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Persian

Long-haired Persian cat with a flat face and round eyes
Photo: Ganesh Mohan T — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The classic flat-faced glamour cat — a long flowing coat, big round eyes and a quiet, gentle nature.

SizeMediumPersonalityCalm lap catCoatLongOriginAsia

How to spot it

A medium, cobby cat of 3–5.5 kg with short thick legs, a broad round head, small wide-set ears and huge expressive eyes. The glory is the long, dense double coat, in almost every colour and pattern; modern show Persians have a very flat "peke" face, while "doll-face" Persians keep a longer nose.

Personality

Calm, sweet and undemanding — a Persian would rather lounge on a sofa than climb the curtains. It bonds quietly with its family, enjoys gentle handling and is happiest in a peaceful, indoor home.

Grooming & coat care

A high-maintenance coat: it mats within days if neglected, so it needs daily combing right down to the skin and regular bathing. The flat face makes the eyes water, so wipe them daily to prevent staining.

Health & lifespan

Around 12–17 years. The flat-faced lines are prone to breathing trouble, dental crowding and blocked tear ducts, and the breed carries a risk of polycystic kidney disease (PKD) — buy from a breeder who DNA-tests for it.

Living with one in India

The heavy coat and flat face both make heat harder to bear, so a Persian belongs indoors with fans or air-conditioning through an Indian summer, and needs its coat kept clean and tangle-free in humid, dusty months. Doll-face lines breathe more easily than extreme flat-faced ones.

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