Why do some Persian cats have extremely long fur?

http://purrsngrrs.com/grooming-tools-for-cats-at-home/miss-dolly-1/

The above link has a photo to give you an idea.

I have seen adult Persian cats with shorter sleeker fur than the above. I am also aware that some Persians are exotic shorthair. At first I thought only show breeds are capable of growing the extremely long fur as in the photo, however I have even seen plenty of show Persians with medium length hair in comparison...


Is the very long hair due to being a rather old Persian cat? Or is it a particular method of grooming that fluffs up the fur? Or would it just be genetics..

It depends on genetics, season of the year and grooming. If a cat doesn't come from a line with great coat factor, there is a slim chance of having a great coat. Grooming can help, but it won't make a cat with medium hair, long haired.  Here is my Jack taken in summer (so he has summer coat) and he has not been show groomed.
Now here he is at a show in December (winter coat) and after being show groomed. Doesn't look like the same cat  does it?


His show grooming is a routine of degreasing,  4 shampoos, then blow drying.

i completely agree with posiepurrs, we have had 3 persians and all had coats of varying length.  Our present persian, Carleton, who we rescued last Nov. was completely shaved when we adopted him due to severe mats. Now that's it been almost a year he is getting his winter coat and even the coloring/shading has darkened as well as the length. 

posiepurrs said:

It depends on genetics, season of the year and grooming. If a cat doesn't come from a line with great coat factor, there is a slim chance of having a great coat. Grooming can help, but it won't make a cat with medium hair, long haired.  Here is my Jack taken in summer (so he has summer coat) and he has not been show groomed.

IMG_1155.JPG

• posiepurrs
• Oct 9, 2016

Now here he is at a show in December (winter coat) and after being show groomed. Doesn't look like the same cat  does it?

Jack and judge Pam BAsset at Dixielands Best of th

• posiepurrs
• Oct 9, 2016

His show grooming is a routine of degreasing,  4 shampoos, then blow drying.

Click to expand...

Wow that makes such a big difference. Oh gosh he looks so warm and chubby. Could I ask what products that you use?

To get Jack looking like he did in the winter photo, I degreased him with goop diluted half with water, followed by a bath in Dawn dish detergent (diluted half with water), Chris Christensen Clean Start shampoo,  Vitacoat Marron color brightening shampoo and Chris Christensen Thick and Thicker  and before drying I use Davis Volumizer mousse.  With the exception of the goop, this was done weekly. Goop is only before a show. Once home from the show I sometimes condition his coat, but in the 4 years I showed him he really only needed the conditioning once. That was when I used a product without diluting it first. Showing Persians is extremely work intensive. Drying that winter coat alone can take 2 to 3 hours. It is worth it though - a perfectly show groomed Persian is a sight to see!

He only weighed about 9 pounds in that winter photo, but he sure looks like he weighs more!