The Persian is India's most popular pedigree cat‚ and with that coat‚ that personality‚ that permanently unimpressed expression‚ it is absolutely clear why․
It is a high-maintenance breed‚ and our climate makes it even more so‚ but none of that is a reason not to have one․ It is a reason to know what you are taking on․
How Do You Recognise A Persian?
Two features are prominent․ The coat is long, double-layered and dense, so it is well equipped for cold weather. If left in their natural state, the fibres will melt, retaining heat against the skin
The face is the other one․ Persians are brachycephalic: selectively bred to have a flat face․ That affects breathing, tear drainage, jaw alignment and heat tolerance all at once. The more modern show-type Persians with very flat faces have more problems than the older long-nosed doll-face type․
Grooming Is The Whole Job
Daily brushing. Not weekly. Ten minutes with a wide-toothed metal comb, right down to the skin rather than skimming the top like many people do. Skip a few days and you've got mats․ The mats will pull on the skin and are painful, and they must be shaved out and the dog is normally sedated for this. Common areas for matting are the back of the ears‚ under the armpits‚ under the belly‚ ruff‚ and rear․
Persians tear constantly and need their eyes wiped daily. The flat face does not drain properly. The wet area around the eyes should be wiped daily with a damp cloth or veterinarian-approved wipes and dried to prevent the reddish-brown staining of the fur below the eyes and potential infection.
Bathing every three to four weeks with a commercial cat shampoo is necessary, after which the body must be carefully dried, as a wet undercoat during the monsoon season is a prime source for fungal infections. A sanitary trim is also recommended, since Persians are usually poor self-groomers. Nails need to be clipped every two weeks, ears should be checked weekly, and professional grooming is done every two to three months.
Surviving Indian Summers
This heat is one of the most difficult conditions to deal with for Persians․ While panting helps cats lose excess heat, it is less effective for flat-faced cats. A double coat built for cold doesn't do much good at 40 degrees․
- Keep them indoors in a cooled room through the hot months; a fan by itself is often not sufficient in peak summer․
- Never leave a Persian in a parked car, even for a few minutes. It is fatal․
- Symptoms of heat distress include open-mouthed breathing‚ drooling‚ lethargy‚ and staggering․ Placement in a cool room and a call to the veterinarian are needed․
- Encourage water intake: place multiple water bowls around the house‚ offer a pet fountain for cats who prefer running water‚ and feed wet food daily․
- Groom more, not less, in summer. A matted coat clings to the skin and retains more heat.
- Leave the summer trim to a professional, and although a lion cut is common among Indian owners, a cat in and out of the sun is less susceptible.
Health Problems To Know About
The big one is polycystic kidney disease. It is inherited, seen in most of our history, and develops cysts that progressively destroy the kidneys. Ask the breeder if the parents were DNA tested for these conditions and if they have the results. Responsible breeders will have done these tests. If the breeder is blank, walk away.
Other problems sometimes encountered include noisy breathing, low exercise tolerance, and surgery in extreme cases, as well as excessive tearing, rolling in of the eyelid (entropion), and corneal damage due to the bulging eye shape. A short jaw impedes dental spacing, so they require regular dental evaluations. Frequent hairballs can build because so much of these cats' fur is swallowed. Low water intake causes urinary problems.
Feeding a Persian
- Hairball-control formula helps considerably.
- Wet food daily. Persians are prone to urinary and kidney trouble, and hydration is the cheapest protection you have.
- Kibble shape matters. Standard kibble is difficult for flat-faced cats to pick up, but breed-specific formulas use an appropriate shape.
- Raised, shallow bowls: The flat face and deep bowl don't mix very well.
Temperament And Home Setup
Persians are calm, loving and placid and are well suited to apartment living. They are not particularly effective watchdogs, but that is one reason to keep a cat indoors. Provide a low-sided litter tray with unscented clumping litter, netting on balconies wherever there is open access, and a cool, quiet area for retreat.
The Honest Cost
Tools for grooming, professional help, breed-specific diet, more vet visits, and eventually, dental care or medication for kidney problems. Budget for this and more, and invest in insurance while the cat is young and before anything is considered a pre-existing condition.
The population of Persians is high, so they are often bred indiscriminately here. Be sure to see the mother cat, ask about the kidney test, check the kittens' eyes and breathing, and be wary if they are sold before eight weeks. Persian and Persian-mix cats often end up in Indian shelters, usually because their owners couldn't cope with all that fur. Definitely worth considering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Persian cats survive Indian summers?
Yes, in a home with air conditioning and proper grooming. However, they can get into serious trouble in a house without air conditioning in the summer.
How often should I brush my Persian?
Daily․ This is the one part of Persian ownership that cannot be reduced․
What is the most serious health problem among Persians?
Polycystic kidney disease․ Always ask whether the parents were DNA-tested for it․
