| BEHAVIOR: Persian companionship is tight-knit, devoted, and sweet-tempered. A Persian is typically very tolerant of other household members, especially dogs and children. However, it may take a while for a Persian to warm up to strangers because of her tendency to have a favorite human.
PREFERENCES: Best kept indoors due to the long coat, a Persian, like all cats, is a creature of habit. A Persian is usually content sitting inside, observing the surroundings where she feels secure. This breed likes and needs considerable attention from her owner. She is generally very docile, easily trained, intelligent, and more dependent than other breeds.
 APPEARANCE: A Persian is a medium-sized, hardy cat. According to breed standards,
a Persian should have a sweet expression and soft, round lines. A large, round head, round eyes and a snubbed nose are the most well-known characteristics of a Persian cat. In fact, the recent trend is to make the nose more flat than the original breed standard. The ears are small, round tipped, and set forward.
The legs and the neck of a Persian are short and thick. The tail is short, but in proportion to the body. Long, thick hair stands off from the body, is fine textured and glossy, and can be a variety of colors and patterns. In fact, the coat colors and patterns are so varied that they are grouped into seven divisions:
| • Solid Color |
• Particolor |
• Silver and Golden |
• Bicolor |
| • Shaded and Smoke |
• Tabby |
• Himalayan |
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BIGGEST CHALLENGE TO OWNERS: As with all long-haired cats, matting can be a concern. Groom your Persian daily with a brush and metal comb to eliminate potential tangles, mats, and the development of hairballs. An occasional bath also helps to keep the haircoat clean and healthy.
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