Persian Cats Guide in Malaysia (For Sell, Adopt, Care Tips)

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The Persian feline breed is one of the oldest cat breeds in the world. Their history can be traced all the way back to the cradle of civilisation: Mesopotamia, later known as Persia, and now modern-day Iran.

It is believed that they were smuggled out of Persia in the 17th century by an Italian traveller, Pietro Della Valle. Back then, because there were no long-haired cats in Europe, he became the person who brought the first long-haired cat to Europe. 

Persians' unique physical traits

One of the most distinctive features of Persian cats is their long, luxurious coat and short, but almost non-existent muzzle. Their faces are flat and pushed-in with very chubby cheeks.  

Historically, they had long grey fur, but they are now found in a wide range of colours and patterns due to selective breeding. The more common ones are white, black, cream, and bi-colour.

Personality and Temperament

Persians have very unique traits compared to their same-species counterparts. They are sweet, affectionate, and quiet. They do not like loud environments and can remain inactive for a long period of time.

Some even named them “furniture with fur” because of their inactiveness. However, this reputation is undeserving because they do love to play. They just lack the curiosity that other cats have. 

This is why Persians are the perfect companions if you are looking for an indoor, docile cat who will not pester you for attention. 

How do I take care of my Persian cat?

Coat

Now, I understand their luscious coat is beautiful and oh so luxurious to touch. But like all things beautiful, it takes a lot of effort. Persians’ long coats require constant brushing, grooming, and trimming to keep them shapely and clean. It is recommended to brush them daily and groom them every six weeks.

Litter boxes

Not only that, Persian cats are also famous for being picky poopers. If they do not like their cat litter boxes, they will stop using them. So, make sure you clean them out as often as possible!

Persians’ long hair can also be a vice in this department if not taken care of. Their backend hair, if not trimmed, will accidentally catch bits of faeces. Please, please, please trim their backend fur as short as possible to make both you and your Persian’s life less complicated.

Tear staining

This breed does come with excessive tearing. This means, as responsible owners, we have to wipe under their eyes daily with a soft cloth or cotton ball to avoid staining. Imagine having mascara or eyeliner smudged around your eyes. That’s not cute. Well, it’s the same for them!

Keeping them active

Last but not least, keep them entertained with lots of interactive toys. I know I did say that they are a pretty laid-back breed, but toys or catnip can get them moving. Plus they get to have some exercise, which is always good. 

How to toilet-train your Persian cat?

What if your Persian cat refuses to use the litter box? No worries! Ever heard of the term “toilet training”? 

Just like humans, they can do their business on the toilet! This might roughly take 2 weeks to 3 months for them to be completely on board. The logic is really quite simple. 

First, you gradually move the litter box nearer to your toilet. When they are more comfortable, you can place a bowl with cat litter inside the toilet and then finally remove it altogether once your feline is used to it. 

Things to take note:

ONLY proceed if your cat is comfortable and please use FLUSHABLE cat litter only!

Can I feed my Persian cat rice?

Technically, you can! But only brown rice though. Persian cats have sensitive stomachs and are prone to diarrhoea. Brown rice has a full serving of vitamins, fibre and iron that are beneficial to Persians’ digestive systems.

But why not white rice? White rice is a simple carbohydrate and might spike our furbabies’ insulin and blood sugar levels. That could be harmful to their health.

Also, cats are carnivores. They thrive on protein. So, it is not a good idea if you feed them a lot of brown rice either. Next time when you are choosing food for your Persian, choose food that has brown rice being proportioned into their meal. The primary ingredient should always be meat.

Persian cats diseases

Just like any other cat breed, there are some health conditions that Persians are more susceptible to. Most of them are related to their unique facial features.

Source: Peakpx

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Breathing difficulty or noisy breathing

Having pushed in muzzles means that they have very short nasal passages. This makes them extremely sensitive to any changes in their environment–heat, cold, dry or humid. The dust and debris around your house could also accumulate in their nostrils, making them even more difficult to breathe.

Dental Malocclusions

Dental malocclusions is the misalignment of teeth. The abnormally positioned teeth will interfere, rub against, or even penetrate the cat’s gums. This could be painful for your cat, and they might not be able to eat properly. It is recommended to bring your cats to the vet for further checkup so they can recommend treatment options for your Persians.

Cherry eye

This is a condition where the cat’s eyelashes rub and irritate the cornea. Some symptoms are small pink swelling in the corner of the eye or mucus-like discharge from the eye. The treatment for cherry eye is a surgical correction to prevent further trauma to your cat’s eyes. 

How much is a Persian cat?

In Malaysia, Persian cats range from RM700-RM2500 depending on where you get them and how old they are. Here are some places where you can buy them:

• CatPuffMalaysia
• My Pets Library

Conversely, why not consider adoption? Though you rarely find Persian kittens in animal shelters, the number of adult Persian cats in shelters is substantial. Instead of breaking the bank, why not give the adult Persians another chance? You can find Persians that are up for adoption on these sites:

• Petfinder
• Paws
• SPCA

DISCLAIMER: The information provided here is true at the time of writing, and although we suggest these platforms to aid in your buying/adopting process, we highly advise you to take extra precautions when dealing with online sellers to avoid getting scammed. Oyen is not affiliated with any of the businesses mentioned below and will not be liable for any losses or inconveniences that happen from dealings with them.

Final thoughts

Persian cats might be sweet and quiet, but they do require a lot of care and attention. Taking care of them requires a huge chunk of your time, daily. What about your other tasks? Why not leave it to us when it comes to your pets’ health? Sign up for Oyen Pet Insurance so we take care of the bills while you focus on yourself and your pets. :)
Oyen Insurance covers 90%* of your vet bills.
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*T&C Applies