Persian Cats

Persian cats are well known for their quiet, docile dispositions. They usually get along well with kids and other pets, and enjoy attention. They can be very playful and affectionate.

Persian Pictures

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Quick Facts

• weight: 8 – 10 pounds | male
  7 – 9 pounds | female
• height: 10 - 15 inches | male
  10 - 14 inches | female

Ideal Human Companions

• Owners willing to groom weekly
• First-time cat owners
• Families with children
• Multi-pet households

Persians on Catster

5,554 cats | see profile pages

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Trademark Traits

• Long fur
• Affectionate
• Needs attention
• Easy going
• Playful

What They Are Like to Live With

Unlike some other breeds, Persians don’t demand attention from their owners, and can be selective about who they prefer within a family. They do crave attention from their favorite humans, and love to curl up in your lap.

Persians need a lot of grooming. Their long, thick fur can easily mat if not brushed on a weekly basis.

Things You Should Know

Persian cats need a lot of grooming to prevent hairballs and mats. Be prepared to spend at least 20 minutes a week grooming your Persian.

Although they are not demanding, Persian cats enjoy spending time with their families and like to sleep curled up on a lap.

Although Persians are not very active cats, they do enjoy playing with interactive toys as well as other cats and dogs they grow up with.

Persian cats are not very independent and need the companionship of a human family. Persians left alone all day often prefer another pet for company.

Persian History

Long-haired Persian cats were first discovered in the Middle East by an Italian traveler in the early 1600s. They were eventually brought to Europe, and became popular in England during the 19th century. Queen Victoria owned two blue Persians.

Persian cats came to America in the late 1800s. The breed was officially recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association in 1914, and quickly became the most popular cat breed in America. U.S. breeders have their own breed standard for this cat, giving the American Persian a slightly different look among the world’s Persian cats.

The Persian is also recognized by The International Cat Association (TICA) and the American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA).

The Look of a Persian

Persians are well known for their long, luxurious fur and their distinct, sweet expressions. Persians have a flat face and round eyes. Their heads are round and large, and the ears small and round-tipped. The body of the Persian is thick and stocky.

Persians come in a large variety of colors and patterns, including solid, silver, golden, shaded, smoke, tabby, parti-color, bicolor and Himalayan.

http://www.catster.com/cat-breeds/Persian

Chinchilla Cat

Chinchilla Cat

Breed: Chinchilla
Temperament: placid
Cost: from $650 to around $850
Lifespan: 12-15 years
Recommended for: singles
Maintenance: high

Chinchillas are named after a South American rodent which also has two-toned fur. The Chinchilla cat is one of the most popular longhaired cat breeds and is in fact a type of Persian.

Appearance 

The Chinchilla is an elegant cat with a long, thick, silky coat, cobby body, round face and large eyes. The cat's undercoat is usually white with black, silver or gold tipping. Those with darker silver markings on their bodies are known as shaded silvers, those with gold tips are known as shaded goldens - these are quite rare. The eyes should be emerald or blue-green with a distinctive black eye-liner rim; the nose should be red with black pencilling. The feet pads are also black.

Temperament 

Chinchillas are generally very placid, quiet cats, happy to lie around the home being decorative. They are affectionate, enjoy attention and can become quite attached to their owners. Some breeders do not recommend them as pets for very young children, who may be tempted to pull their hair, which the cat is unlikely to tolerate.

Grooming

Chinchillas should be brushed for about 15 minutes daily to avoid the coat knotting and matting. Special attention needs to be paid to the underarms and under the tail and tummy, areas where the fur may rub and knots occur more commonly.

If grooming is neglected, even for a few days, the coat can become very tangled and unless the cat is extremely tolerant, it may not appreciate the discomfort involved in restoring the coat to a knot-free condition. If knotting or matting is beyond the capability of a comb, then the cat may need to be clipped off, usually by a vet. Vets charge up to $100 to clip a longhaired cat as a general anaesthetic is often required. Some pet owners and breeders have their cats clipped each year to reduce the amount of work involved in grooming.

Health

Eyes can become runny and must be wiped with a soft, clean cloth or tissue to keep clear of debris. Tear ducts can become blocked while foreign bodies such as dust in the eyes can cause corneal ulcers. Both conditions need veterinary attention. Obviously, these cats don't cope with hot weather all that well. They are best suited to cooler zones and need protection in warmer areas.

Cardiomyopathy is a heart condition which can develop early in life and is usually fatal; Polycystic kidney disease affects cats between 3-10 years and is also usually fatal. Furballs can be a problem and breeders advise adding either margarine or oil to their meals a couple of times a week, or a commercial laxative preparation can be obtained from vets for more chronic problems. Grooming, or lack thereof, sparks most visits to the surgery, as the coat becomes matted and needs to be shaved.

Breeding 

Chinchillas average four kittens per litter. Kittens can be born with quite dark markings, which may lighten with age.

