Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 4: Grooming Your Cat's Hair
• Method 2 of 4: Helping Your Cat Breathe
• Method 3 of 4: Taking care of your cat's eyes
• Method 4 of 4: Attitude towards the predisposed state of health of the Persians
• Tips
• Warnings

With doll-like faces and big eyes, with a soft character and friendly demeanor, Persians are a popular breed of cats. As with any animal, there are a number of obligations that come with owning a companion like the Persian cat. From grooming to hair, to health issues, there are many things to consider when caring for a Persian cat. Skip to step 1 to find out more.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Grooming Your Cat's Hair

1. 1 Start brushing your cat's coat from an early age. To be sure that your Persian cat will recognize a lot of combing, start combing from an early age. From day one, commit to brushing your kitten to get used to the experience. If you don’t start brushing at an early age, it can develop a dislike for the brush, which can ultimately make it difficult to keep the coat in good condition.
   • One way to train your cat to admit brushing is to brush it right before serving food. This way, your cat will associate brushing with getting food (something she loves).
2. 2 Get a large brush that is suitable for the coat of a Persian cat. You need a metal brush with fine teeth on one end and loose teeth on the other end to properly comb your cat's long hair. A slicker-type metal brush can be useful for removing excess hair that tends to get tangled.
3. 3 Learn to brush your Persian coat properly. One of the common mistakes that owners often make is combing the top coat before reaching the roots. Imagine combing a cat's fur in terms of combing your own hair: you need to part the hair, comb the tangled hair from the roots, detangling it to the ends. You can try these abilities on your cat as well. As with your hair, this method is most effective (and cat-friendly!) If you brush in the direction of the fur. The correct brushing process includes:
   • Part the coat and use a loose-toothed comb to freely comb through tangled coat. At this stage, you will lay the coat to one side to make combing easier.
   • Use the slicker, combing in sections, and continue from head to tail. This will help clean the coat thoroughly.
   • After you have removed the layer of loose hair, go over the coat again with a wide-toothed comb from root to tip, and then finish with the fine-toothed part of the brush and comb through your cat's entire body.
4. 4 Brush your cat's coat every day to keep it healthy. Although at first glance, combing the coat may not seem so important, the luxurious long coat of a Persian may soon become a problem. When your cat's coat gets tangled and loses its luster.
   • These matted build-ups of hair can pull your cat's skin and feel very uncomfortable, and the coat can become tangled to the point where lumps appear on certain parts of the body.
   • Tangled coats increase the chances of your cat developing skin problems. When the coat is matted, it becomes more difficult to cleanse the skin under the coat. When the skin is contaminated, infections often develop in it.

Method 2 of 4: Helping Your Cat Breathe

1. 1 Determine the meaning of "brachycephalus". Persians are brachycephalic, this term means that their noses and nostrils are narrowed, unlike normal cats. This is part of the description of the Persian pedigree breed, when in the profile the nose "button" does not protrude beyond the eye level.
   • Unfortunately, this means that the cat lacks the usual mucosal structure of curved cartilage in the nasal cavity that cleans and heats the incoming air. The Persians have a tendency to sneeze and runny nose, due to the lack of a normal purifier, which is a flap of mucous tissue that protects against infection.
2. 2 Keep your cat's nose clean. The best way to resist your cat with respiratory infections is to keep her nose clean. Checking your cat's nose is very important because the Persian's short nose gets clogged easily, making it difficult for your cat to breathe. You can use a warm, damp cloth to scrub it.
   • Wipe your cat's nose at least once a day, and always wipe it down if it looks like it is clogged.
3. 3 Vaccinate your cat regularly. Persians are prone to respiratory infections because they have insufficient protection against pathogens due to their short noses. Cats usually have an extra layer of protection in their noses that help trap bacteria and other pathogens, but Persians don't. Therefore, it is important to take your cat to the vet to get boosted cat flu shots on a regular basis.
   • If you notice that your cat is having difficulty breathing or sneezing uncontrollably, take it to the vet.

Method 3 of 4: Taking care of your cat's eyes

1. 1 Be aware that Persians can have eye problems due to the structure of their muzzle. One of the features of the Persians is round flat muzzles and large eyes. Unfortunately, the features that make them so attractive can be problematic at the same time. All cats develop tear fluid, which serves to maintain moisture in the surface of the eye and a healthy cornea. This fluid drains through the paired tear ducts in each eye. Unfortunately, the Persian's shortened nose results in these channels being blocked and, in fact, not draining away.
   • Imagine a hose that you bent or step on to stop the flow of water. This is what happens because of your cat's shortened nose.
2. 2 Wipe off excess tears from your cat. The best way to help your cat is to simply wipe off excess tears, which tend to build up plaque on your cat's fur and irritate their faces. If you notice that your cat has excess fluid from the eyes on its face, use a cloth or paper towel to wipe off the excess fluid.
   • Wipe your cat's eyes at least every day. You should really try to wipe it off any time you notice that the coat looks wet under the eyes.
3. 3 Determine why the liquid from the Persian's eyes turns brown. You may wonder why the liquid that oozes from your cat's eyes turns brown. The reason is that chemicals called porphyrins can be found in tears and when the chemicals are weathered, the porphyrins oxidize and turn brown, rust-colored.
   • This is the same process triggered when the apple is cut, which in turn darkens as well.

Method 4 of 4: Attitude towards the predisposed state of health of the Persians

1. 1 Be alert for any signs of illness. While the Persians were bred for a unique appearance, this same breeding resulted in cats being predisposed to certain diseases. While there is nothing you can do to prevent your cat from contracting diseases because it is a genetic predisposition, you can watch for signs of these diseases and begin treatment as soon as it starts to show.
2. 2 Beware of polycystic kidney disease (PKD). This genetic error affects one of the three breeds of the Persian cat and leads to the formation of fluid-filled cysts inside the kidney, which can lead to kidney failure. Once a medical condition is identified, your pet's lifespan can be extended with prescription renal diets and medications such as ACE inhibitors, which can help filter the kidneys. Symptoms include:
   • Water absorption is greater than usual.
   • Decreased appetite.
   • Lethargy
   • Weight loss.
   • Vomit.
   • If you recognize these signs in your pet, then take him to the veterinarian.
3. 3 Look for symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (heart disease). This condition is caused by a thickening of the heart wall, which impairs the heart's ability to pump blood throughout the body. Fortunately, there are medications such as diuretics and ACE inhibitors that can reduce the strain on the heart and increase life expectancy. Signs that your pet has cardiovascular disease are vague and non-specific. However, you can watch out for signs such as:
   • Exercised intolerance.
   • Sleep is longer than normal.
   • Lack of interest in food or personal care.
   • Shallow breathing or breathing through an open mouth.
4. 4 Look for signs of Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). PRA is a genetic thinning of the retina that ultimately leads to blindness. While it's frustrating, cats actually compensate for blindness very well. They know how to use their mustache, sense of smell and hearing to move. If your cat is going blind, it is generally best to keep it indoors and try not to rearrange furniture as this can be disorienting. Signs of blindness such as:
   • The cat hits things left in its path, which are usually not there.
   • The pupils do not constrict in bright light, but remain large and black.

Tips

• Give your cat a lot of love and affection every day.

Warnings

• If you notice signs of any illness in your cat, you need to take it to your veterinarian.