Persian - Self Cats | Cat Breeds

A gorgeous white Persian sitting happily

A white Persian with the long fluffy coat they are famous for

History

There is some confusion surrounding the exact origins of the Persian cat breed as the history of the breed is unrecorded, however it is agreed that this is an old breed that has been around for centuries. The first record of Persians is from 1620 when Pietro Della Valle imported the ancestors of today's Persians into Italy from Khorasan, Persia. At the same time Nicholas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc imported the breed from Angora, Turkey into to France. The cats from Persia had grey fur and the cats from Turkey had white fur.

Persians popped up in the first cat shows that were held in the UK in the early 1800s. These early cat fanciers wrote the breed standard, which was described as having a round head, short face round full cheeks, cobby body with a deep full chest, and a snub nose with stop. From here the breed was developed into what the modern Persian looks like today. The Persian we see today is probably fairly different from the original Persian cats as they have been selectively bred to had bigger eyes, smaller ears, rounder heads and shorter noses. In 1900 Persian cats started to be exported to America and the breed grew in popularity. The first Persians were white, blue, and silver self colours.

Behaviour

Persians are a sweet natured, affectionate little cat. These are calm and quiet cats, that enjoy being handled and stroked gently. They prefer a quiet household, to a busy one. These cats can sometimes be playful, but a lot of the time they enjoy to laze about the house in their favourite warm spot. Persians aren’t very athletic and you don’t often find them up high as they prefer to lounge around the house. The breed are independant and will be happy enough to spend long periods of time by themselves, but will be pleased when you return and will love any affection you offer them.