Persian

Photo: adult cat of Persian breed
Photo: kitten of Persian breed
Checked by animal care professional
Comment Share

Life expectancy

The Persian has a life expectancy of between 12 and 15 years

Temperament

Adult size

Female Between 12 and 14 in
Male Between 12 and 14 in

Adult weight

Female Between 7 and 9 lb
Male Between 7 and 11 lb
Coat colour
Black Brown White Red Cream Blue
Type of coat
Long
Eye colour
Blue
Green
Yellow
Brown

Purchase price

The Persian costs between £250 and £700

Good to know

More details about the Persian

Persian: Origins and history

The Persian’s exact origin has been lost over time. We know that the breed is old and that it was already present during the first feline shows. It is thought that their ancestor is the Turkish Angora and that they come from somewhere in Iran or Turkey (ancient Persia). Their name comes from elsewhere than this suspected source. The first long-haired cats to arrive from Persia in Europe in the 17th century were not Persians, but rather Angoras. From the 19th century, British breeders selected the finest specimens of long-haired cats (sometimes called "Longhair" at the time) to cross with British Shorthairs and / or other European type breeds. The goal was to create a more rounded cat with the long hair of the "Longhair". The breed is born from rigorous selective breeding by breeders driven by the objective of obtaining a precise morphology, that was new and completely unique, at least for the time. We therefore consider the Persian to be an artificial breed.

Despite breed standards that have changed very little since officialisation, today's Persian looks very similar to that of the 19th century. Over time, and with continued selective breeding, their traits have been pushed to the extreme. The head has become more and more round, ears smaller, eyes bigger, nose flatter... This is even more true in the United States. In 1930, the Americans created the "peke-face", a variety whose face is as crushed as possible, unfortunately associated with more respiratory and ocular problems. Even today, there is debate and controversy between breeders of the English type and those of the American type.

Persian: Purchase price

A Persian can cost between £250 and £700. The price will depend on the animal's sex, age at adoption, parents' pedigree, compliance with breed standards, etc. In general, females are slightly more expensive than males. You should expect to the monthly upkeep cost to be around £45, sometimes more. Grooming costs are the main expenses, but high quality food and vet fees will also take up a large part of the budget.

Do you want a Persian cat ?

Oh no...
There are no Persian adoption profiles at the moment...

Animals for adoption

Is the Persian right for you?

take the test

Frequently asked questions

What is the personality of a Persian cat?

Do Persian cats like to cuddle?

Can Persian cats be left alone?

How long does a Persian cat live?

How much does a Persian cat cost?

Leave a comment on this breed
Connect to comment
If you want to share this profile: