9 Facts About the Persian Cat, King of the Lap-Nappers

The exact origins of the Persian cat are obscure. But it came to the attention of Europeans when diplomats stationed in the Middle East brought the first long-haired cats back to England and other European countries in the mid-1800s. Two of the best-known cats were Persians from Iran (seat of the ancient Persian Empire) and Angoras named for Ankara in Turkey. These long-haired beauties, both Persian and Angora cats, were an immediate hit with Westerners. The Persian cat was immediately prized for its exotic looks and named for its presumed homelands.

Purebred cats closely followed the creation of the first kennel clubs in Europe in the mid-19th century. The world's first cat show was held in London's Crystal Palace in 1871, and the first purebred Persians arrived in the United States around 1875. The rise of cat breeding houses on both sides of the Atlantic at the turn of the 20th century was largely driven by the popularity of the Persian cat, considered one of the earliest pedigreed cats.

The Persian cat has a long, thick coat with individual hairs 4-6 inches (10-15 centimeters) in length. The colors of its coat run the full spectrum from solid, snowy white to wild, multi-tone combinations of tabby, tortoiseshell, patches and more.

Then there's the face. Unlike Egyptian or Siamese cats with long sleek noses, Persians have flat, open faces with tiny button noses. Their richly colored eyes, close set against this wee nose, look extra big and expressive. The curved, pansy-shape of their cheeks accentuates their small, triangular mouths.

Persians have compact bodies with short, heavy-boned legs and medium-length tails.

Persians are popular for more than their good looks. They're also exceptionally friendly ... for a cat.

"Most cats are affectionate on their own terms," says Susan MacArthur, who's been breeding Persians at Pelaqita Persians for 20 years. "We call Persians 'dog cats,' because they really like people. They also do things that normal cats don't do."

Persians will run to the door to greet visitors and even come when they're called by name, a doggy trick that most cats feel is beneath them. Persians are also known to be "talkative," chatting with their owners in a sing-songy meow.

But don't get the idea that Persians are overly active animals.

"They are the laziest breed in the world," says MacArthur. "They literally sleep 20 hours a day. Even the kittens don't play very much."

But that's just fine with Persian fans. Their laid-back, lap-napping style means that Persians are less likely to hop up on counters and rummage through cabinets searching for food.

A Persian cat might be laid-back, but its fur is famously high maintenance. If you're going to buy a long-haired breed like a Persian cat breed, expect to comb its hair every single day.

"Because their coat is long and slightly greasy, Persians get mats [clumps or knots of hair] very quickly under their armpits, behind their hind legs and behind their ears," says MacArthur. "If you don't comb them once a day, in a week you'll have little mats."

And while short-haired housecats can be left to lick themselves clean, a purebred Persian should be bathed regularly. Breeders like MacArthur start bathing her kittens early to accustom them to weekly scrubbings.

The upside of all that combing and shampooing Persian cat owners have to do is that their feline friend will shed less.

Cats are notoriously crafty, wily and smart. Before raising Persians, MacArthur bred German Shepherds, one of the most intelligent dogs on the planet.

"I was very surprised once I got into breeding and showing cats how smart they are. I actually feel they're smarter than dogs," says MacArthur. "That being said, Persians are stupid."

Maybe stupid is too strong of a word. They're just a little slower to reach developmental milestones than other breeds. MacArthur says that even at 8 weeks old, she'll have kittens who still haven't figured out the litter box.

On top of that, Persians just aren't natural predators and hunters. In her 20 years of breeding Persians, which means having 10 or more cats in the house at a given time, MacArthur says not one has caught a mouse or shown any interest in chasing critters.

With their sedentary temperaments, and all that long luscious hair, Persians are indoor cats for sure.

The Cat Fanciers' Association recognizes seven different categories (or divisions) of Persians: solid; silver and golden; smoke and shaded; tabby; particolor; bicolor and Himalayan.

But within those seven categories are a near-endless combination of hair colors and patterns: chocolate, red, blue, lilac, cream, tortoiseshell, tabby, calico and more. MacArthur says that if she breeds certain varieties of Persians, the kittens are capable of producing 30 different color combinations. "It's always a surprise," she says.

Unlike some purebred dogs, which are predisposed to a host of health issues, Persians are generally free of genetic issues. The one exception is a condition called polycystic kidney disease. But thanks to inexpensive genetic testing, most breeders have been able to eliminate the PKD-1 gene from their breeding stock.

Even though they have pug-like flattened faces, Persians don't typically suffer from breathing issues. There are certain varieties of Persians with extremely short skulls and almost no nasal bones called "ultraPersians" that can suffer from a breathing condition known as brachycephaly.

Because of their compact hips, purebred Persian moms give birth to relatively small litters, between two and six kittens per birth, says MacArthur, and the breed usually has a life span of 15 to 18 years.

It's a good thing these cats have long lives, since they're not cheap. At Pelaqita Persians, a pet-quality Persian kitten costs between $900 and $2,000. Those kittens come spayed or neutered, and microchipped. Breeder-quality and show-quality kittens are sold "intact," meaning they haven't been fixed. Those animals start at $1,500 and go as high as $3,000 for a high-quality male. All purebred animals are registered with the CFA with their full pedigree.