Persian (cat)

• WCF

The Persian cat (pers. گربه ایرانی Gorbe -ye Irani, Iranian cat ') is one of the oldest and most popular purebred cats. Persian cats share a common breed standard with Exotic Shorthair cats and Colourpoints. Differences they have only in coat length, texture and color.

Character and Broad

She is very calm, restrained, reliable and with moderately pronounced desire for freedom, so the Persians also are more well without freewheel. It is even advantageous, as this breed tends very quickly to tangles and knots. Therefore, they are also among the most intensive care races. A regular grooming requires a lot of time and patience, every two to three days is recommended grooming.

Origin and breeding history

The breed of Persian cat in the modern sense had its real beginning in the second half of the 19th century in England. In general it was previously believed that the Persian cat has been bred out through targeted breeding selection is mainly from long-haired cats Middle Eastern origin. The latest scientific findings of genetic research, however, can no affinity (more) with an Asian line as that of the Angora cat find but a high degree of genetic accordance with European cat populations. This is perhaps an indication that the influence of the English breeders at this time also present Russian long-haired cat is larger on the Persian cat, than previously thought. Her of traditional in a drawing by Harrison Weir phenotype supports this assumption. Long -haired cats were first bred but without regard to their origin with each other, but not with short hair, because it was feared that this could penetrate again in later generations.

The first long-haired cats from Asia Minor were introduced in the mid -17th century Nicolas Claude Fabri de Peiresc over to France. Alfred Brehm leads the long hair of the Angora cats back to a natural adaptation to the harsh climate in their region of origin. The origin of time already so designated Persians from Persia is controversial. The assumption Pietro del la Valle had cats from the Khorassan, from whose region the name " Persian " derives brought, is not to prove. He himself was never there. The term " Persian " was first produced with the founding of the first breed clubs GCCF and WCF and their first breeding standards beginning of the 20th century, in which the term " Angora ", until then used for long-haired cats, no longer occurred. The first Persian to be compared with the present in any way. They reminded the type rather of the Angora cat. The breed standard for the Persian cat underwent multiple changes up to the Peke- Face. Over the years, the cat small, short-legged, round forehead and facial skull was getting shorter and shorter, the fur always lush with more undercoat. Around 1970, many mass breeding were built in America; to the detriment of the breed, as many do not adverse health changes through the sale of cats came to Europe. For about 20 years, it has many conscientious breeders succeeded typeful to breed to today's breed -standard, but very healthy Persians. Since then, some breeders new color varieties such as chocolate and lilac devote. 1933 were recognized in one of europe big cats the breed associations " Exotic Shorthairs ". It corresponds to the type and character of the Persians, only it is a short teddy bear coat. Many lovers of the breed who do not want to renounce the typical child face, find a cognate race, where the grooming is so much easier.

Animal welfare concerns

From various animal welfare organizers, the extreme varieties of Persian cats are convicted. Since the recessed nose to watery eyes, inflammation in the nose and throat, discomfort when feeding and can cause problems in breathing. The birth is often problematic and requires a cesarean section. A white coat color may be genetically linked with deafness.

Appearance / Standard

Standard of the Persian cat ( which may mean differences in the various clubs give ):

• Body type: Large - to medium size, stocky body on low, short and stubby legs with round paws. Between the toes hair tufts are desirable. The chest and shoulder of a Persian cat should be broad, muscular and massive.
• Head / shape: round and massive, well proportioned, very broad skull. This can lead to brachycephaly.
• Forehead rounded
• Cheeks: full
• Nose: Short, broad, with a distinct stop. The stop must be between the eyes, it may be neither placed above the upper eyelid below the lower eyelid. The bridge of the nose, as well as the nose leather must be wide. Nostrils well open to permit a free flow of air. But there are also breeders who prefer the old type with a long nose (but long nose does not meet the breeding-guidelines ).
• Chin: Strong
• Kiefer: broad and strong
• Ears: Small, wide apart and placed low on the head. The tips should be rounded. Beautiful are long ear tufts.

Colorpoint

The Colorpoint (also referred to as a mask Persian or Himalayan ) is a color variant of the Persian cat, which was created by crossing Siamese and Persian cats. Color it resembles the Siamese cat. The breed standard corresponds to the coloration of the Persian cat.

History

First crossing experiments there were in Sweden and in the U.S. in the twenties. In 1935, the first Colorpoint was born in the United States. End of the forties began in the UK with the purposeful breeding.

Appearance

Their coat is light all over the body, face, tail and other " distinctive" places dominated by a darker color. Today have Colourpoints by further breeding a characteristic round, massive head, and a short but thick neck; the nose is broad, ears small and inclined forward. They are medium to large, stocky and squat her physique. The tail should be short and lush.