As the dusty desert caravans wound their way westward
from Persia and Iran, it is supposed that secreted among the rare
spices and jewels on the basket-laden camels was an even more precious
cargo, an occasional longhair cat. They were called Persian for their
"country of origin," but hieroglyphic references as early as 1684 B.C.
shroud forever their exact beginnings.
Persians, with their luxurious coats and open pansy-like
faces are the number one breed in popularity. Their sweet,
gentle, personalities blend into most households once they
feel secure in their new environment. Creatures of habit,
they are most at home in an atmosphere of security and
serenity, but with love and reassurance, can easily adapt to
the most boisterous of households. Their quiet, melodious
voices are pleasant and non-abrasive. They communicate
delightfully with their large expressive eyes and make
charming pets for all ages. Persians have short heavilyboned
legs to support their broad, short bodies. They like
to have their feet firmly planted and are not given to high
jumping and climbing. Playful but never demanding, they
love to pose and will drape themselves in a favorite window
or chair, enhancing the decor in much the same way as
a treasured painting. Persians are tremendously responsive
and become a constant source of joy and delight to their
owners. Pleasurable as an unexpected sunbeam, their
companionship is close and enduring.
Their long flowing coats require an indoor, protected environment. Proper maintenance requires a daily
run-through with a metal comb to eliminate the potential drawbacks of tangles and hairballs. An occasional bath, attempted
only after a complete comb-through and clipping of the nail tips, will keep the coat clean, healthy and beautiful. It is
wise to establish the routine of the bath when they are young. While the white Persian has long been the darling of
photographers and advertisers, Persians come in an astonishing number of colors, which are divided into seven color divisions
for purposes of competition.
Solid Division
In the Solid Division, only the pristine whites come
in three different eye colors. Some have brilliant copper or deep blue
eyes, others the surprising combination of one blue and one copper eye
of equal intensity. The other solid colors have brilliant copper eyes.
The coat color for all solids should be sound to the
roots and free from markings or shadings. Blues, once the apex of the
breed, have been interbred with other colors to produce a more uniform
type. Their pale silver-blue coats are most beautiful when viewed in
natural lighting. Blacks have glossy patent finishes that glisten with
intensity. Pale milk-colored creams are the dilute of the deep vibrant
glowing reds. Chocolates and lilacs, introduced through the combination
of Persian and Himalayan, are rarely seen. The chocolate demonstrates a
warm chocolate-brown color while the lilac is a warm lavender with a
pinkish tone.
Silver & Golden Division
The Silver and Golden Division consists of chinchilla and shaded silvers and goldens.
The exquisite silvers are considered the most
ethereal of all Persians. The chinchilla is a sparkling white cat with
black tipping scattered as evenly as stardust, ever so lightly, on the
face, legs, tail and body. Shadeds show a mantle of black on the back,
shading evenly down the sides. The tipping on the legs and face should
match and is darker than the chinchilla. Goldens are either chinchilla
or shaded. Their ground color is a rich, warm cream tipped with black.
Silvers and goldens have green or blue-green eyes rimmed with black,
black paw pads and brick red or rose nose leather. Shaded & Smoke Division
The Shaded and Smoke Division includes the shell and
shaded cameos which have red tipping with a white undercoat. The cream
shell and shaded cameos demonstrate a white undercoat tipped with cream.
The shell and shaded tortoiseshells have a mantle of black tipping with
well-defined patches of red tipped hairs while the shell and shaded
blue-creams have blue tipping with well-defined patches of cream tipped
hair.
The smoke Persian is one of the most striking
patterns of the Persian colors. There are six separate colors, black,
blue, cream, cameo (red), smoke tortoiseshell and blue-cream smoke. In
repose, the smoke appears to be a solid color cat. In motion, the coat
will break open, giving glimpses of a startling white undercoat. All
should have the characteristic white ruff and ear tufts. The perfect
balance of undercoat to overcoat is transitory and the perfection of
color balance can usually only be seen six to eight weeks annually.
Their brilliant copper eyes seem almost like burning embers within the
smoke setting.Tabby Division
The Tabbies are the extroverts of the Persian breed.
They come in three patterns: classic, mackerel and patched tabby. The
patched tabby may exhibit either the classic or mackerel pattern with
the addition of patches of red. The classic tabby is identified by the
bull’s eye markings on the side of the body while the mackerel pattern
is characterized by narrow penciling encircling the body. The
brilliantly contrasted markings can be as striking as an exotic jungle
cat.
Often referred to as the “fun’’ cat, tabbies are
outgoing and demonstrative. Their facial markings give them a zesty
added appeal. Recognized colors are silver, blue silver, red, brown,
blue, cream, cameo and cream cameo. There are no patched tabby patterns
in red, cream and cameo. All have brilliant copper eyes except silver
varieties which also may have green or hazel.Particolor Division
The Parti-Color Division consists of the tortoiseshell, blue-cream, chocolate tortoiseshell and lilac-cream.
The tortoiseshell is a black cat dispersed with great
patches of red. A dividing blaze of color on the face adds interest to
this brightly colored variety. The blue-cream, a delightful study in
pastel, is a solid blue cat patched with cream. The muted coloring of
the blue-cream and lilac-cream are as softly lovely as the tortoiseshell
and chocolate tortie are flashy. All four colors have brilliant copper
eyes.Bicolor Division
The Calico & Bi-Color Division consists of
calicos, bi-colors, smoke and whites and tabby and whites. Calicos have
white coats splashed with vivid patches of red and black, while the
dilute calico is patched with blue and cream. The chocolate and lilac
calicos have white coats splashed with vivid patches of chocolate and
red or lilac and cream respectively.
A van pattern is a white cat with color confined to
the head and extremities. A maximum of two spots of color are allowed on
the body. Bi-colors (black, blue, red, cream, chocolate or lilac with
white) commonly exhibit white on the feet, legs, undersides, chest and
muzzle. All established colors and patterns of tabbies with white and
smokes with white are shown in this division. All have brilliant copper
eyes except for the silver tabby with white which also may have green or
hazel.
Himalayan Division
The Himalayan is one of the most popular of all
Persians. The Himalayan is shown in the following point colors:
chocolate, seal, lilac, blue, red, cream tortie, blue-cream,
chocolate-tortie, lilac-cream, seal lynx, blue lynx, red lynx, cream
lynx, tortie lynx, blue-cream lynx, chocolate lynx, lilac lynx,
chocolate-tortie lynx and lilac-cream lynx. Color is restricted to the
facial mask and extremities with the body of various shades of white to
fawn.
Himalayans were developed by breeding Persians to
Siamese to combine the Siamese point coloring with Persian type. After
many years of cross breeding they were approved as accepted color
variations of Persians. All must have deep vivid blue eyes as eyes other
than blue are a disqualification.
Usually breeders make kittens available between twelve and
sixteen weeks of age. After twelve weeks, kittens have had
their basic inoculations and developed the physical and
social stability needed for a new environment, showing,
or being transported by air. Keeping such a rare treasure
indoors, neutering or spaying, providing acceptable surfaces
(e.g. scratching posts) for the natural behavior of scratching
(CFA disapproves of declawing or tendonectomy surgery)
and regular claw trimming are essential elements for
maintaining a healthy, long and joyful life.
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