Are Persian Cats Hypoallergenic? Detailed Care Of Persian Cats

Persian cats are one of the most popular breeds of cats in North America. They have a long and fluffy coat, which is hypoallergenic. Persian cats are also known for their intelligence, friendly, and affection for humans. Therefore, one of the most frequently asked questions about Persian cats is, are Persian cats hypoallergenic? 

Are Persian Cats Hypoallergenic?

Are Persian cats hypoallergenic? Persian cats are not hypoallergenic. They are quite the opposite. Persian cats have a large amount of fur, which causes people to develop allergies to them.

Persian cats are known for their long, dense coats that have a silky texture and come in a variety of colors, such as black, brown, cream, cinnamon, gray, or blue. These colors can also be found on their paws and tail. In addition to their furry coats, the Persian is known for its unique personality and sweet face. The size of a typical Persian cat is around 8 inches. A mix of Turkish Angora and American Shorthair, it has a laid-back temperament that makes it a great pet.

A Quick Glance At Persian Cats

The long-haired Persian cat is one of the most popular breeds, or the most popular, along with the Siamese. Easily recognizable by its abundant fur and wide and flattened face. He was introduced in Italy from ancient Persia (present-day Iran) around 1620. The current Persian standard, as you know it, was set in 1800 in the United Kingdom and came from the Turkish Angora.

Of medium size, with a stocky body and a large head compared to its body. Small ears, large round eyes of bright color.

Origin

The first long-haired Persian cats you are imported from Persia (present-day Iran) around 1620 and in the mid-century from Angora (present-day Ankara, Turkey) to France. Persian cats have gray fur, while Angora cats are white. Those early Persians differed from today's Persian cats, having longer faces, larger ears, and a lankier shape. Over the years, selective breeding gave him the stocky body and flat face You know today. The coat is not only long but has a very thick and bushy undercoat that requires a huge commitment in human care as the cat cannot keep itself tangle free.

The 19th-century aristocracy demanded long-haired cats, and the gene responsible for long hair was introduced through hybridization with Pallas's cat.

Characteristic

The long-haired Persian cat is easily recognizable by its fur, rounded head, prominent cheekbones, and flattened face. The eyes are large and very expressive, unlike the small rounded ears. A medium-sized breed, muscular and rounded. Short, thick, and strong legs with large claws. Abundant fur, abundant and thick, soft to the touch; of very varied colors, usually mono-color, although there are bicolors, even tricolors in the case of females. His tail is short and bushy.

Behavior

The Persian cat is very familiar and calm. You usually find him lying down or asleep. He spends much of the day resting. It is a domestic cat, nothing wild. In addition, You will observe that the Persian cat is very presumptuous and ostentatious; it knows that it is a beautiful animal and will not hesitate to strut in front of us several times to get caresses and attention.

He is a family cat. It likes to be accompanied, even by children and other animals. Despite being family, he does not mind being the only cat and center of attention in the house. He is a very greedy cat.

Health

He is a breed prone to several health problems.

Since the shape of the head has been reduced and the face has been flattened, jaw malformations may exist, leading to dental disease and possible feeding difficulties. The small size of the nostrils and a soft palate that is too long can also cause serious respiratory problems. In addition, the tear ducts may not follow their natural course, so the eyes will constantly water and moisten the face, which can lead to rashes and sores on the face. The flat nature of the face also increases the likelihood of eye disease.

Persians may also have a higher incidence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (thickening of the heart's walls).

The Persian longhair cat is prone to suffering from polycystic kidney disease or the symptom of retained testicles. About a third of Persian cats suffer from it.

Other diseases that can affect your Persian cat are:

Toxoplasmosis

Abortions in the case of blue cats

Malformations in the case of blue cats

Malocclusion

Chediak-Higashi syndrome

Congenital ankyloblepharon

Entropion

Congenital epiphora

Primary glaucoma

Skinfold dermatitis

Stones in the urinary tract

Patella dislocation

Hip dysplasia

Persian Cat Curiosities

He is the most popular and well-known cat breed in the world. Pietro Della Valle imported the first long-haired Persian cats from Persia (present-day Iran) around 1620 to Italy. Then, in the middle of the century, they were brought from Angora (present-day Ankara, Turkey) to France by Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc. Persian cats had gray fur, while Angora cats were white.

