How to care for Persian cats

Persian cats are great companions, but require special care.

If you have or are thinking of getting a Persian cat, you know that they need special care. Persians are wonderful, beautiful cats, and caring for one can be one of life's most rewarding experiences. The trickiest element of caring for these beautiful cats relates to their most outstanding feature -- their lush fur.

Instructions

1. With their long fur, Persians must be brushed every day. This is non-negotiable, as Persians are atypical cats in the sense that they have a limited ability to groom themselves. Ideally, you should brush your Persian with a metal comb twice a day to prevent knots and ensure that their fur remains clean and shiny. If you can't commit to doing this, a Persian is not the cat for you.

2. Wipe the fur daily with baby wipes. This will keep it clean and smelling good. Baby wipes are best as they do not cause allergies and are not toxic to your Persian.

3. If your Persian already has knots, the best thing to do is to take it immediately to a professional groomer with Persian experience. Knots can be painful for a Persian, as they pull on their delicate skin and may even split it.

4. Many Persians have problems with their tear ducts, and may get stains and discharge around their eyes. If this sounds like your Persian, buy appropriate eye wipes for your cat and clean the eyes and nose area every day. Failure to do so may cause blockage of their nose, which may result in breathing difficulties.

5. Feed your Persian food that is designed for indoor cats. These varieties have all the necessary nutrients to keep your cat in tip-top shape, full of disposition and with a beautiful and shiny coat.

6. Make sure you make enough time daily to play with your Persian. As this cat breed is usually kept indoors, you have to be sure that you will keep its mind stimulated at all times. This means getting it interesting toys to play with and a varied diet.

7. Persians are extremely picky cats, and they like to have their litter boxes cleaned daily. Choose a quality cat litter that will take care of any bad smells to ensure your Persian is comfortable with using the litter box.

8. Ensure that your Persian will have its own window where it can sunbathe and show the world just how beautiful it is. Persians love being admired and they love sunbathing, so make sure nothing stands in the way of that.

9. Persians can live as long as 20 years. To ensure that your Persian will live that long too, annual vet visits are indispensable.

Tips & Warnings

• Have you thought of getting your Persian another cat companion? That way, when you are not home it will still have company

References

• Persian Cat Guide: Caring for a Persian Cat