Can someone tell me about persian cats?

nekkiddoglady

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Someone had contacted me about a Persian cat needing a home. He's neutered, declawed, UTD on shots, etc.. they said he's a gorgeous pure white. My BF has always wanted a persian, so I told him about it, and he wants the kitty.

Can you tell me about the breed?
 

missymotus

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Sam (WellingtonCats) breeds Exotics and Persians, she will be able to tell you all about them. PM her if she doesn't see your thread
 

wellingtoncats

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How old is he and have you seen a photo?

Any specific information please feel free to ask. Persians are adorable they have laid back, docile natures. They do require a lot of care and need a lot of grooming and whites especially need their faces washed.
 

goldenkitty45

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Persians are high maintenence cats. That means (especially with a white) it involves DAILY combing to keep the coat from being tangled. You can't use a brush - use a medium and fine toothed comb.

Whites also may need monthly baths if you want them to remain white. You probably will have eye stains and will have to work on removing them (some of the other Persian breeders in here can recommend products).

Keep in mind that many declawed cats can have physical or mental problems from the declawing. This may be avoidance of the litter pan and peeing on carpets, clothes, etc. You would have to use a very soft kind of litter and hope he will use it.

Also declawed cats have more tendency to bite out of fear because they have no front claws.

If you can deal with all of the above, adopt him. My advice is that if you don't want to do daily combing, then don't adopt a Persian.
 

darlili

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Just one comment - my two adopted cats came declawed. My girl has never had any issues regarding litter and/or nipping (knock wood). My boy has had litter box issues (but never biting) issues - he's my cuddle cat), but I suspect he's a very picky cat in general. In any event, I'm using Cat Attract litter with good results. You can ask if this cat has any any litter box issues to date. It is a thing to keep in mind, but I'm not sure I'd call it a deal-breaker, since this cat is already declawed and is looking for a home.

While I would never recommend declawing, save in certain extreme cases, I think with this cat I'd worry more about the grooming needed to keep him in good shape.
 

esme

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What is the reason he is being rehomed? I'm a persian owner and have foster persians -- they are beautiful, sweet creatures that often are given up and adopted and given up again because of the high-maintenance issues, so the rescue I work with won't adopt them now unless the potential owners have some experience.
Obviously, I love persians, or I wouldn't own and rescue them-- I absolutely don't want to discourage you if you are able and willing to care for this baby
... There are a lot of persian cat care sites --if you do a search they can give you a lot of info with pics. I'm happy to answer questions as best I can. You might enjoy the CFA Persian Breed description: http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/persian.html

Caring for them is very different than even other long haired breeds. Despite the stereotype of them being docile cats, not all persians are willing to cooperate grooming and I've got the scars to prove it. LOL -- Daily combing, eye washing etc, is not just a cosmetic thing, but rather, a health issue -- if the hair mats it will pull painfully on the skin and cause greater issues. Please also do a search about feline "polycystic kidney disease," which is a hereditary, progressive fatal kidney disease. PKD is common in persian cats and dramatically shortens their lifespan. I have lost 2 cats to it so far. Fortunately, there is a genetic test for it, and responsible breeders are screening against it. But obviously, persians who of unknown parentage are another story -- By getting my cats tested, I know that 1 of my current cats will develop the disease and is unlikely to live to double-digit years. It's not pretty
 

wellingtoncats

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Originally Posted by Esme

What is the reason he is being rehomed? I'm a persian owner and have foster persians -- they are beautiful, sweet creatures that often are given up and adopted and given up again because of the high-maintenance issues, so the rescue I work with won't adopt them now unless the potential owners have some experience.
Obviously, I love persians, or I wouldn't own and rescue them-- I absolutely don't want to discourage you if you are able and willing to care for this baby... There are a lot of persian cat care sites --if you do a search they can give you a lot of info with pics. I'm happy to answer questions as best I can. You might enjoy the CFA Persian Breed description: http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/persian.html

Caring for them is very different than even other long haired breeds. Despite the stereotype of them being docile cats, not all persians are willing to cooperate grooming and I've got the scars to prove it. LOL -- Daily combing, eye washing etc, is not just a cosmetic thing, but rather, a health issue -- if the hair mats it will pull painfully on the skin and cause greater issues. Please also do a search about feline "polycystic kidney disease," which is a hereditary, progressive fatal kidney disease. PKD is common in persian cats and dramatically shortens their lifespan. I have lost 2 cats to it so far. Fortunately, there is a genetic test for it, and responsible breeders are screening against it. But obviously, persians who of unknown parentage are another story -- By getting my cats tested, I know that 1 of my current cats will develop the disease and is unlikely to live to double-digit years. It's not pretty
If Persians are trained from a young age to accept grooming, they will be fine. Unfortunately since this sounds like a cat this may not be the case. I would have to disagree with the comment about docile cats though, the majority definitely are docile.

I also don't agree with the advice about PKD - this is a RESCUE cat, it needs a home and it would be silly to get it PKD tested at this stage, when nekkiddoglady can give it a loving home, no matter what. Please don't be scared off by PKD
 
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nekkiddoglady

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She did not have a pic.

I cant remember if his age was mentioned or not. I seem to think one email indicated that he was a young cat, but I dont think exact age was mentioned. The reason he's being rehomed is because the previous owner is ill and can no longer care for him. He was rehomed once before, but returned because the girl found out she was pregnant.

Im told he was a pampered pet, his previous owner doted on him. She just cant take care of him any more.

