Persian Cats

Owning a Persian cat is really wonderful. This beauty is somewhat a cross between a small dog and a domestic cat. They most definitely have a personality all their own. I know this because I am the owner of 6 Persians. They are just the sweetest animals that our God has created and I love mine very much. 3 of the 6 Persians that I own are from Rescues.

Let me tell my story about Madison. I saw her picture on a Persian cat adoption website and fell in love. I have always wanted a White Persian but they are really hard to find and very expensive. I followed through and filled out the online application and within a week I was invited up to Wisconsin to visit and see this beauty and decide on whether or not I would be a possible new owner. I remember my first thought was how very thin and scared she looked. When I opened her cage she ran under a locker that was along the wall of the room. After a few minutes I could see her peek out at me.

And I just fell in love with this baby. I knew that I had to get this girl into a safe house with nourishment and love. From stress she had already lost a substantial amount of her hair and when I finally convinced her to allow me to pick her up I could feel the vertebrae in her back. And there were a few major knots on her shoulder and along her side that needed to be attended to. Yes with God's help I could make her healthy again!

That was 3 months ago and Madison is like another cat. She has gained over 2 lbs. and her fur is coming back really beautifully. This little girl has quite the personality and she definately keeps in line the other male cats in the house even though she is the smallest.

How does a Persian end up in shelters and on the street? Well that is the biggest heart breaker friends. They are, in my opinion, very cute little kittens at one time that grow into very high maintenance cats that need almost daily brushing of their fur in order to maintain their coats. They overwhelm the unprepared new owner and end up in shelters, shaved and without loving homes.

They are generally one person cats but in the right environment, with the right persons can adjust well to a family that is willing to take on the extra maintenance involved with owning a Persian.

I believe that it is very important for anyone considering a long haired kitten to think really hard about being able to maintain this baby for the next fifteen to 18 years. Thank you for reading my article and I hope to see you on my web site.

Julie Bradley

I have a web site that I have dedicated to Persians and I welcome you to visit. I welcome you to visit my store for links to products and magazines that will guide you to a better understanding of the Persian cat. It is aboutpersiancats.com.

I also show some pictures on [http://askjulie.net]

Julie

http://aboutpersiancats.com

Persian Cat Care - How to Keep Your Pet Happy and Healthy

Persian cats are considered by many to be one of the classiest breeds. As the name applies, it's believed they came from Persia, which is located in modern day Iran. Since there's such a stigma surrounding them, many people believe that more care is needed in owning a one. However this is not true. The care given to a Persian cat is basically the same as any other. Let's take a closer look at exactly what needs to be done to keep your cat happy and health.

Food

It's so important feed your cat the top quality food. A cat's digestive system is very different then humans. Because of this it's not advisable to feed your Persian cat leftovers or table scraps. Freshness is also important. They may become sick or get an upset stomach if they eat spoiled food.

Litter boxes

All cats are very sensitive to smell. They won't enjoy being around anything that stinks. Besides that, your house will smell great too!

Know your pet

Every cat is different. It's always a good idea to "check in" every day to make sure things is ok. If something's not right, he or she will let you know in their own way. If in doubt a quick trip to the vet may be in order. It's always good to be safe than sorry.

Vaccinations

Preventive medication is always a good thing. Just like humans, cats need to be vaccinated on a regular basis. While shots may be expensive, it's important to keep this in your monthly budget. It's better to pay for vaccines up front, than deal with bigger problems down the road.

Quality Time

While cats may seem aloof at times, they need love and affection as much as humans. Quality time is so important. Take the time to play with your pet on a regular basis. If it's hard to find the time, simply taking a few minutes to pet him can go a long way. One of the more human traits that cats posses is jealously. Not playing with him might lead to depression or stress. The more you ignore your cat, the worse it will get.

To find out the latest tips on caring for your Persian cat, you need to read: What You Need to Know about Persian Cat Care as soon as possible. This is an excellent article that will give you more information on treatment solutions. http://www.easycatcaretips.com is dedicated to helping people take care of their cats.

The Unfamiliar History of Persian Cats

1620 is the year when the first Persian cats were brought from Persia. The Persian cats history begins in Italy. That is the place where they were first taken to. After about 50 years this breed was also taken to France. But this time not from Persia but from Turkey.

But is their origin Persia? How did the short muzzle cats appear? There is no known ancestor for any domestic cat to have such a thick fur. It seems that the species we know today was obtained by cross breeding with the Pallas cats. As a consequence of this mating in France, a long fur cat has been obtained. But not quite the one we know today. To get the cats as we now know them several breeds were tried and selected.

