Features
Persians are distinguished from other breeds by its very thick fur, large head, large eyes and shortened muzzle. In the United States, a movement began in the 1950s to produce an exaggerated face flat, known as peke face, but this led to health problems. While peke-faced appearance remains very popular, health problems associated with caused many breeders in the mid-1990s to abandon the practice of selective breeding to produce that characteristic. The Persian traditional look includes a more elongated snout of what we see today and many are now selective breeding to produce more traditional looking version of the race.
Temperament
Dignified, calm and gentle are three words that come to mind when describing the personality of Persian. They are very quiet and affectionate, making them a favorite for apartment dwellers. They are happy in almost any environment, provided that they are provided with sufficient attention. Although they do well around other pets, Persians need human companionship and should not be left alone for long periods of time.
Grooming
It should be noted that although most cats are able to clean themselves, the densest layer of the Persian prevents you from being able to. Regular bathing and brushing the layer is needed to keep the mat layer. Moreover, the great Persian eyes can cause excess tears run down the face of the cat. Any eye discharge and crusting should be cleaned every day to prevent staining of the skin around the eyes.
Variations
Persian cats have a history as long and wide and has been popular for so long that there are many variations of the race, some of which have given rise to other popular breeds. Himalayans are, in effect, a result of cross-breeding with Siamese Persian.
