries. The history of the breed is connected with Persia (modern Iran), where cats with thick, soft and at the same time pleasant to the touch fur appeared. The ancestors of today's Persian cats were first recorded in 1626. At that time, the Italian Pietro della Valle was traveling through Persia. He turned his attention to unusual cats and brought several individuals to Italy. The Italian wrote about his trip to the East and his acquaintance with oriental cats in the book “A Trip to Turkey, Persia and India in 54 Letters.” The cats brought to Italy were not similar to modern representatives of the breed. The differences were: big ears and long straight noses.

The next mention of the Persians in Europe comes in the 1760s. The famous French biologist and naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc mentioned them in his works. The cats the biologist wrote about came from Afghanistan, Persia, and Turkey. Engravings that have survived from the 18th century show that those cats were more reminiscent of modern ones: their skulls were not always wide and their noses were flat. Therefore, biologists do not exclude the relationship between Persian and Turkish Angora cats. At that time, Persian cats were called Asian and Russian. The direct connection of cats with Asia was clearly traced, but let’s try to figure out why Russian. Some biologists claim that Rus' is the birthplace of such cats. This is due to the thick coat pet. And only then cats were noticed in Asia. There is a second version of the appearance of pets: they came from crossing a cat with a manul. This is a small wild animal with characteristics similar to the Persians: thick long hair, wide body, squat figure.

Purposeful selection of Persians began in the 19th century in Britain. This is how a new breed of pets appeared with a wide muzzle, small ears located far from each other, large wide-set eyes, a snub nose and many shades of fur.

At the first cat shows in England, the Persian breed was not presented as an independent breed. She belonged to the Asian species on a par with the Angora cat. It was only in 1887 that a new breed officially appeared - the Persian, separated from other breeds.

When Persians arrived in the United States at the end of the 19th century, breeders began to improve the breed. Thus, an extreme breed of Persian cats with a shorter snub nose was developed.

And so, over the years, the Persian breed has become the most popular among “fluffy” cats. Although Persians have a genetic predisposition to certain diseases, their popularity throughout the world is only growing.

Their cute appearance and excellent character together allow them to win love for Persian cats for many years. The animal's naive, childlike appearance with touching eyes attracts and fascinates people. There is an old parable that says that such a cat was made by a wizard using fire, bright stars and smoke. That is why the cat combines a soft character and attractive appearance.

Personality of the Persian cat

Persians are wonderful companions. Cats are very sensitive to their owners' mood swings. They always know how to console a person.

It's hard to imagine a Persian cat living in wild conditions, without warmth and care. She's not suited for this. Not only because of the difficulties in caring for the coat and possible diseases, but also because of the urgent need for communication, attention, and tenderness.

Unlike many cats, Persians are very peaceful. They are friends with both adults and small children. As a result of selection, Persian cats are absolutely devoid of aggression. You don’t have to worry about your Persian biting a small child. He would rather run away than do this. But he will not want to be alone for a long time, and will soon return to his offender.

Persians are a very peaceful cat breed. They get along well with children and all family members. Persian cats are not aggressive. Animals are incapable of apparent reason bite or scratch. On the contrary, they are very patient. If kids clumsily play with a Persian, the cat will simply try to run away. As a rule, after some time the Persian returns to take part in the game again and be the center of attention.

These cute pets are quite obedient and do not damage property. Persians are considered quiet only in appearance, but in fact the cat has a lot of energy and is quite active. But if you compare it with other breeds, then compared to them it is more balanced.

Caring for Persians

Of course, Persians require careful care. And all thanks to the long and voluminous fur of the animal. If the owners don’t want to find fur all over the house and want the Persian to look beautiful at the same time, they will have to take care of it.

The Persian cat requires periodic bathing - 1-2 times a week and daily combing of the coat with a fine comb. Upon completion of the procedure, the remaining hairs from the animal’s body are collected with a damp terry glove. Following these simple rules, Persian fur will not cause you any trouble.

In the summer, Persians can be cut with a special clipper, avoiding places on the tail.

These cats need regular eye wiping with a damp soft cloth.

