Persian
Also called Longhair.
The flat face is the identification and also the problem. Modern show Persians are brachycephalic to a degree that causes real breathing, tear-duct and dental disease, and a page about them that does not say so is not being straight with the reader.
- Coat
- Long
- Build
- Compact and heavy
- Head
- Flat-faced
- Weight
- 3–5.5 kg
- Origin
- Iran
What it looks like
Cobby and low on the leg, with an extremely long dense coat, a very broad flat face, large round eyes set wide, small ears and a short thick tail.
The characters that confirm it
- A flat face with the nose set between the eyes rather than in front of them.
- A very long, dense, fine coat requiring daily grooming.
- Large round eyes, set wide apart, often watering.
- Cobby body, short thick legs, short tail.
Temperament
Quiet, placid, undemanding. Not a climber or a jumper.
Health
Brachycephalic airway syndrome, chronic tear overflow, dental crowding and eye ulceration are common and follow directly from the face shape. Polycystic kidney disease is widespread and has a genetic test. Traditional or 'doll-face' Persians have a less extreme muzzle and considerably fewer of these problems.
Confused with
The same body and face on a short plush coat. It is a Persian in a shorthaired jacket, and carries the same health problems.
A Persian with Siamese colourpoints and blue eyes. Registered as a Persian variant in some registries and a separate breed in others.
Questions about this breed
How do you recognise a Persian?
A flat face with the nose set between the eyes rather than in front of them. A very long, dense, fine coat requiring daily grooming.
What is a Persian like to live with?
Quiet, placid, undemanding. Not a climber or a jumper.
What health problems do Persians have?
Brachycephalic airway syndrome, chronic tear overflow, dental crowding and eye ulceration are common and follow directly from the face shape. Polycystic kidney disease is widespread and has a genetic test. Traditional or 'doll-face' Persians have a less extreme muzzle and considerably fewer of these problems.