But what makes the Persian cats so wanted? What traits did they inherit from the Pallas cats? What is characteristic to them and makes them special? There are several physical features obtained across the Persian Cats history. The first one and most known is the thick fur. But the fur is not enough for the cat to make it a true Persian. Their ears have to be placed wide apart. They must be found nearly to the sides of their head. Their eyes need to be big and clear. And most importantly their short, very short muzzle. This is a trait that often comes with serious illnesses. Many Persian cats die due to the short muzzle.

Even though the first place in Europe to have them was Italy, it seems that the Persian Cats History began in France. A certain Nicholas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc is the person who successfully mated the Pallas cats with the Persian for the very first time, to obtain the thick fur cats of today.

Sturat is article marketer, copywriter and enjoys writing on topics like Persian Cats and Persian Cats History. For more information on these topics , please visit us.

Polycystic Kidney Disease And Your Persian Cat

Cats are beautiful animals and they take their place next to dogs. The cat health of a Persian sees some health problems that require some specific knowledge. Persian cats have some genetic problems that are prone to happen to any cat of this breed.

A Little History on the Persian Cat

Persian cats have beautiful long silky hair and their long hairs float everywhere they visit, including your lap. In the sixteenth century, Persian cats walked the roads in Turkey and some other areas. Some people believe that the longhaired Persian is a mutation of the shorthaired Persian from Egypt. Some believed that the difference in hair length was triggered by the cool weather conditions.

Make Up Of a Persian Cat

The Persian cat has a short tail that extends outward with thick bones and a round body. The eyes of a Persian are beautiful and big while the ears are small and appear too small for their heads. They have a flat nose similar to a Pekinese dog breed. The mild temperament and easygoing disposition makes the Persian an idea cat for everyone.

Susceptible To Polycystic Kidney Disease

The Persian cat is often susceptible to polycystic kidney disease, which affects the kidneys's and generally are common from birth. Although these cats do not show signs until the age of six and up, the Persian cat has the cysts that grow as they grow and age causing the kidney to become enlarged. The prognosis is kidney failure, which will result in death for the cat. This href="http://www.aboutcathealth.org/cat/">cat health prob

lem needs to have immediate attention to take care of any future problems.

Some Signs Your Persian Has Kidney Disease

Persians have a need to use the litter box more frequently and have a strong need for water. The cat will more than likely sleep more than usual and may be a bit depressed and finicky about eating, which will lead to body weight loss. In some instances, the liver and the uterus sometimes is affected with the growth and spread of the cysts.

Getting Care for Your Sick Persian Cat

Because the Persian cat is normally born with the generic make up causing it to be prone to polycystic kidney disease, your vet may prescribe a drug to help with anemia that occurs after the spread of the cysts. The cats diet has to change to eliminate phosphorous and protein in the diet, which will cause more problems for your ailing Persian. In some cases, the vet will recommend a phosphate binder, which you add to the food or water supply.

Scientists believe that the disease is caused by a dominate gene and requires finding the potential carrier of this gene and eliminating the potential for further reproduction of the carrier. Vets can determine if the Persian kittens have the cysts at an early age to prevent reproduction of the cat that has the dominate gene. An ultra sound will provide a scan of the kitten's kidneys and determine if the Persian kitten requires immediate sterilization to prevent further breeding of cats with the gene.

You can also find more information at cat care and adopting cat from shelter. Aboutcathealth.org is a comprehensive resource to find more information about cat health.

Caring For Persian Cats

Persian cats are among the most popular breeds of cat in America, today. Well known for their gentle, sweet personalities and their long hair, Persian cats are also great companions for virtually anyone, and need very little attention.

Persian cats actually come in a variety of colors. They are divided into seven color divisions: solid, silver and gold, tabby, shaded and smoke, particolor, bicolor and Himalayan. No matter what color of Persian cat it may be, they are best noticed during competitions by their long and flowing coats.

Persian cats are not great outdoor cats. Because of their long hair, if left outside for any length of time in weather, their coats can become seriously matted and damaged.

Most short-haired cats have no problem maintaining their own coats through daily self grooming, but this is not so for long-haired Persian cats. It is a good idea to brush
the cat's hair daily or as often as possible. When Persian cats is very young, it is a good idea to start bathing on a regular basis with recommended shampoos, in order to
keep the coat healthy, clean and mat-free.

Another thing that’s common with Persians cats is their eyes. Their eyes are very big and can sometimes be too much for the cat to clean. You'll notice a lot of matting of the hair around the eyes when there is a problem. This is a common health problem with the breed, and should be checked on a regular basis to ensure that it doesn’t get out of control.