The animal needs to trim its claws or teach the Persian to sharpen them independently on a scratching post.

To avoid the formation of tartar, Persians are fed dry food from time to time.

The Persian cat does not resist during grooming, which makes its owners very happy.

Persian cat nutrition

Without proper care and feeding, your Persian will develop health problems, including gastrointestinal tract. You need to know which foods a person should not eat natural nutrition to avoid stomach problems:

any types of fatty meat or poultry;
any types of bones, both meat and fish;
fatty sea fish and all types of river fish;
dairy products with a high percentage of fat;
vegetables and fruits: onions, garlic, peas, corn, potatoes, eggplants, grapes, persimmons, avocados, and nuts;
mushrooms;
yeast baked goods;
seasonings;
smoked meats, sausages;
confectionery.

The daily diet of a Persian cat should consist of 60% lean meats. Chicken or turkey breast, veal, and rabbit are good options. The meat must be processed: boiled or baked. Raw meat can be given only after deep freezing. Sometimes (1-2 times a week) you need to offer your cat meat by-products. To a healthy pet A couple of times a week they feed low-fat sea fish. Preferably cod, pollock or pollock. The fish must be boiled and removed from the bones. If a cat has kidney problems, then this product should be excluded from the diet.

ABOUT Vegetables in the daily diet of a Persian cat should make up 30%. You can offer them boiled, raw or baked. Essential vegetables in a Persian's diet are: broccoli, cabbage, carrots, beets and pumpkin. You can also add greens and lettuce to your food.

The remaining 10% of the diet should be cereals: buckwheat, rice and barley grits. Also, for the Persian cat’s digestive health, you need to offer her low-fat dairy products no food additives. Unrefined vegetable oil contains many vitamins, so it can also be used in cat food in small quantities.

If the cat eats natural food, then it is necessary to regularly replenish the supply of vitamins. Twice a year: in spring and autumn, you should give your Persian a special complex of vitamins designed for this breed. They should be selected taking into account the age and individual characteristics of the animal.

An excellent option for feeding your Persian is special premium quality food. Can be used both dry and wet food. They contain 40% meat. In addition, they contain special minerals and vitamins, necessary for a cat. It is better not to offer cheap food and food from the economy segment to your Persian. They do not contain the required amount of natural meat and can be harmful to the cat's health.

Diseases of the Persian cat

At proper care With a Persian cat she will not have any health problems. Sometimes it is possible to manifest hereditary diseases. This is due, first of all, to the purity of the animal’s breed. During the selection process, in addition to the positive characteristics of the breed, some diseases were inherited.

Persian kidneys are considered the most vulnerable. Often, a cat can inherit polycystic kidney disease. This subsequently turns into renal failure- a very serious and dangerous disease.

Kittens often inherit progressive retinal atrophy. It first appears between the ages of one and two months of a cat's life. At four months, the kitten completely loses its vision.

The peculiarity of the structure of the muzzle leads to diseases of the cat’s nose and eyes. If they are not cleaned on time, an infection may occur. Also, due to the flat structure of the skull, there are problems with the cat’s teeth. They appear as a dark coating, inflammatory processes, and in neglected form- loss of teeth. Sick teeth can cause other teeth to appear. internal diseases animal.

The most life-threatening disease for a Persian cat is heart disease - hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It occurs at any age of the animal, as it is inherited from the parents. Most often, it manifests itself in older individuals. Sudden cardiac arrest and death of the animal are possible. Of all cat heart diseases, this disease ranks first, so when choosing a kitten, you need to carefully study its pedigree for inheritance of such a disease.

It is also important to monitor the timely deworming of the animal, otherwise the Persians will have .

Characteristics of Persians in the table

Iran

Persian cat video

Persians are very calm and peaceful animals that cannot imagine life without their owner. In his absence, the cats will sleep, but if the owners are at home, the Persian will be close to them. The appearance of this breed is especially noteworthy - a cute face and a lot of long hair make the individual very beautiful. However, you should understand that the cat will have to be constantly combed and even after this there will always be a lot of cat hair at home. Therefore, this breed is not suitable for allergy sufferers.

