As one of the oldest cat breeds, Persian cats can be traced all the way back to the 1600s. While there are question marks about where they came from, they’re believed to have originated in Mesopotamia, later called Persia (hence the name), which is now modern day Iran.

in 1626, Pietro della Valle, an Italian trader, returned from a trip to Persia with an impressive, heavily-coated longhaired cat that was distinctly different from the Turkish Angora, which had reached Europe at about the same time. The two breeds were combined in order to produce a sturdy, short-nosed cat with a coat that was silky in texture, yet dense and full of body. When cat shows began in the early 1900s, these selectively bred Persians became the dominant breed. The first imports into the U.S. arrived in the late 1880s; Persians contributed to the formation of the cat fancy throughout the English-speaking world and were one of the six foundation breeds established by the Cat Fanciers’ Association at its start in 1906.

In the late 1950s, a spontaneous mutation in red tabby Persians gave rise to what was known as the "peke-faced" Persian, named after the flat-faced Pekingese dog. Breeders took a liking to the look of the “peke-face”and started breeding towards the look by using selective breeding. Their selective breeding produced results similar to the peke-faced Persians giving us todays show-style Persian cat with their extremely long and thick coat, short legs, wide heads with tiny ears set far apart, large round eyes, and adorable flat faces.

Playful yet placid, Persians make the perfect finishing touch to a well-planned home. Easygoing and mellow, they can be persuaded to chase a toy, but are happier simply receiving attention and affection from their people. Since Persians require a considerable amount of grooming in order to maintain their glamorous good looks, it’s essential that kittens be trained to accept grooming from an early age. Consequently, the breed is considered one of the easiest to train; Persians quickly learn the meaning of the word “no” and many also learn to respond to their names.

This is not a cat that is likely to invade the kitchen counter or climb the drapes. Persians prefer to keep their feet on the ground at all times, and combine a calm, even-tempered personality with an enduring devotion to their human companions. This makes them compatible with children of all ages and enables them to peacefully coexist with other pets.