The Persian breed is gentle and sweet, getting along great with everyone including kids. They have a pleasant meow and using their meow and their eyes they are able to communicate very effectively with their owners. They are very playful, loved being admired and thought they do not require a lot of attention, they do love it. As with
most cats, the majority of the time, Persian cats love to bask in the sun and show others just how beautiful they truly are.

Although most breeds can be kept indoors or outside, Persian cats should always be kept inside and only allowed to go outside of the house with supervision. Keeping them inside will help protect their coats and also keep diseases and common parasites away from them as well.

To ensure that your Persian cat stays healthy, you should always take him to the vet on an annual basis. With lots of love and a little attention to grooming, Persian cats can live as long as 20 years.

Copyright © 2007 Will Jones

Will is a retired Research Food Technologist who worked over forty years with a major Fortune 500 food company in the Midwest. Product and process development of various types of foods were Will’s expertise. Will’s interests include reading, cooking, fishing, travel and golf.

Will is also a contributing editor for [http://www.Best-Free-Help.com] a FREE Informational Website Portal that is dedicated to giving people expert knowledge of real value, to help people them decide!

Persian Cat Adoption - Pros and Cons

The Persian cat is the most popular breed of cat. Nearly everyone recognizes the distinctive look of the Persian - the round face, squashed nose, big eyes, small ears, stocky legs and - of course - the lovely long hair.

If you're thinking of adopting a Persian cat, you need to consider if it's the right breed for you. This article goes through the potential pros and cons of owning this breed.

Pros:

Very placid and nice-natured
Adaptable to change - so will cope well with house moves, family additions, new pets etc.
Good with other pets including dogs
Good with children
Gentle and loving
Playful and confident but not too boisterous
Not too vocal - most have quiet, melodic voices
Usually happy to live as indoor cats

Cons:

Long hair needs combing on nearly a daily basis to prevent matting
Occasional bathing usually needed to keep the fur in its best condition
Eyes prone to excessive watering, so they need wiping usually on a daily basis. May also need cleaning regularly with a special fluid as dark staining can occur
Flat face can sometimes cause nasal passage blockages and therefore breathing problems
May need to occasionally cut knots out of hair or even get areas on the body shaved if heavy matting occurs
May need occasional help with hygiene especially if they get diarrhea, as it can be difficult for them to clean their long fur thoroughly
Persians need human attention, so they aren't suitable for anyone who can't spend time with them every day
These cats don't like being left alone for long periods of time. If you're out during the day, it's better if there's another pet living with you too that will provide company when you're not there

As long as you have the time and inclination, a lot of the cons listed here aren't really negatives. Most Persian cat owners get great pleasure caring for and spending time with their pets. If you want a lovely natured cat that needs a bit more care than most other breeds, the Persian could be the best choice for you.

Liz Allan is a cat behavior expert with over 20 years experience of caring for cats. Click on these links to her website for more information on the Persian cat and advice on many other different cat breeds.

Persian Cats - Health Issues

Persian Cats are by far and away the most popular breed, but there are some very common health problems and a few special nutritional needs required for this magnificent cat.

The breeding habits of some non reputable breeders have made several of these health problems more common in both the Ultra Persian and the Traditional Persian; however, it seems that these issues may be more prevalent with the Ultra breeds.

All health concerns and most problems will all start with the breeder. If you are very serious about getting this breed of cat, make absolutely sure you do as much background checking as you can on the breeder and get as many references as possible.

The Persian cat is perhaps the oldest breed of cat, dating back into the ancient days of Iran, when is what actually called Persia. This magnificent breed has a grace in the way they walk and majesty in their demeanor, but they are also quite lazy, which can lead to some health issues as such as obesity.

Because of their natural dense fur that can be up to 8 to 10 inches long in some cases, they are also slightly more prone to health issues.

But they are by no means unhealthy cats, but they do have some issues.

PDK: Polycystic Kidney Disease

The most common health issue in Persian Cats is referred to as PDK or polycystic kidney disease. This is an inherited disease and was first noticed in the late 1960's but there was not a lot of research on it until the 1990's.

This disease shows up between the ages of three years to ten years in Persians, and it will cause enlarged kidneys as well as kidney dysfunction. Cats that inherit this condition will be born with cysts and all of the problems develop when these cysts start to grow. As they grow and progressively enlarge, the kidney, because of this growth, is reduced in its ability to function properly.