Persians are well suited for large families with children, as these pets are very sociable and friendly.

Persian cats are well known and popular all over the world. Thanks to their amazing long, silky coat and unusual appearance, they have become favorites of titled persons, pop and movie stars. Passionate lovers of this breed were: Cardinal de Richelieu, kings Louis XIV, and later Louis XV, the beautiful Marie Antoinette.

There are two versions about the origin of the breed. According to the first, she was brought to Europe by Pietro della Valle’s companion, the Georgian girl Tinatin. An aristocrat and traveler became interested in long-haired cats, unusual for Italy. But the further fate of these animals is unknown.

The scientist Nicole-Claude Farbi de Peires, who corresponded with the traveler, was amazed by the cats described and ordered several specimens of exotic animals from Turkey. The fashion for Angora cats quickly spread to the French aristocracy. In the XVI-XVII centuries. they became a symbol of wealth and belonging to noble families.

The second version is more likely, as it is based on genetics. According to her, Persian cats descended from long-haired Russian cats. From Russia, pussies were exported by merchants to the East - to Persia, Turkey, Iran. Perhaps already there they crossed with wild species, in particular the Pallas's cat. Thanks to him, Persian cats differ from Turkish Angoras.

From France, both species came to Great Britain. Thanks to the efforts of British felinologists, long-haired beauties were not only divided into two independent species, but also received different colors. In the USA, the external type of individuals was changed. But poor health and short lifespan forced the anomalies to be corrected, and as a result, a new type of Persian appeared.

Description and appearance

There are 3 official types of Persians, differing in the location of the nose mirror:

obsolete - the edge of the nose is 5-6 mm, and sometimes more, located below the edge of the orbit;
modern short-nosed - the upper edge of the speculum is located only 1-2 mm above the lower eyelid or level with it;
extreme (American) - the upper edge of the nose is located above the lower edge of the eye socket, and the stop is on the line of the inner corners of the eyes.

The WCF banned the sharply extreme type of head of modern Persians - an unacceptably deep depression of the bridge of the nose and a nasal mirror raised above the line connecting the inner corners of the eyes.

Breed standards

Despite minor variations, the standards of world associations have much in common:

Colors

Today there are the following fur coat colors:

Tortoiseshell – black-red, cream-blue, red-chocolate, lilac tortoiseshell. The main requirement is color saturation and depth, as well as a symmetrical arrangement of “notches”. The eyes of such a cat are the color of old copper. Torti is characteristic only of females; in males, the gene responsible for this color variant causes sterility.
Pewter is an unusual color that gives it the name “tin cat.” On the general white background there are grayish shadows localized on the back, tail, and paws. The color of the iris is old gold or copper, bordered by a clear dark ring.
Marble or tabby. The base of the hair is golden brown with a dark brown or black tip (black marbled). The eyes are dark orange or copper, the edges of the eyelids are outlined in black. Blue marble has the main color of the fur - ivory and only the tip - gray-blue.
Cameo - white undercoat, upper body, head, sides painted red. There is a creamy cameo.
Spotted – a combination of several colors, and white is always present.
Color point (Siamese) – colored spots on a light background. Location and contrast are taken into account. The absence of dark spots on a light background and white spots on a dark one.
Harlequin - all colors, colored spots occupy 1/5-1/6 of the color. The rest of the fur is white. The spots are scattered throughout the body.
Smoky - the hairs are colored in the main color with a base of silver-gray tone. The Silver Smoke has a pearly silver base color with dark “tan markings” on the upper body and head. Eyes range from bright green, blue to old copper color.
Chinchilla - the very tip of the hairs is colored, the rest of it is painted white.
Tiger - all colors. The stripes running from the back to the belly have a clear pattern, with a dark stripe running down the back. The contrasting color forms an M on the forehead and spirals on the cheeks. There is a double continuous necklace on the neck, the tail and paws are covered with rings.

There are a huge number of color and pattern variations.

