Persian Kittens and Cats

Persian kittens and cats are beautiful, elegant and sweet creatures, but they are not suited to busy people who don't have the time or the inclination to look after their coat daily.

They moult a lot, in summer especially, and if they were not brushed regularly, would consume too much of their own fur.

This could lead to an operation to remove the furballs if it got particularly bad and caused a blockage.

Persian kittens and cats are quiet and fairly docile, and do not like to be teased. They are not as agile as many other cats, as their legs are quite short. For this reason they are more suited to apartment life, and should be kept away from traffic or any dangers that require a fast exit (like neighbourhood dogs).

Persian kittens and cats come in a wide variety of colours:

• white persian cats and kittens: three types -
  Blue eyed white, Orange eyed white, and Odd eyed White (one eye blue and the other orange). These cats are prone to be born deaf. It seems to be associated with the combination of white and blue eyed. Even the odd eyed cats are sometimes deaf on the blue eyed side. Sometimes kittens have a few black hairs on top of their heads, which disappears when the kitten grows. This is actually a good sign - it means they will at least have normal hearing in one ear.
  
  
• black persian cats and kittens -
  these solid coat Persians end up with copper or orange eyes in adulthood.
  
  
• blue persian cats and kittens -
  genetically, blue type cats are a "black" variation, probably the result of crossing with a white cat. Eyes are copper or orange.
  
  
• red persian cats and kittens -
  Actually they're coloured orange, and usually have some tabby markings, although they are supposed to be solid in colour. Sometimes the tabby markings disappear when they grow, sometimes not. Their eyes are copper.
  
  
• cream persian cats and kittens -
  They are genetically a "red" variation. Born with faint tabby markings, these usually disappear.
  
  
• bicolour persian cats and kittens -
  Black and white, blue and white, cream and white, or red and white. Good quality bicolours are symmetrical in colour, although this is not easy to achieve. Eyes are copper and orange.
  
  
• Chinchilla and shell cameo persian cats and kittens -
  The coats on these cats are described as "tipped" ie the undercoat is one colour, and the tips of some of the guard hairs are a different colour. The tipping can be light (Chinchillas and shell cameos), medium or heavy (the smokes).
  
  
• shaded persian cats and kittens -
  These are similar to Chinchillas and shell cameos, but the amount of tipping on the hair is greater. Undercoat is usually white.
  
  
• smoke persian cats and kittens -
  At least half of the hair length is tipped. This type of coat needs extra grooming to look its best.
  
  
• tortoiseshell persian cats and kittens -
  More difficult to breed and hence not as common. There are generally only females in this breed of Persians. Males, when they occur, are often sterile.
  
  
• blue cream persian kittens and cats -
  Another breed with only females, its genes are a relative of the tortoiseshell.
  
  
• tortoiseshell and white persian kittens and cats (the calico cat) -
  Female only, with patches of black, red, cream and white. The coat is less likey to matt, but it still needs to be brushed every day.
  
  
• chocolate tortoiseshell and lilac cream persian kittens and cats -
  These are developed from outcrosssing with himalayans.
  
  
• tabby persian kittens and cats -
  Healthier and more independant than other persians. Also docile. Quite striking looking.
  
  
• van persian kittens and cats -
  white with patches of colour on its head, legs and tail.