Persian
Persian
The origins of the Persian cat are murky, at best. Some claim that the Persian is descended from the Sand cat, but this cannot be proven. It is also thought that somehow Angoras were crossbred with Chinese longhairs or Russian Longhairs, but again, this is uncertain. There is also the suggestion that longhairs came to China as a gift from the king of Persian but there is no proof of this. What is known is that Perisans were recognized as their own distinct breed by the 19th century and came to America at around the same time. This longhaired cat comes in a wide variety of colors that is very thick, making it prone to matting. A Persian’s coat is so thick the hair looks as if it is standing on its end. Regular grooming is an absolute must to avoid this problem – including regular brushing and bathing. Any matting that is not attended to may result in uncomfortable skin infections.
