Persian Cats- Need Appointments With A Groomer- Is That You? (Persian)

Member Name: Machair1

Product:	Persian
Date:	15/12/08 (300 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Affectionate cats who will love you.

Disadvantages: Very hairy and need lots of grooming. Polycystic Kidney Disease takes the lives of many.

If you are thinking about getting a Persian Cat I would like to help by giving you an insight into what it is like to own them, how they are to care for, and to highlight the difficulties and of course the joys.

I will start by explaining that I have kept them for the last decade following on from 15 years of owning moggies. I had always wanted them but knew that when I was younger and my children were little I would have struggled to give them the time and the dedication they need. So just over 10 years ago I started my Persian ownership with the purchase of a blue colourpoint called Teddy, shortly added to by a red self called Marigold.

There is nothing in my mind which competes for the wonderful sight of a fluffy Persian Cat curled up on the sofa, it's cosy and gorgeous, but it spells work and dedication

First of all I must explain that the feel and texture of the coats are very different and this is really important to consider if you are thinking about getting them. They are not really just one breed because they have differences which can really impact how much time they need. The photo Dooyoo has provided is excellent-I hope the owner of this impressive cat is not wearing black or she or he will be in trouble!

Teddy was a blue colourpoint -this does not mean he was blue it is the name for the type of Persian which is a grey/white and has little grey tips on the ears. Now they have silky fur which can border on greasy and they are prone to matting and shedding like no other. This means that if you love to wear black think again, you will be covered in hairs all day long however much you groom them! When my mum visits or my hairdresser they both love to wear black, and I have to put towels down on the chairs even after hoovering as they stick to black and show up. When you stroke them the fur is released into the air and so they are really bad for anyone with a cat allergy. Having said that if you adore them it is quite a special feature in that you often find the hairs in all kinds of places-some good like on dried flowers-some bad like on your contact lenses. If you love hoovering then it won't worry you, if you hate it then be prepared and I would replace carpets with wooden or laminate floors because it is back breaking keeping up with the hair loss of any white Persian however much you groom them!

Marigold however is a red Persian and she is a different story. Her fur is thick and slightly courser and drier and does not moult or shed as much- in fact she also knots up less and is easy maintenance. She is a deep ginger with a tail like Basil Brush!

So if you would like a Persian think about how much time you want to devote to grooming and cleaning as sadly so many end up in the rescue because the work involved is much more than the owner expects.
They are all high maintenance but some more than others.

The next thing is to find a breeder who can show you a certificate to say that her breeding line has been checked for a disease called PKD or Polycystic Kidney Disease. This is a subject very dear to my heart as sadly Teddy is no longer with us having died from this terrible genetic disease which causes multiple cysts to grow on the kidney and causes renal failure at a young age mostly about 7. He lived to age 8. Since the days when I purchased Teddy this new test has become available giving peace of mind to you when you buy your new kitten.

If you are at work all day it is wise to buy 2 as they need company. The toms are much more characterful then the females and can be quite demanding of attention and time! If you buy two girls do so at the same time since introducing them later can cause jealousy. The boys are usually tolerant of new comers and will often show them the ropes!

If you have Persians it is much better to keep them as indoors cats. If you let them out you will find management of their coats a daunting task and also many are stolen or die on the roads.
The cat litter tray will need frequent changing and if you are very busy have a look at the new Catsan Litter system called The Catsan Smart Pack which is a cat litter which is backed by a waterproof base and can be left for a few days just removing sold waste.
They are very fond of running water and will appreciate a drinking fountain which you can purchase from any Petstore.

If you do get a Persian my advice is to plan a routine. We set aside an hour every Saturday for cat care. We now have three Persians so each Saturday we brush them and we also blunt their nails. This is very important if you want to keep your furniture, and especially important if you have young children or other small dogs, as they can suffer serious eye problems if on the receiving end of an accidental or malicious swipe.

Talking of this most Persians have soft and gentle natures if you bring them up properly. As kittens please don't play rough mice chasing games with them because it brings out this side of their characters which you want to temper. Get them used to being handled and groomed from a very early age, and if you can't cope with the grooming most dog parlours will help you.

Take them to the vets for a check up as soon as you get them home, and book them in for their vaccinations and subsequent neutering. Toms make impossible pets if you don't neuter them they are dirty and will wander, females must be neutered to prevent tumours and infections of the ovaries and uterus.
Neutering them greatly decreases the chance that they will develop mammary cancer.

Finally please consider insurance. We chose Petplan and have been delighted with them. Remember though when you choose pet insurance cheaper policies may not be what they seem. Try to go for a policy which covers the animal for conditions which may be lifelong and go on from year to year- these include many and are often excluded by cheaper polices.
Persians tend to have loving natures and make adorable pets but I wouldn't recommend them if you have very young children. Health wise they are often long lived and they do suffer some breed specific conditions such as tear problems and tear duct overflow because of the very flat squashed nature of the face ,
They will need their eyes cleaning daily. I find a good flannel works wonders and I also clean their teeth as well.

Feeding them is interesting as they have different preferences. Some of mine prefer dry food and an excellent one is made by Royal Canine-it is specifically designed for Persians and it comes in either kitten or adult formulas. Some of my cats especially Marigold would go on a hunger strike eating this option as she is a wet food lover! I feed her whatever is on offer, she likes them all!
In conclusion I adore these cats but have come to realize they are not quite as easy maintence as I first thought. Whatever you do keep up with the grooming as a matted coat may have to be shaved, which is actually very cruel to these cats who are very clean and proud of their beautiful fur.

I thought it may be useful finally to give you an idea of the cost of the first year.

Typical Cost Of Purchase of Pedigree Persian £350
Vaccinations £40
Neutering circa £100 males cheaper, females more
Wormer and flea treatments £100-200 per year
Food if using Royal Canine about £15 per month per cat
Petplan £12-15 a month rising with age
Cat litter ranging from £3 a week if you use value to £6 if you buy a litter system per cat.
So as a rough guide each cat is likely to cost you in the first year over £1000 and in subsequent years £650.
At lot to take in but worth budgeting for as they are not cheap. If you can't manage to groom them you will also have to add on the cost of a grooming parlour. One consolation though is that if you live in the north of the country your vet bills will be cheaper and being indoors cats they often escape the flea horrors and so you can sometimes get away with being vigilant rather than treating prophylactically which saves some costs.
Adorable cats and well worth the outlay in my opinion but not recommended if you think the grooming may be too much to keep on top of.

Also posted on Ciao by me under the user name Violet1278.

Summary: An impressive cat breed who I adore-but you have to accept the work that goes with them