Character of Persian cats

Persians are quite phlegmatic; they prefer to sit comfortably next to their owner and bask. But an affectionate and good-natured disposition, combined with phlegmatism and non-conflict, give representatives of this breed charm and emphasizes their “toy-like” nature.

These animals are distinguished by their intelligence and good learning ability. The cat carefully monitors the actions, facial expressions and mood of the owner, trying to “match”. Incredibly loyal to the owner, they will empathize, “treat”, touchingly caress to lift their spirits.

They get along well in families with children and tolerate their pranks and harassment. They are unforgiving and will never behave aggressively. On trips and travels they are unpretentious, quiet, if their adored owner is next to them.

Love for the owner, desire for care and attention - main feature character of the Persian cat. In childhood they are playful and funny. They can retain these traits into adulthood if others often play with them.

Lifespan

On average, the life expectancy of Persian cats is 11-15 years. Extreme types live shorter lives, which is due to their structure and the presence of anomalies that affect their health. The classic type is more resilient and different good health and longevity.

Persians love to watch life from the window. Hunting instincts suppress the sense of self-preservation, and the pet may fall out if the window opening is not secured with a strong mesh. When walking, you also need to keep the cat on a harness - he will trustingly go to “get acquainted” with the lapdog and the Great Dane, and will not be afraid of the traffic flow. The main rule of keeping Persians is to ensure the safety and comfort of the pet.

Care and hygiene

The main thing in caring for your Persian is maintaining his luxurious fur coat in proper condition. Combing should be done at least once every 2-3 days. To do this you will need a set of combs:

with rare long teeth for deep combing of strands;
with fine teeth to give the “hairstyle” smoothness.

Trimmers are also used to make the coat well-groomed. To make combing easier, conditioners and antistatic agents are used. You cannot use a powder brush; only high-quality combs with an antistatic coating will help maintain the vibrant shine and silkiness of the coat.

For supporting appearance the pet needs quite frequent bathing - once every 2-3 weeks. Used for bath quality products for long-haired breeds. In order not to spoil the wool, it is dried naturally - blotted with a towel, thoroughly combed and air-dried in a warm room without drafts.

Ear care does not differ from the generally established rules applicable to any breed. Once every 7 days, the ear is examined and wiped with a swab treated in warm water or a special means. The tampon should be squeezed out thoroughly so that liquid does not enter the pet’s ear canal.

The characteristic structure of the Persian's muzzle causes increased pressure in the lacrimal glands, which is why Persians have more lacrimation than other breeds. If there are no eye diseases, then the tear fluid is transparent with a slight brown tint. It is enough to carefully blot them with a special napkin or soft cloth. It is recommended to carry out the procedure daily, and then your Persian will not have problems with his eyes.

The claws on the front paws must be trimmed once every 14 days, and on the hind paws - monthly. The rules for caring for your pet’s teeth are the same. With regular maintenance of cleanliness and health, the entire hygienic procedure takes no more than 5 minutes. per day.

Nutrition of Persian cats

For these luxurious beauties, proper balanced diet– meat, cereals, vegetables in a ratio of 6:1:3, respectively. The basis of the diet is amino acids. Lean light meat can be doused with boiling water, frozen or boiled. Under no circumstances should you give pork. It can cause digestive upset and cause helminthiasis.

An excellent source of amino acids are quail eggs. They are given to Persians raw, but not more than 1 egg per day. To provide your pet with energy, you need healthy carbohydrates - cereal porridge, flavored with a small amount vegetable oil to strengthen and shine the coat.

Persians do not refuse dry food. It is important that it is of good quality and contains an increased amount of amino acids.

Diseases and breed defects

The following diseases occur in Persians:

polycystic kidney disease;
heart failure, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy;
progressive retinal atrophy;
skin diseases, including deadly basal cell skin cancer;
dysplasia of limb joints;
dental pathologies.
metabolic diseases - obesity, diabetes.

To protect your pet, you need to regularly examine it at the veterinary hospital, get all the required vaccinations, give supplements to strengthen bones, and deworm it.

Despite the fact that the breed has long been popular and there are a huge number of offers to buy a Persian kitten from a private person, you should not take risks and buy a pet from professionals who are responsible for its health and breed characteristics.

What to pay attention to

First of all, you should pay attention to the availability of relevant documents - pedigree, passport, vaccinations and genetic tests. It’s worth getting to know the kitten’s parents, looking at the rest of the babies in the litter - are they all healthy and do they meet the breed standard? You should visually assess the baby – size, appearance.

The health of a kitten can be judged by indirect signs - activity, behavior in a group and with strangers, movements. Healthy kittens are large, active, cheerful, and not shy. They have clean, clear eyes without heavy discharge. The gums should be pink. Breath is fresh, not foul.

Persian kitten price

The cost of a Persian reaches 9,000 rubles. and higher.

Historically, ordinary domestic cats and domestic cat breeds are especially in demand in Russia, however, there are “imported” breeds, the demand for which never falls. These are Angora, Siamese, British and, of course, Persian cats.

And, I must admit, these tailed weasels are well aware of their privileged position and successfully know how to use it! Many people keep cats as purely decorative animals, and the Persian cat breed meets this requirement 100%!

Legends of the origin of the breed

According to one of the many legends surrounding the elegant, fluffy beauty, she was created by an ancient magician to treat the daughter of the Persian Shah, who was languishing in melancholy and loneliness amid luxury and hypocritical worship. As they would say now: “I was in a state of severe depression.” The girl was fading away before our eyes.

The magician, introducing himself as a doctor, placed two sapphire gems, sparkling like stars, on the sick woman’s lap, struck a spark with a crystal and lit a cigarette. The chambers were immediately filled with clouds of such thick fragrant smoke that it was impossible to see anything through them.

When the smoke cleared, the magician was no longer there, and on the princess’s lap lay big cat- gray and fluffy, like a smoky fog, with eyes sparkling with a sapphire shine and a warm soul like sparks of fire.

It must be recalled that until the 18th century. a Persian cat was recognized as such only if it had long fluffy fur of an exclusively gray-blue color with bright eyes that matched the coat.

The first gray-blue Persians that came to Europe, of course, looked somewhat different from the modern four types of varieties of Persian cats, however, even at that time they amazed with the luxury of their fur coat and docile, shy disposition.

At one time they even tried to call them blue Angoras, but the difference between the type of build of these two representatives of the Middle East is so obvious that this idea was abandoned. Even the long hair of these cats varies so much in density and properties that classifying them into a single group is simply stupid.

Progenitor of the Persian cat

In the formation of Turkish breeds, most likely, desert and steppe cats, such as the Hausa - dry and high-legged, living near Ankara and the Armenian Highlands, took an active part, and the skeleton of the Persian cat was clearly assembled from something stronger.

DNA genealogy, having recently enthusiastically broken down all established concepts and assumptions into haplotypes and planted new branches of knowledge about chromosome loci on the drying up family trees, helpfully offers a version of the manul cat.

However, the similarity of these two cats is obvious even without any scientific examination:

Stocky, dense body with heavy bones.
The skeleton is wide in the chest and massive in the shoulders and sacrum.
The legs are short, powerful and thick.
The paws are large, round, heavily pubescent.
The head is wide and round, on a short thick neck.
The jaws are wide, strong and strong, the chin is powerfully developed.
The ears are small, with rounded tips, set wide and low on the sides of the head, turned forward, tending to “run away” closer to the back of the head.
The eyes are large, round, widely spaced, shiny and expressive.

If you decided that this is a description of the Persian cat breed, then you will have to be disappointed, this is an excerpt from the description a separate type cat family - steppe manul.

In the Pallas's traditional habitat, winters are harsh and snowy, hence the rich fur cover throughout the animal's body, especially magnificent on the neck, chest, belly and shortened tail. Isn’t that where the most luxurious areas of fur are found among domestic Persians?

But there is also a significant difference between the Pallas' cat and the Persian: the cats' diametrically opposed characters.

