any persian cat owners out there please?

bagpussbear

Are there any owners of Persian cats on here please, that I may ask your advice?

I am thinking about adopting a Persian cat, from a Persian rescue home.

I am an experienced cat owner, and currently have 1 cat (from the RSPCA and non-pedigree) but I have no experience of Persians.

I’ve been researching about the breed online, but there is nothing like having advice from people who actually have them of course!

Could anyone give me their personal insight on their general temperament please? are they chatty, lazy, playful? Any medical conditions that are common to the breed? Do they generally take to other cats like my own who are non-persian? I would like to adopt an older cat, rather than a kitten.

We are out the house about 9 hours a day Mon-Fri, although my son is around a bit more as he’s at college and doesn’t go in every day. Would that be a problem, as I know some cats are more human ‘needy’ than others.

I would be grateful for your thoughts please, thanking you in advance.

meritaten

I am a new Persian owner myself (see my thread 'Grandcat having extended sleepover).
What can I tell you?
To start with, I have a Red/White Flat face Persian called Barney.
He was my sons originally, but, he doesn't cope well with other cats and the dog. He seems to like being an 'only' Cat.
He is neutered.
His temperament is lovely! he is a very sweet cat! bit lazy and will only play with grandkids on HIS terms!
I don't know if its the breed but he is rather finicky with his food. He was brought up on dry food (PAH) and only ever had Sheba as an occasional treat - but I feed him one every night - he also loves Applaws chicken. he cant tolerate 'fishy' varieties - as I quickly found out. Though for a special 'treat' a few cooked prawns are much appreciated.
he has got a stubborn streak - we are currently engaged in 'Poo Wars' He prefers to poo in the bath and I don't want him to!
I adore him - he wins over everybody who meets him and has a lot of 'followers' on here too!

bagpussbear

meritaten wrote: »

I am a new Persian owner myself (see my thread 'Grandcat having extended sleepover).
What can I tell you?
To start with, I have a Red/White Flat face Persian called Barney.
He was my sons originally, but, he doesn't cope well with other cats and the dog. He seems to like being an 'only' Cat.
He is neutered.
His temperament is lovely! he is a very sweet cat! bit lazy and will only play with grandkids on HIS terms!
I don't know if its the breed but he is rather finicky with his food. He was brought up on dry food (PAH) and only ever had Sheba as an occasional treat - but I feed him one every night - he also loves Applaws chicken. he cant tolerate 'fishy' varieties - as I quickly found out. Though for a special 'treat' a few cooked prawns are much appreciated.
he has got a stubborn streak - we are currently engaged in 'Poo Wars' He prefers to poo in the bath and I don't want him to!
I adore him - he wins over everybody who meets him and has a lot of 'followers' on here too!

Thanks Meritaten for your reply, Barney sounds a sweetie pie!

Ah I hadn't thought to ask about diet actually, so that's interesting to know.

May I ask, if you have to be out of the house for any length of time, does he cope ok with that?

meritaten

Yes - I don't think he notices I am gone! when I come in I yodel 'Hi Baarneyyyyy, I'm Hoooommme! and he usually appears yawning as if I have woken him from a nice nap!

I see that you have just one cat? Barney had to cope with five other cats (I think it was five) and a Yorkshire terrier pup! he couldn't, he got very stressed and became a bit aggressive. That was so out of character son asked me to take him for a while. I have only ever had two cats in the past. Both Moggies! but Barney really won me over, and won my OH over too! and OH really isn't a 'cat' person!
I would think that just one other cat would be fine - as long as the home is ordered and not 'chaotic'!

bagpussbear

Thankfully I have a calm house! goodness poor old Barney sounded stressed, I bet he loves time with just you and your OH now :-) My Bagpuss is soooo laid back and gentle too.

meritaten

research both Persian and Flat face or Peke Persian. Their temperaments as described on websites fit Barney (mainly!) but individual cats often don't conform, Barney has his quirks!
Barney actually loves having visitors! if he hears the door open he comes to see who it is! then he greets them politely and waits for 'strokes'.......if none are forthcoming he will just go off for a nap!
he also loves children - in small doses! again, when fed up he goes off!
he also is one of the few cats who can tolerate my ADHD and Aspergers grandkids - they don't seem to faze him at all! he is VERY gentle with them!

UKTigerlily

You could try Mrs E on here, she had Persians I think & now has Exotics which I think are similar, either way i'm sure she's had at least one x

bagpussbear

UKTigerlily wrote: »

You could try Mrs E on here, she had Persians I think & now has Exotics which I think are similar, either way i'm sure she's had at least one x

thank you for that suggestion!

Hillbilly2

Hello all,

We're on our third Persian, Little Blue is now 17!

We've only had older rescue Persians. I'm a Vet Nurse and they appear quite regularly, being a popular breed.

Barney sounds quite typical. They think they are the most important thing in the room, and are super friendly.

They do love people being around but all ours have coped with normal working patterns.

LB is a Daddys Girl, as were the other girls. Slightly annoying as they were all older and "too sick" to get through normal rehoming channels. So I saved them from an uncertain future - to be ignored once they clapped eyes on OH!

Over the years we have had cats, we have also had non-pedigree cats, boarded rescue dogs, guide dogs and also had our own Pekes. The Persians have coped - I think because of the "I'm best" attitude!

Good points:-

• loving
• friendly
• good personality
• happy to 100% indoors

Bad points:-

• grooming, either yourself or getting a vet or groomer to do it
• the NOISE! Man they can miaow/scream/demand! LB has had 2 behavioural assessments due to her night time screaming. She has been diagnosed with over attachment to Daddy and thinking he is a 24 hour plaything!
• toitletting. LB is now fine but has had stages of inappropriate toileting. Read Vicky Halls about cats and a reason for inappropriate toileting is "being Persian"

LB has also had picky periodswith food - usually just to invoke a battle of wills. Currently v happy on renal food.

Disease wise:-
PKD - polycystic kidney disease, if you are taking older cats its unlikely they have this as it usually shows up by age 3
Eye problems - some ulcersdue to eye shape
Resp issues if hot
dental disease - normal amount of teeth in half the space causes issues. We removed all of LBS teeth except 2 due to ongoing issues

If you want the personality and looks without the grooming try an Exotic - just a short haired Persian.

Will you be keeping indoors? They are so confident that outdoors can be a bit daft - assume cars will stop/dogs won't attack!