BREED HIGHLIGHT: THE PERSIAN CAT

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With his opulent fur, unique to his kind and found in almost 300 colours, the Persian is the most famous cat breed in the world. In addition to his incomparable style, the Persian is distinguished by his noble, sweet character. He is a serene aristocrat. Because he has a unique coat and brachycephalic jaws, the Persian needs an exclusive nutritional answer.

History

Longhaired cats were unknown in Europe until around the mid-16th century. The Persian’s first ancestors were imported from Persia (now Iran) to Italy in the 17th century by Pierro della Valle.
Later, Nicholas-Claude Fabri de Peiresec, an advisor to the parliament of Aix-en-Provence, brought two cats to France from Turkey (perhaps they were Angora in type).
These cats were highly prized by the European aristocracy. Louis XV has a white angora Persian.
In the first half of the 19th century, some “Persians” bred in Italy and brought to France and England were crossed with “Persians” of Turkish origin. The first specimens were shown in London’s Crystal Palace in 1871. At that time, British breeders organized a selective breeding program. Crosses were made with Angoras to improve the coat. In addition, a systematic effort aimed at increasing the range of colors and patterns was begun, leading to over 200 varieties today.
Thus, the smoke Persian, the product of black, white, and blue Persians, was shown in Brighton in 1872. A cat named Silver was the first Chinchilla Persian shown in London in 1888.
Also in the 19th century, British breeders selected the roundest, most massive cats. Around 1930, American breeders obtained an extremely short-limbed type called the “Peke face” (after the Pekinese dog).
Possibly the world’s most famous feline breed, the Persian was probably used to create the Birman and the British Shorthair

Characteristics

The placid, calm, phlegmatic, sedentary Persian is perfectly suited to apartment life. Sociable, peaceful, never aggressive, gentle and very affectionate, he is very attached to his owner.
Persians get along with other cats, dogs, and children. They are more distant toward strangers.
For their well-being, they need a tranquil life. They can tolerate solitude. They rarely use their soft voice.
Persians reach maturity at the age of two. They enter puberty late (at approximately 12 months). Grooming (brushing, combing and cleaning) is a considerable undertaking. The Persian’s long hair is prone to the rapid formation of knots and tufts. It is therefore essential to untangle the coat every day. Persians shed in spring and summer.
Their eyes, which produce tears constantly, must be cleaned regularly.

Source: The Royal Canin Catg Encyclopaedia

The best nutritional answer for the Persian Cat

From 4 to 12 months: Persian Kitten 32

An essential phase in the Persian kitten’s life and for his future health, growth needs particular attention, particularly as the Persian kitten already has some of the typical characteristics of his breed which must be taken into account. Firstly, the Persian kitten’s coat is very similar to an adult’s. Even though it is temporary, this long, thick kitten coat lasts almost a year. Secondly, the Persian’s maxillo-facial morphology, even at a very young age, means that he uses the “sub lingual” method of picking his food.

Kitten Persian 32 – the appropriate nutritional answer: Kitten Persian 32 uses the exclusive formula with ultra-digestible proteins that limit the content of fermentable residues in the intestine, fructo-oligo-saccharides, beet pulp (to balance the intestinal flora) and EPA/DHA (to protect the intestinal mucous membrane). Kitten Persian 32 also helps to reinforce the “barrier” role of the skin and reveal the coat’s beauty and natural colour. Plus, the exclusive Ruby 6 kibble is easy to pick up and encourages the Persian kitten to crunch: the shape is designed to be easier to pick up, a softer texture (obtained through longitudinal extrusion) which reduces the force necessary to break it by 31%.

Over 12 months : Persian Adult 30

Persian 30 helps maintaining the beauty of a long coat. It reveals the beauty of the Persian’s long, dense coat, thanks to the Beauty Shine Complex, which helps limit skin irritation, reinforce the skin’s “barrier” role, and intensifies the coat colour, shine and softness. It also helps limiting the formation of hair balls and encouraging gastric mobility, thanks to an exclusive combination of fibres.
An almond shape kibble, Almond 11, has been created to suit the “sub lingual” method of picking up food, which is typical of the brachycephalic jaw: the contact with the tongue is maximised and adherence improved.

Persian Kitten 32 (0.4 kg or 2 kgs) and Persian 30 (2 kgs) are available from specialist pet retailer and veterinary clinics.