If the Pallas cat has become famous for the disgusting character of an old misanthrope, prone to aggression, then the Persian cat, on the contrary, has a soft, shy and obedient character. Unlike their wild ancestor, Persians are attractive, gentle and undemanding creatures, friendly to people and other animals. The character of the Persian cat can be described in one word: “No conflict!” Verdict about the Pallas's cat: “Cannot be domesticated!”

So how did the ferocious manul end up as a pet?

Migration version

Since in the history of Siberian and Norwegian cats the manul also managed to inherit, but the cats did not lose their wonderful character due to this, and even excelled in the quality of wool, a version appeared about the migration of the very first hybrids of cats of the North and the Urals (areas with a cold climate) to the territory eastern countries along with the traders. It was in those areas that the already rich undercoat of the Pallas' cat developed so much that the blood hair had to make room significantly, giving way to a dense underfur.

Then Persian cats can easily be attributed to the originally indigenous breeds of Russia, which first came to Persia, and from there, in the middle of the 16th century, they moved to France and Italy, settling throughout Europe and finally falling into the tenacious loving hands of English and American breeders.

The theory of such double migration is supported by both German and English felinologists, while Russian ones are simply sure that this is how it all happened!

The only thing left to do was put the cat back after the trip into show order by adjusting the density and length of the coat, giving the head a unique, recognizable look and adding new colors to the palette - developing standards. The breeders coped with this task perfectly, and today the Persian cat breed is the most popular and most sought after not only in Persia (now Iran), but also a recognized leader in popularity throughout the world.

Registration of the Persian cat breed

So, fate treated the migrant cat kindly. As a result of systematic selection work, primarily by British breeders, cats acquired not only a new appearance, but also a new homeland, where Queen Victoria took them under the personal protection. Thanks to such high patronage, no money or time was spared on the cat.

Breeding and improvement of the Persian breed – shining example human intervention in the semi-native breed, because No animal has undergone such significant changes in its appearance under human activity as the Persian cat.

Having acquired a new “face”, the animal did not lose one iota of its charm, becoming the prototype of a living soft and fluffy toy, and the variety of colors only increased its charm and desire to have such a “toy” at home. The combination of a large head with a short upturned nose and a round chin with sideburns and a wide fur collar, large expressive eyes and a round compact body, completely hidden under the foam of silky hair, led to the growth of wild popularity among the British. After the exhibition in London in 1887, the updated Persians were given the status of a separate breed and allowed to be bred to these exact standards.

The Persian cat became one of the first breeds officially included in the UK domestic cat registry - National Cat Club. True, it was only Persian blue cat, and various color variations occurred as a subbreed of the Persian - Iranian Longhair.

They came under this name at the end of the 19th century. in the USA, where they instantly won the sympathy and love of ordinary Americans, and American breeders set about bringing cats to their concept of the standard of beauty.

Types of Persians

Today, there are four main types (varieties) of Persians accepted for breeding:

British type or classic old type. With it, the cat's nose is wide and short, the edge of the earlobe is no more than 6 mm below the line of the lower eyelid. Classic type - Classic.
The short-nose open type has become the most popular. The edge of the lobe is in line with the lower eyelids of the eyes. Sshort open type - Open.
The extreme type “speaks” for itself - the lobe is flush with the line passing through the inner corners of the huge, wide-set eyes. Extreme type - Extreme.
The type of extreme extremity is piggy. The lobe is raised to the upper eyelid and even higher, the bridge of the nose is “failed”, the bones are weakened, the weight is small. Pig (piggy) type - Piggy.

The last two types are disputed by many felinological associations as bringing suffering to this meek, patient beauty. In particular, in Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Austria and Canada, such animals are not allowed into show rings.

Colors of the Persian breed

It’s hard to believe, but 100 years ago, lovers of fluffy-haired Persians had only four colors available: gray (blue), white, red (red) and black.

Blue Persian

Gray cats captivated poets and artists of the Renaissance; in India they have been known and appreciated since the 16th century. Even then they were already called blue. However, their dirty gray color left much to be desired.

Longhaired Persians only got their true blue coat color when they fell into the hands of British breeders.

In Great Britain, these cats are still exhibited in a separate class and are used in the breeding of new lines, as an example of the Persian type of cat.