In the mid-nineteenth century, they reached England and America. Those early Persians are quite different from today's Persian cats, having longer faces, larger ears, and a sharper shape. Over the years, selective breeding gave you the stocky body and flat face you know today. The coat is not only long but has a very thick and bushy undercoat that requires a huge commitment in human care as the cat cannot keep itself tangle free.

Origin Of Long Hair İn The Persian Cat

There are several theories about it. The first is based on the fact that its origins are in Siberia. Typically animals that have long hair usually come from cold climates. The second theory defends that the origin of long hair was due to an original mutation in the short-haired cat that lived in the East. The third and last theory originates from the hybridization of Pallas's cat, whose fur was relatively long.

 The hygiene of a Persian cat is one of those that can be more complicated to carry out due to the physiognomy so characteristic of this cat. Therefore, these cats require much care from their guardians to maintain optimal hygiene.

Best Products for Persian Cats

Detailed Care Of Persian Cats 

We learned the answer to the question of whether Persian cats are hypoallergenic; now, let's learn about the detailed care of Persian cats. As a general rule, an adult cat spends about 14 or 15 hours of sleep a day, and most of the time, he is awake grooming himself. A cat's tongue is covered in hundreds of spines called papillae. The papillae are all curved in the same direction and have a u-shaped hole at their tip.

These papillae give that rough touch so characteristic of a cat tongue. The cavity is responsible for collecting saliva from the mouth and distributing it through the fur. For correct grooming, he has to reach the skin with his papillae, which is practically impossible due to the density of the fur. You must try to help him clean his coat with daily brushing.

Long-haired Persian cats must also have a sizeable sanitary tray (according to their size) to move without getting dirty inside. They are extremely clean and demanding cats with the state litter box. On many occasions, if the cat finds dirty sand or unremoved debris, he can look for another place to urinate, such as the bathtub or a carpet. You must try to keep the tray clean by removing the remains of feces and urine as soon as possible and also to help maintain a clean environment free of bad odors.

Eyes

Brachycephalic breeds require regular care to remove excess tears that form around the eye. First, You have to remove the excess tear with sterile gauze just in the middle angle of the eye, moistening it with an ophthalmological antiseptic. If the tearing becomes excessive or You notice redness in the area, You will have to consult the veterinarian immediately.

 Mouth

You must remember that a cat's breath is always vital since it is a carnivorous animal, and You will have to know how to distinguish it from halitosis. In addition, the accumulation of tartar and debris can cause bad breath; with a glance, You can see the state of the gums, and in case of doubt, it is better to consult a veterinarian if you need to clean the cat's mouth to avoid major problems.

Cats fed out food are more sensitive to periodontitis than one fed dry food. The best solution to avoid this is to clean the cat's mouth daily, which requires a lot of patience and habit on the owner's part since the cat is a puppy. If this procedure is carried out, it requires a specific dental product for cats, the one intended for human use is not suitable for them. In case of not brushing the cat's teeth, a follow-up by your veterinarian is necessary to determine when you should perform dental hygiene on your Persian cat.

Nose

As a general rule, the hygiene of a Persian cat's nose does not usually require special care, but sometimes You can find nasal secretions that accumulate in the form of crusts in the corners of the nostrils. These scabs should be removed with gauze or cotton moistened with eye lotion or cold boiled water. Faced with a dry or runny nose, You should consult with the veterinarian.

Ears

The hygiene of the ears of a Persian cat is the same as that of any other cat. Generally, you should try to touch them as little as possible. Although they usually have a little fat at the base of the auditory pavilion, which is normal, sometimes it can oxidize and become a little browner. Therefore, removing it very often is not convenient since you will cause a greater amount to form by favoring secretion. Suppose You notice strange-looking secretions or abundant amounts. In that case, it is better to consult the veterinarian so that he or she can carry out the cleaning with hearing aids with more excellent safety and even apply the most appropriate treatment to solve the problem.

The fur

The cat is a species with particularly dense hair compared to other species. The hairs are born in the follicles, cracks along the skin located in the dermis associated with an erector muscle that makes it possible to crest.

The follicles are made up of numerous hairs, with two or three primary (cover) hairs being thicker and longer and the other secondary hairs being finer and shorter. These secondary hairs are usually devoid of erector muscle and sebaceous glands.

