Chinchilla Persian

The colour of the tipping can be black/seal, blue, grey-slate, lilac, chocolate.

The coat of the Persian Chinchilla has a very light base, only one-eighth of the length of each hair is coloured. From the muzzle to the lower part of the tail, through the chest and belly, the hair is entirely white. We find the shade of the colour of "tipping" (tip of coloured hair) on their toes and on the contours of the pink nose.

They are part of the Silver Tabby category but this factor has become almost invisible.

They have long, silky and fine fur with a thick undercoat.

Their emerald green eyes are contoured by the colour of the tipping. One of the characteristics of the Chinchilla Persian is that their eyes turn green at around 7 months old.

Physically, the Chinchilla Persian is quite close to the Persian, with a few differences: they are smaller, the nose is less flat, the head is narrower and ears longer.
Their robust body is average in size, with rather short legs. Their round head is adorned with tufted ears, that are spaced apart and relatively small.

The Silver Persian is affectionate towards their owners but they also like time to themselves. Cuddling all day might not be this cat’s favourite thing but every individual is different.

The Chinchilla Persian can be playful but they are typically quite lazy.

Like the Persian, they are calm cats who appreciate an environment that mirrors their personality.

They’re very observational and can make themselves understood with their expressive faces.

More reserved than fearful, the Silver Persian needs time to adapt to new people.

They’re very attached to their comfort and tranquility, they prefer keeping to themselves if the chaos of family life becomes too much!

Fairly discrete, they prefer to use their looks to communicate rather than their voice.

Like all cats the Chinchilla Persian does need to exercise but their body type limits the intensity and length of time they can play for.

This cat likes the comfort of the home. Your cat may go out to explore occasionally.

Lovers of the good things in life, food should be served in an interactive bowl to slow down their eating and prevent weight gain.

Just as with dogs, they will get on with cats that have a similar temperament to them. They will need time to adapt to a life with other cats.

If the introduction is well done, it is possible that the Silver Persian will tolerate the presence of a dog. However, they typically prefer quiet individuals to turbulent canines full of energy. It is essential to provide heights (like cat trees) and hiding places to make your cat feel comfortable.

Being particularly gentle and tolerant, they are great companions for children as long as the children know to respect the needs of the cat and are not overly excited and frantic!

This could be the best breed of cat for an elderly person. These cats like routine and a calm environment. Just as long as they are well groomed and maintained.

The Silver Persian will undoubtedly leave behind some very clear signs that will indicate where they have been sleeping!

Life expectancy varies due to the fragile nature of this breed, but it tends to range between 12 and 18 years.

Their physical characteristics make them a perfect indoor cat. In fact, their morphology does not allow them to breathe properly both when it is very hot or very cold. The abundant undercoat keeps them warm but gets tangled easily.

The placide and greedy nature of this feline means they can easily put on weight. The choice of food and how it is offered to the cat is vital in controlling their weight.

The Chinchilla Persian is predisposed to developing certain hereditary diseases:

• Nephrology-urology:

- Polycystic kidney: cysts appear gradually and slowly on the kidneys, hindering their proper function. There is a screening test for this disease
- Idiopathic cystitis: this inflammation of the bladder is often observed in castrated males. There are many causes but often remains unidentified
- Urolithiasis (or urinary stones): usually appear after 7 years, mostly in sterilised animals and males

• Oncology:

-Basal Cell Tumor: Mostly benign, these skin tumors are often located on the head and neck
-Sebaceous gland tumor: these benign skin tumors can be isolated or multiple

• Cardiology:

-Hypertrophic heart disease: heart disease characterised by thickening of the myocardium
-Pericardial-diaphragmatic hernia: anomaly of development of the diaphragm causing the passage of the abdominal organs in the pericardial cavity

• Ophthalmology:

-Progressive atrophy of the retina, which causes vision loss almost from birth
-Corneal sequestration (or necrosis of the cornea)
-Coloboma of the eyelids: malformation of the external part of the upper eyelids
-Entropion: malformation leading to the edge of the eyelid winding inwards
-Idiopathic epiphora: anomaly of tear secretion related to the shape of the Persian’s head

• Skin:

-Ringworm: Mycosis most often developing on the back or at the base of the tail causing ulcerated nodules
-Cryptorchidism, testicular monorchidism: no descent of either one or both testicles
-It can also develop the same diseases as any other cat, such as oral diseases.

From the age of 7, it is advisable to carefully monitor your cat’s health by having an annual checkup with the vet.

Females give birth to smaller litters than other breeds. In addition, farrowing must be supervised. Indeed, kittens with large skulls may cause difficulty at birth. Caesareans are quite common.
Reproduction of Chinchilla Persian is unusual. This is because the green colour of the eyes is recessive, meaning they can disappear if crossed with a Persian with blue or brass eyes for example. The colour of the coat may also become too light if the crosses are made only with a Chinchilla Persian.

In 1880, an English breeder, Mrs. Vallence, crosses a Persian "smoke" with a "silver tabby" which gave birth to the very first Persian Chinchilla: Silver Lambkin. This breed spread rapidly throughout the kingdom thanks to the Queen's niece, Princess Victoria, who fell in love with it. It was recognised by the British Feline Breeds Register (GCCF) in 1901. The selection process was careful to create the emerald eyes and lighten the coat which, at first, was darker. The Second World War impacted the European branch of this breed, weakened by the rigorous selective breeding. Today, this is one of the most sought-after varieties of Persian.