High maintenence isnt an issue, kinda used to it. We have a main-coon mix that needs brushed often or he gets hairballs, and the hairless pets have their specific needs. My sphynx is also declawed.. she does nip on occasion.


A friend of mine says that persians tend to mark, even if they've been neutered? That sounded abit off to me.
 

wellingtoncats

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Originally Posted by nekkiddoglady

She did not have a pic.

I cant remember if his age was mentioned or not. I seem to think one email indicated that he was a young cat, but I dont think exact age was mentioned. The reason he's being rehomed is because the previous owner is ill and can no longer care for him. He was rehomed once before, but returned because the girl found out she was pregnant.

Im told he was a pampered pet, his previous owner doted on him. She just cant take care of him any more.

High maintenence isnt an issue, kinda used to it. We have a main-coon mix that needs brushed often or he gets hairballs, and the hairless pets have their specific needs. My sphynx is also declawed.. she does nip on occasion.


A friend of mine says that persians tend to mark, even if they've been neutered? That sounded abit off to me.
It's not a trait in the breed - neutered males marking. It happens in a lot of breeds - it can depend on the other cats in the house, the other cats in the neighbour hood and at what age the cat was neutered.

My almost 10 year old neutered Exotic (SH Persian) sprays but then again I have 3 infact females living here. My Nana's neutered Siamese used to spray and try it on with her kittens. I've never had a neutered Persian spray - just the naughty exotics, usually!

How many boy cats do you currently own?

Are you able to get a picture or see him before you make up your mind? Just to see what sort of condition he is in and what his nature is like.

I much prefer looking after Persians to the SH cats - because they don't lose their fur the same. It also depends on the parentage of him as to what type of fur he will have. Since White cats are never really white cats and mask another colour - he may be a black cat with a white coat, which would be a different feel to his coat then if his parents were blue.

Persians are still the most popular breed in the world (I believe) so you cannot go wrong with that many opinions.


Do you like the squishy faces?
 
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nekkiddoglady

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I just emailed and asked for a pic. She said he's a friendly cat, and he sounds lovely, regardless. The person who emailed me didnt seem to know a whole lot about the cat. As I understand the cat was placed in her mother's home, when the previous owner had to give it up, but then her mother aquired a sickly kitten, so she took the persian to her house within the past day or two so that it doesnt catch whatever the kitten has.

Im not a big fan of squishy faces myself. My BF loves the smooshy faces tho and said he's always wanted a persian cat. You dont too often hear of someone giving up a persian, expecially when its all vetted! Being neutered and vaccinated is a bonus!
 
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nekkiddoglady

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As far as male cats.. I only have one. He is neutered and a laid back fellow... all of my cats are altered
.
 

wellingtoncats

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He sounds like a little gem. I hope you get to meet him before you make your decision. I know that people can sugar coat things when they are needing to move a cat on. Since he's your BF's cat, will he do the grooming?
 
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nekkiddoglady

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more likely we will probably both take turns with the grooming LOL.
 
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nekkiddoglady

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my BF ussually picks up cat food at walmart. There's no brand in particular.. ussually the meow mix or friskies. I know, not the best.. but we live in a rural area, there's not much resources for getting the better stuff.. there's one little store and they are open weird hours.


We got the kitty.. he's pretty, but not the smooshed in face. I was told he's a purebred persian. Do they sometimes have "normal" faces? I'll have to get a pic of him later on and post it.. right now he's settling in and getting used to the other cats.

The female cats seem to have accepted him pretty quick.. they are the ones that ussually want to stir things up and assert their place in the household. My sphynx actually seemed to be trying to make friends with him, and she doesnt really care much for the other pets (except my hairless rat LOL) My male cat, which is laid back and ussually just accepts things, is the one that seems to be most upset. I think he feels threatened that he's not the man of the house anymore.
 

goldenkitty45

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OHHH please do not buy the Meow Mix - that stuff should be taken OFF the market - its worse then the worse. Friskies is bad enough. I know many cats with digestive problems that are eating Meow Mix - most cats are allergic or have problems with the dyes in there.

If you can't get better (maybe consider ordering online and having it shipped to the house) - just feed the Friskies.
 
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nekkiddoglady

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I think Friskies is the main brand my BF gets. I just looked and the brand he has now is Kit N Kaboodle.

Is there something better at walmart?

Im leery to order stuff to be shipped.. for some reason we've had issues with recieving packages at this address. I dont know what it is.. someone is almost always here to recieve packages.
 

GoldyCat

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I just checked the Walmart website, which gives the ingredient list for each type of cat food. The only dry food from their list that I would even consider giving to my cats is Newman's Own. You would have to call your local Walmart to find out if they carry it.

Can you get to the Walmart yourself to look at the cat food and read the ingredient lists? You should stay away from anything the has by-products as the first ingredient or only protein source. Also stay away from anything that has corn as the first ingredient, or split into two or three corn sources in the first six ingredients. If you add them together it would make corn the first ingredient.

Maybe it would be easier to train your BF to read the ingredient list.
 
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nekkiddoglady

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Im not sure if we carry Newman's own or not.. I know I've seen the cans.. not sure about the bag... or if we carry the big bag (with 5 cats, we need a BIG bag!)..

easier to train the BF? Nah it would be easier if I just start buying the cat food LOL
 

wellingtoncats

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I'm looking forward to seeing the pics - Persians noses vary from very pushed in to very long. I'll let you know when I see the piccccccs!
 
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