The sebaceous glands produce a mixture of lipids that makes his hair shiny.

Shedding of hair 

your cats renew their hair gradually and seasonally. Domestic cats, living with a homogeneous temperature throughout the year, complete this process more irregularly, although a seasonal peak is always observed.

In winter, your cat has denser hair and grows at a slower rate; the following months are in spring when the activity is reactivated, and the hair grows at a faster rate which causes the fur to shed, being the old hair is expelled from the follicle. At the end of the summer, the density will be low, and the hair will have experienced maximum growth. The winter coat begins to be prepared, which will have its most extraordinary splendor around November.

The molting season is when You must remember to brush the cat since by shedding the hair, You help remove the dead hair by airing it and preventing all these dead hairs from being ingested by your cats when grooming themselves.

Hair Maintenance

In the case of the Persian cat's hygiene relative to hair care, You have to be very persistent. You must establish daily brushing routines that avoid the formation of knots and discomfort. These tangles cause the skin to pull and often carry parasites that accumulate in these areas of dead hair. What can take us 5 minutes of daily brushing avoids many unnecessary pulls when wanting to untangle the hair, and on many occasions, you have to end up shaving the affected area to correct the problem.

How To Do A Good Brushing 

You have to brush with special care the area between the legs, both back, and front, as Youll as the back of the ears, the areas that the cat does not reach with its tongue, which are more likely to get knots.

Next, You will brush the neck and back, removing all the dead hair at the end of the hair; you can help them with a long metal-toothed comb (which avoids a lot of static electricity). You will lift the hair and brush it moving it down from the base of the skin.

The tail is critical; you must never forget to brush it. You will brush both longitudinally and transversally to provide further volume.

Finally, You can brush backward with a carding brush, being careful not to touch the cat's skin; you have to get close to it without touching it to air and fluff up your feline's hair.

Bathroom

Long-haired cats tend to get their fur quite dirty, and sometimes it may be convenient to give them a bath to clean the hair of all the dirt. It will always be easier if You have been accustomed to animals since childhood.

You will take a few steps to take into account to do this as quickly and safely for both you and your cat. First, you can use the bathtub or, in the case of not having a large enough container, according to his size. If you have already bathed your cat before, you will know if he likes the water or not and how the process goes. So you can choose to cut his nails before the bath to avoid possible unwanted scratches or in case you know that he gets nervous, do it any other day beforehand to avoid making him nervous and finish as soon as possible.

Guidelines To Follow To Bathe Your Cat

Have everything you need on hand, shampoo (specifically for cats), combs, and a hair dryer if you use it (in winter, it is advisable so that it does not get cold).

Doing the whole process quickly and concisely, not taking too long, as obviously not in a situation in which the cat is comfortable. The room must have a suitable temperature, especially if it is winter.

Prepare the water to come out lukewarm, neither cold nor hot to your touch. The water jet must also be adequate. You must not have too much pressure.

 Now it is time to pick up the cat and gently introduce him to the bathtub. You must hold it firmly on the back to avoid possible sudden movements or accidents.

 When he is moistened, add a little shampoo and go lathering and caressing him so that he does not get tense. When you have finished, you can wait a couple of minutes while you wash his face with just soap. Next, you will use a sponge or a damp cloth to rinse his face, taking special care with his ears and eyes, trying not to get any water on them.

Then you will rinse the rest of the body with plenty of water. Again, try to remove all traces of soap.

Remove excess water from the legs with your hands.

Dry it carefully. If it's winter, you can use the dryer later, being careful with the temperature and not pointing it at your head.

Once dry, give him a brush to help him expel all the possible dead hair that it still has.

Nail Blunting

Cats mark their territory with their nails. In the case of domestic cats, to prevent them from scratching a piece of furniture or household object and ending up in the garbage, it is usually recommended to cut the end of the nail. When a cat is presented to a contest, the nails are trimmed a few days in advance so that the nails return to their natural appearance and do not seem freshly cut. This trimming is done on both the front and rear legs. As for almost everything, it is necessary to accustom the animal from a young age to do it normally when he is an adult. For the cat, it is not painful; you have to take the cat's paw firmly and lightly press the finger's base. The nail will come out, and You will only have to cut the tip with special scissors for this purpose, being careful not to touch the little vein that can be seen against the light.