The most serious of conditions will result in the failure of the kidneys and the death of your cat. The symptoms that your Persian has this condition will be a sudden lack of an appetite as well as an increased thirst and need to urinate.

There is currently no known treatment for this disease other than treatments similar to other forms of chronic kidney failure. Because it is only recently understood, there is still a lot of research to be done to devise effective treatments.

Tear Duct Overflow:

This condition can occur in any cat, but is more prevalent in Persians because of the flat features. These features may result in the failure of the tears to drain away properly. Compounding this issue is overproduction of tears which could be caused by infections, allergies, or some form of an irritant.

The natural form of a Persians face also makes drainage a problem due to wrinkling of the drainage ducts, abnormally small tear duct openings, and shallow tear lakes on the inner corners of their eyes. This is believed to be a chronic condition in Ultras because of breeding techniques.

The symptoms that you need to watch for will be a watery discharge in the eyes, tear staining below the eye, or ulcerations as well as obvious irritations to your pet on the skin below the eyes.

Effective treatments for tear duct overflow can include antibiotic ointments and it will be very important to keep the areas around the eyes clean to prevent infections. Trimming the hair beneath the eyes very carefully will also help the drainage. But be very careful.

There are some natural herbal ingredients such as Dandelion and German Chamomile that are natural eye cleaners and are very tonic in nature and quite soothing for your cat. In very serious cases, your cat may require surgery.

Chediak-Higashi Syndrome:

This condition is also one of the more common health concerns in Persians. It is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder that basically causes your pets hair to turn a smoky blue color. But what is especially dangerous about this condition is the development of nuclear cataracts that are associated with it. These infections can cause a prolonged bleeding in your cat.

Persians affected by this condition are also very prone to infections. There is no known treatment for this condition. Symptoms that you will have to watch for are muscle weakness, nerve problems in the legs, tremors, as well as numbness. In very severe cases there will be seizures, most likely followed by your cat passing, as it can be that serious.

Congenital Ankyloblepharon:

This condition is especially prevalent in Blue Persians. This is a situation where adhesion of the eyelids margin, or stick to each other. This is very common in both puppies and kittens, but very uncommon in adult cats. If this persists, it can result in swelling and infections as well as several serious eye conditions.

A warm, wet cotton ball will usually free the eyelids, but if not, immediate care may be needed.

Urinary Tract Stones:

All cats can have this condition, but it is much more prevalent in Persians. These are small stones that are found within the bladder, and in most cases they are passed with urine. If they puss up and are not passed, it becomes an emergency situation, as it blocks the urinary tract.

Symptoms will be abnormal urine patterns, as well as difficulty urinating or frequent urination. You will also need to watch for cloudy urine, or blood in the urine. These stones are made up primarily of magnesium, ammonium and phosphate.

A low magnesium diet will help to eliminate these stones in most cases.

Hip dysplasia and well as patellar luxation, a condition in which your cat's knee caps slides, are also known health conditions in Persian cats.

Summary:

These are all health concerns that you need to be aware of when selecting a Persian, but with the correct breeder most can be averted. These cats will also need some special treatments for there gorgeous hair coatings.

You should always look for hair supplements that have all of the B vitamins, as well as zinc and fatty acids to bring out the brilliance of their coats.

The cats are perhaps the most gentle and docile of all the cat breeds. It is recommended to keep them indoors to keep their fur free of parasites as well. Overall, they make wonderful and very affectionate companions, despite some health concerns.

I am an avid lover of pets and my wife and I have had several pets throughout our years. We are especially fond of dogs, and we have a 12 year old Dalmatian (our 3rd) and a "mutt" that we rescued when someone threw him away to die in a vacant field.

He found us, nearly starved to death, and weighed about 2 pounds.

After severe bouts of mange and severe dehydration, and over 1,000.00 in veterinarian bills, we saved the little guys life, and he is one of the best, if not the best, dogs we have ever had and today is a muscular, fit, and firm 70 pound best friend.

After finishing my MBA, which at middle age was not easy, I decided to keep the research work ethics that I acquired, and devote about two hours each night in understanding the health benefits of supplementation for both humans and pets and how they might strengthen our, as well as our pets, immune system in a pre-emptive approach to health rather than a reactionary approach.

Both of my daughters are avid cat lovers, and asked me to help them with health concerns and challenges with their cats.

I am not a veterinarian nor claim to be, just a lover of pets that loves to research and pass on some knowledge that might be helpful, or at least stimulating to the thought process.

Several of the articles that I have written can be found on my website;

Liquid Vitamins & Minerals for Humans & Pets
http://www.liquid-vitamins-minerals-humans-pets.com