In essence, blue is a genetically weakened black. The hair should be dyed evenly along its entire length, without any stripes or undyed areas.

The lighter the blood hair and undercoat, the better, besides, both hair and undercoat should be the same color, and the eyes should certainly be a bright copper or deep orange color.

Attention! Kittens are born with blue eyes, and the proper color appears in them only by 5-6 months.

For the first time, Persians of such even color were exhibited in 1889, 2 years after the recognition of the breed, and since then they have firmly reigned on the exhibition platform.

White Persian cat

Despite the fact that white cats in England are considered a symbol of prosperity and stable social status, powerful fluffy Persians of this color became of interest to breeders only in the middle of the 19th century. The basis was taken from a blue Persian and an ordinary “hotel” cat white, of which at that time many lived in inns and hotels in England.

The resulting specimens were first exhibited in 1903. in London, and since then their popularity has only grown.

There are 3 varieties of completely snow-white Persians:

White with blue eyes. These cats are reluctantly accepted into the United States because... among them deaf individuals are still often found.
White with orange eyes. The most desirable type of Persian, not subject to any shortcomings.
White with odd eyes (one is blue, the other is orange or yellow). These cats' litters often produce kittens with an elongated wedge-shaped muzzle - the influence of the white Angora cats that came to the UK from France is too strong.

White Persian litters are small, rarely more than 4 kittens, which are born “pink”. After a couple of days, the thin birth fur is replaced by a dense “kitten” underfur of a snow-white color and appears on the crown or chin dark spot- a sign of the absence of deafness.

Leaving a kitten without this sign is a big responsibility, because caring for a Persian cat (cat) suffering from congenital absence hearing, you will need a special one.

Deaf cats and cats are not allowed for breeding in almost all countries.

Red Persian cat

The correct term is “red”. This does not mean that the cat wears a fur coat of scarlet or burgundy color, it means that their fur coat is a rich orange, carrot color. Unfortunately, breeding an animal with flaming flowing coat of even color is a great success for the breeder. Usually the red color is accompanied by undesirable tabby markings, so there are very few specimens of the correct red color, and they are especially valuable.

The vast majority of this type of fur is worn by Persian cats, but there are disappointingly few red cats.

Breeding Red Persians is a troublesome business: all Red Persian kittens are born red with a tabby pattern, and it is not possible to find out which of them will be truly red and which will join the ranks of marbled tabbies until a year later.

There is no point in overlapping the red-red parents with each other - this will only enhance the tabby pattern in their offspring. The best option is a red mother and a black father or any other solid color.

By the way, thanks to experiments on obtaining a purely red (red) color, wonderful Persian “tortoiseshell” kittens were obtained - tortoiseshell and calico (tortoiseshell with white).

Black Persian cat

There is no reliable information about where and when the Black Persians appeared. It is only known that black cats have always been found on the islands. Unlike Europe, the black color of a pet's fur was supposed to attract good luck and treasure on the islands. Surprisingly, even the wave of the Inquisition, when pets were burned at the stake along with their owners, bypassed black cats - only stripes were considered dangerous. Therefore, it will not seem strange that there was a great abundance of black tailed cats in England, and getting a black Persian cat became a matter of honor for breeders, and should not have caused any special problems. In reality, everything turned out to be somewhat more complicated.

The black Persian cat has stalled. Kittens from two jet-black parents were produced with shades of brown-red or lightened undercoat up to blue. As a result of these attempts, Black Smoky, Silver, Silver and Tan were obtained, a “base” for the famous Chinchilla was obtained, but pure black kittens remained extremely rare. The situation has not changed to this day.

Not everyone succeeds in getting a coal-black kitten and not right away. These cats are even more valuable among Persian lovers.

Ideally, a black Persian kitten should have everything black: one color for the long fur that extends from the body, a smooth black undercoat without “rust” or white hairs, no tabby markings throughout the body and on the head. Both the paw pads and the nose should be inky black, even the claws should have the maximum dark color. And on all this black velvet splendor, copper-orange eyes should flicker, like coals of a fire fanned by the wind.

