Angel Dreams Cattery

The Persian
With their long, flowing coats, Persians are the most popular cat breed. They easily fit into a family structure and can adapt well to noise and activity if given an environment in which they feel secure. Full of expression and communication, Persians like to be close to the ground, choosing to lounge in a window or chair as opposed to the top of the kitchen cabinets.

Quite a coat.
The coat of the Persian cat is very long – typically 4 inches and up to 8 inches on the ruff – with a large proportion of secondary follicles. All told, the Persian has 230 miles of hair, compared with a mere 70 miles on a shorthair cat. It is also the densest coat of any breed of cat.

Due to their long coat, Persians are particularly prone to hairballs as their long hairs are much more liable to become entangled, forming knots. A rather calm-natured Persian devotes much of its time to grooming its beautiful coat (over 30 hours a week), resulting in the ingestion of a significant quantity of hair. The exclusively indoor lifestyle of 93% of Persians leads to near-constant shedding and lethargy, increasing the risk of hairballs.

Calcium oxalate stones.
The urinary functioning of Persians is unique and the risk of calcium oxalate stones among Persians is 2.5 times higher than among the rest of the feline population. Although there is no evidence of a predisposition to struvite stones, the Burmese and Persian breeds – especially the colorpoint – are more prone to calcium oxalate stones. For this reason, their diets should promote an alkaline urinary pH.

Fewer, larger meals.
The Persian eats fewer meals per day than the average cats, but the meal size is typically larger. Due to their brachycephalic bone structure with shortened jaws and broader face, Persians can have difficulty grasping and chewing many kibble types. For this reason, much of the food ingested is unchewed.

Royal Canin tested 10 different kibble shapes and found that the Almond 11 kibble type was the easiest for the Persian to grasp and chew. Increasing the amount of chewing will help reduce plaque buildup on teeth.

The Persian is a unique breed, with characteristics that can benefit from precise, customized nutrition. Royal Canin Persian 30 addresses the Persian’s needs – including a special almond kibble shape, size and texture for easier grasping; hairball control; a beauty shine complex; and a nutrient system that enhances the hair’s natural pigmentation.