The
Persian is a longhaired breed of
cat characterized by its round face and shortened muzzle. Its name refers to Persia, the former name of
Iran, where similar cats are found. Recognized by the
cat fancy since the late 19th century, it was developed first by the English, and then mainly by American breeders after the
Second World War. In Britain, it is called the
Longhair or
Persian Longhair.
The
selective breeding carried out by breeders has allowed the development of a wide variety of coat colors, but has also led to the creation of increasingly
flat-faced Persians. Favored by fanciers, this head structure can bring with it a number of health problems. As is the case with the
Siamese breed, there have been efforts by some breeders to preserve the older type of cat with a more pronounced muzzle, which is more popular with the general public. The hereditary
polycystic kidney disease is prevalent in the breed, affecting almost half the population in some countries.
The placid and unpretentious nature of the Persian confers a propensity for apartment living. It has been the most popular breed in the United States for many years but its popularity has seen a decline in Britain and France.
Origin
In general, it's not clear when longhaired cats first appeared, as there are no
African Wildcats, which are believed to be ancestors of domesticated cats, with long fur. There were claims in the 19th century that the gene responsible for long hair was introduced through hybridization with the
Pallas cat, however, research in the early 20th century refutes this theory.
The first documented ancestors of the Persian were imported from
Khorasan, Persia into Italy in 1620 by
Pietro della Valle, and from Angora (now
Ankara), Turkey into France by
Nicholas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc at around the same time. The Khorasan cats were grey coated while those from Angora were white. From France, they soon reached Britain.
Longhaired cats were also imported to Europe from Afghanistan, Burma, China and Russia. Interbreeding of the various types were common especially between
Angoras and Persians
.
Recent genetic research indicates that present day Persians are related not to cats from the
Near East but to cats from Western Europe. The researchers stated that "Even though the early Persian cat may have in fact originated from ancient Persia, the modern Persian cat has lost its
phylogeographical signature."
Development
Persians and Angoras
Traditional Persian cat
Himalayan
Exotic Shorthair
Chinchilla