This is exactly what visitors to the exhibition of black Persians saw in 1891. Since then, the standard has not changed one iota, despite the fact that it is very difficult to obtain such copies.

Persians of exotic colors

Today, Persian cats have more than 400 colors, obtained in different time and different breeders, but it is difficult to ignore such colors of cat’s coat as chinchilla and Himalayan.

Persian chinchilla

Although the real South American rodent chinchilla has a fur color completely opposite to that of the chinchilla Persian, this name has been assigned to the cat. A chinchilla mouse has light hair at the ends and dark towards the body, while a chinchilla cat has both underfur and guard hair that are light to white, only the very tip has a dark contrasting color - speckled. Depending on this marking, the Persian chinchilla is classified into different classes.

Light speckling at the very tip of the blood guard hair at 1/8 – Persian chinchilla or cameo with a veil.

Medium speckled, hair colored 2-3/8 - silver chinchilla or cameo with tan marks.

Deep color to the middle of the hair and deeper - smoky Persian chinchilla or smoky cameo.

Cameo are cats whose main coat color is red or cream (weakened red), all other chinchillas have specks of black or blue.

All Persian chinchillas have eyes green color or green with a bluish tint.

Himalayan cat or colorpoint

This Persian was lucky to secure three names: Himalayan, colorpoint or gimmicat. She is often mistaken for a long-haired Siamese, but she is... clean water Persian with point markings of the Siamese type.

When mated with Persians of the same color, the Gimmicket's points can turn out to be of very different colors.

The breed was recognized as independent in the USA in 1957, but until now only cats that meet the National Cat Club (UK) standard are accepted for judging.

Care and character of the breed

The Persian cat has established itself as a calm, even shy creature, not prone to intrigue and adventure. She is obedient and undemanding, affectionate and not at all aggressive unless teased. However, you shouldn’t leave her to her own devices: due to lack of attention to her person, the cat can become depressed and even die from melancholy. The character of Persian cats can be described in a few words: affectionate, unpretentious, sociable, quiet and obedient. And with such character qualities, they are also elegant, beautiful and restrained in English.

The main disadvantage of Persians, from the point of view of a busy person, is precisely their luxurious coat, which requires constant care. A cat's shedding lasts all year round, so a Persian cat (or rather, its fur) requires a lot of daily care.

Firstly, dead hair, if not removed, naturally ends up in the cat's stomach, where it forms dense clumps. Such a lump can block the stomach or intestinal tract, which may lead to surgery.

Secondly, hair that is not combed out in time forms tangles, the removal of which is a very painful procedure for a cat.

Caring for a Persian cat involves combing the coat daily with a wide-tooth comb and then thoroughly brushing it with a natural bristle brush. You need to comb not only the cat itself, but also the fur on its paws and between its toes.

Regular daily eye examinations will help you not to miss the onset of a disease such as blocked tear ducts. Unfortunately, Persians of all varieties and types are prone to this disease. It is strictly necessary to keep the eyes of Persian cats clean!

Many, wanting to have such a magnificent animal at home, strive to buy a kitten, without even thinking about how much work and care it will require and are not even curious about how to care for the baby. A baby Persian needs exactly the same daily care as an adult cat. And perhaps even more!

Before you decide to purchase such a gentle creature, weigh your options again and accept correct solution. But, if you have enough time and patience, you can be sure that in the “face” of this cat you will get an excellent, loving and devoted feline companion for many years. The lifespan of Persian cats is on average 15 years, but there are cases where these cats lived much longer - up to 20. Such a kitten costs up to 30,000 rubles.

Nutrition and health

The health of Persian cats is good, the only dangers are injuries and genetic abnormalities, therefore, excluding the last two points, to the question: “How long do Persian cats live at home?” - we can safely answer: “For a long time!”

As a rule, there are no problems with the nutrition of Persian cats - these representatives feline kind they are unpretentious in food, unless, of course, you have spoiled your pet to the extent that you are forced to read out loud to her the characteristics of the food that you are going to pour into her bowl, waiting for her approval. This behavior of the owner will seem strange even for a cat!