Housepet potential

Chinchillas are ideally suited to flats or houses as many prefer to spend much of their day inside. The long white coat does shed a lot of hair which will become worse when the winter coat is dropping. While daily brushing will reduce the amount of hair shed, it will still cover clothes and furniture. A hint for prospective Chinchilla owners: avoid black clothes or furniture.

Ideal owner 

Many Chinchillas are sold to older people who have time to care for the cat and the need for an affectionate companion.

Further information 

NSW Silver Persian Cat Club of Australia
Glenda Simmons
Phone: (02) 4684 1730

VIC Pedigreed Persian Cat Club Inc
President: Marlene Chasemore
Phone: (03) 5964 8298

Secretary: Sue Fitzgerald
Phone: (03) 5783 1564

TAS Cat Association of Tasmania
Phone: (03) 6263 7584

ACT Capital Cats Incorporated

WA Chinchilla & Shaded Cat Fanciers of WA
President: Val Pellegrini
Phone: (08) 9459 2078

QLD Feline Control Council of Qld
Jan Wylie
Phone: (07) 3857 2743

Queensland Feline Association
Val Harney
Phone: (07) 3260 6575

The Council of Federated Cat Clubs of Queensland
Marie Mahoney
Phone: (07) 5498 6078

Queensland Independent Cat Council
Jackie Gibson
Phone: (07) 3888 5018

SA Governing Council of the Cat Fancy of SA
Secretary: Mrs Nell Evans
Phone: (08) 8449 5880

Copyright CTC Productions 1999

http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/factsheets/Cats/Chinchilla-Cat/1384

Abyssinian Cats

Source: http://www.petmd.com/

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The Abyssinian belongs to the ticked or agouti breed, both terms used for the cat's type of fur. Its distinctive feature is its silky, multicolored coat, which is a combination of several colors on each hair shaft. Each strand of hair has dark colored bands, contrasting with the light colored bands, and ending with a dark tip. This gives the cat its ticking appearance, and makes it stunning to look at.

The Abyssinian is medium in size, with well developed muscles and a graceful walk. It also has strikingly, almond-shaped eyes, which are gold or green in color.

PERSONALITY AND TEMPERAMENT

Though a born beauty, this cat is not for show. Courage, a natural curiosity, and high spirits mark out the Abyssinian. It is not a cat that enjoys being handled extensively. It has an independent mind but will insist on participating in every aspect of its owner’s life. When you are having meals it may also attach itself to your legs and be fed on crumbs.

Active and playful, it is also known as the class clown, making you laugh at all its shenanigans. It loves to perch on your shoulder, crawl under covers, and gravitates to your lap when you least expect it. It may then caper off to swat at imaginary objects, or leap for the tallest bookcase.

Life is certainly never dull when you have an Abyssinian in your home. It can even amuse itself for hours.

HEALTH AND CARE

The Abyssinian is a bundle of energy that chaffs at restrictions, getting its much-needed exercise by playing often. This cat frequently seeks interaction with humans, bonding through grooming and cuddling with its owner.

Although Abyssinians are usually healthy, they are susceptible to gingivitis and tooth decay. Therefore, proper dental care is essential for their well being. Abyssinians can also suffer from amyloidosis, an organ (renal) disease that is thought to be hereditary.

HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

The origin of the Abyssinian remains shrouded in mystery. However, there is some evidence that ancient Egyptians worshiped cats: murals and sculptures, some as old as 4,000 years, bear a remarkable resemblance to today’s Abyssinian.

Recent genetic research also reveals that the present day Abyssinian may have originated from a breed found in Southeast Asia and on the coast of the Indian Ocean. Others indicate the Abyssinian looks similar to the African wildcat, which is regarded as the ancestor of all domestic cats. Many breeders believe that the original Abyssinian line has perished, and give credit to British breeders for recreating the breed.

The first documented Abyssinian is Zula, which was described and physically detailed by the Scottish born Dr. William Gordon Stables, in his 1876 book, Cats: Their Points and Characteristics, With Curiosities of Cat Life, and a Chapter on Feline Ailments (London: Dean & Smith). As the British-led Abyssinian war of 1868 drew to a close, Zula (named for the Abyssinian town the expedition party built port at) joined the voyage from Abyssinia to England with the expedition leader Lt. Gen. Sir Robert Napier and his crew.

While the British undoubtedly played a large role in cultivating the modern Abyssinian, their efforts were wiped out by the devastations of World War II and they had to begin again. One would conclude that much of the Abyssinian's original traits have changed in the process, yet even now they command the same veneration and regard the breed had in ancient Egypt.

It was not until the 20th Century that the Abyssinian was recognized in the United States. First exhibited in Boston, Mass. in 1909, the breed did not begin to show success until the 1930s. Even then the success was limited because many of the offspring died young. In 1938, however, a red colored Abyssinian named Ras Seyum was imported to the U.S. from Britain. The cat caught the attention of cat enthusiasts and its popularity led to more British imports of the breed, followed by the success the Abyssinian has today.