Character :
The placid, calm, phlegmatic, sedentary Persian is perfectly suited to apartment life. Sociable, peaceful, never aggressive, gentle, and very affectionate, he is very attached to his owner. Persians get along well with other cats, dogs, and children. They are more distant toward strangers. For their well-being, they need a tranquil life. They can tolerate solitude. They rarely use their soft voice.Persians reach maturity at the age of two. They enter puberty late (at approximately 12 months). The breed is not very prolific, and birthing is difficult. Grooming (brushing, combing, and cleaning) is a considerable undertaking. The Persian’s long hair is prone to the rapid formation of knots and tufts. It is therefore essential to untangle the coat every day. Persians shed in spring and summer. Their eyes, which produce tears constantly, must be cleaned regularly.
Head
: Round, massive, domed. Very broad, round skull. Rounded forehead. Round, full cheeks. Strong, prominent cheekbones. Short, broad nose, sometimes slightly turned up. Marked break between the eyes. Short, broad muzzle. Strong, full, well-developed chin. Broad, powerful jaws (1).
Ears :
Small, rounded at the tip, widely spaced. Not too open at the base, well-furnished inside.
Eyes :
Large, round, wide open, well-spaced. The intense, deep color corresponds to that of the coat (gold to copper for all colors; green in the chinchilla, silver, and golden; blue in the colorpoint; heterochromatic in some white-coated Persians, etc.).
Neck :
Short, strong, very muscular.
Body :
Medium to large, massive (cobby), powerful. Broad, deep chest; shoulders and hips of equal width. Broad, short back. Short abdomen. Short, massive bones. Firm, well-developed muscles.
Paw :
Short, strong, straight. Powerful bones, well-developed muscles. Broad, round, strong paws. Long tufts of hair between the toes.
Tail :
Short, in proportion to the body, well-furnished with very long hairs forming a plume. Carried fairly low.
Coat :
Very fine fur with long hair in the topcoat and undercoat. Dense, silky, long hair on the entire body (10 cm on average and up to 20 cm on the frill). All colors are recognized.
Fault :
Long or narrow head. Long nose, narrow muzzle, obvious underbite. Large, pointed ears that are too close together. Small, slanted eyes too pale in color. Narrow, slender, long, high-standing body. Tail too long. Oval paws, long toes.
Disqualify
: lockets or buttons; kink in the tail, serious jaw deformity.
Silver and Golden Shaded
The Silver and Golden Division consists of chinchilla and shaded silvers and goldens. The exquisite silvers are considered the most ethereal of all Persians. The chinchilla is a sparkling white cat with black tipping scattered as evenly as stardust, ever so lightly, on the face, legs, tail and body. Shadeds show a mantle of black on the back, shading evenly down the sides. The tipping on the legs and face should match and is darker than the chinchilla. Goldens are either chinchilla or shaded. Their ground color is a rich, warm cream tipped with black. Silvers and goldens have green or blue-green eyes rimmed with black, black paw pads and brick red or rose nose leather. |
