However popular and loved they may be today, until the middle of the 16th century, long-haired cats were unknown in Europe. The first arrived from Persia to Italy in the 17th century, brought by Pietro della Valle. Later, Nicolas Fabri de Peiresec, a magistrate of the Royal Courts in the French city of Aix-en-Provence, brought cats from Turkey to France. These cats were the ancestors of today's Persian cats and were highly prized by the European aristocracy.
Today, Persian cats are famous all over the world. In addition, their breed is closely related to the creation of the Birman and British Shorthair breeds. But why are Persian cats so special?
What are Persian cats like?
Identifying certain breeds is sometimes difficult. But in the case of Persian cats, there is usually no room for doubt because they have highly distinctive features.
The most well-known feature of these ARISTOCATS is their coat, as it is very long and fine, dense and silky. To give you an idea, the normal length of a Persian's coat ranges from 10 centimeters on the body to 20 centimeters on the ruff. So we are not talking about hair, but a truly magnificent coat.
That said, this makes coat maintenance notably demanding. Washing, combing, and brushing it are activities we will need to include in our daily routine. In fact, the length of its coat encourages knots to form, so it is necessary to detangle the coat every day (we recommend taking a look around ARISTOSHOP to find the comb or brush that best suits your cat's needs). It is also worth bearing in mind that the coat sheds during spring and summer... so there will be hair from our ARISTOCAT everywhere - and we will have to team up with the vacuum cleaner or mop, of course.
Their body is short and compact, with firm, well-developed musculature. Their legs are short, strong, and straight. It is curious to see the long tufts of fur between their toes. As for the head, their cheeks stand out, round and chubby, as if they constantly had food in their mouths. They have a short, very flat nose.
Another fantastic feature of these little cats is their eyes. Large, round, wide open, and set apart. Their color is intense and deep, matching their coat. In other words, copper for most coat colors; green in chinchilla, silver shaded, and golden specimens; blue in colourpoints (Himalayans) or some white cats; and odd-colored (one eye of each color) in some white cats as well.
Their ears are usually very small, with rounded tips and set far apart at the base of the skull. They are also very hairy on the inside. Finally, their tail is short and well proportioned, covered in very long fur, and usually carried fairly low.
The behavior of Persian cats
Persian cats are placid, calm, and sedentary. They show a clear preference for their ARISTOPARENT, with whom they are sweet, affectionate, and sociable. They like dogs and children. With strangers, however, they are indifferent and aloof.
They tolerate solitude quite well, as long as they are in a controlled, familiar environment. Therefore, their ideal space is a flat or apartment. They do not usually meow, and when they do, they are very discreet.
For all these reasons, these furry companions need a peaceful life. Travel or constant movement can cause them stress and noticeably upset them. They also do not cope well with noise or changes. So the best thing for them is to enrich their environment and let them enjoy their contemplative life while you brush their fur or pet them all afternoon as they purr.
As you can see, being happy is very easy when you have a Persian ARISTOCAT by your side. So enjoy it!
