Persian Cat: Breed Guide for UK Owners

The Persian is a calm, quiet, long-haired cat that suits an indoor home and needs brushing every day. Buy from a breeder whose cats have a moderate face rather than a very flat one, because flat-faced Persians are prone to breathing, eye and dental problems.

Prices and figures checked September 2026.

Are Persian cats friendly?

Yes, Persians are gentle and affectionate, but they are quieter and less demanding than most breeds and rarely follow you around the house.

A Persian will sit near you, accept a fuss when it wants one and otherwise get on with sleeping. It is not a climber and seldom knocks things off shelves. That calm suits older owners and quiet homes. It suits toddlers less well, because a Persian will not tolerate rough handling and will walk off. Most get on with a calm dog if they are introduced slowly.

Do Persian cats have breathing problems?

Flat-faced Persians often do, because a shortened skull narrows the nostrils and airways; Persians with a longer "doll face" have far fewer problems.

The early British Persian had a round head and a short nose, but not a flat face. From the mid-20th century some breeders, mostly in the US, selected for ever shorter muzzles, producing the "peke-face" or "ultra" type now common in show lines. The government's Animal Welfare Committee, in its 2024 opinion on cat breeding, says brachycephaly can restrict airflow and cause breathing difficulties, especially when the flattening is severe. Flat faces also bring tear overflow, crowded teeth and trouble picking up dry food.

Before you buy, ask the breeder which type they breed and watch the kittens at rest. Noisy or open-mouthed breathing in a sleeping kitten is a warning sign.

Are Persian cats healthy?

Persians have more inherited problems than most breeds, mainly kidney disease and the knock-on effects of a flat face, though a DNA test now screens out the kidney disease.

• PKD causes cysts that slowly replace kidney tissue, usually leading to kidney failure in middle age. It was once common in Persians. A DNA test has been available since the mid-2000s, and both parents should have a clear result.
• Progressive retinal atrophy, which causes early blindness, has been described in Persian lines. Ask the breeder whether any of their cats have had eye problems.
• Coat and skin problems were the most commonly recorded disorder in a UK study of over 3,000 Persians under vet care, cited by the Animal Welfare Committee. A neglected coat mats, and mats pull on the skin.
• Eye and dental problems follow from a flat face: watery eyes, stained fur, corneal ulcers and crowded teeth.

The Animal Welfare Committee also notes that Persians may be predisposed to Chiari-like malformation, where the skull is too small for the brain, which can be painful. A moderate face lowers most of these risks. The common cat health problems guide covers kidney disease and eye problems in more detail.

How long do Persian cats live?

A Persian born in the UK has a life expectancy of about 11 years, according to a 2024 Royal Veterinary College study of cats under vet care.

That figure, from the VetCompass life tables, is an average that includes cats who died young. Plenty of Persians reach 15 or more, and the same study recorded Persians living past 20. PKD-clear parents and a moderate face give a kitten the best odds.

Do Persian cats shed a lot?

Yes, Persians shed heavily and their long, dense coat mats within days if it is not brushed, so plan on ten minutes of grooming every day.

Use a wide-toothed metal comb first to find tangles, then a slicker brush for the undercoat. Pay attention to the armpits, belly and the back of the legs. Most owners also need to:

• wipe the eyes daily with cotton wool and warm water, more often for a flat-faced cat;
• keep the fur around the bottom trimmed short, or ask a groomer to;
• bath the cat every few months, which most Persians accept if they are used to it as kittens.

A coat left for a few weeks can mat so badly that a vet has to shave it under sedation. If daily brushing sounds like a chore, choose a shorthaired breed. The cat brush guide lists combs and slickers that work on long coats.

Do Persian cats go outside?

Most Persians are kept indoors or in a secure garden or catio, and many breeders sell them on that condition.

A long coat collects mud, burrs and twigs, and a wet coat tangles fast. Flat-faced cats also struggle in hot weather. A Persian is not quick enough to get out of trouble with cars or dogs. The indoor vs outdoor cats guide covers how to give an indoor cat enough to do.

Are Persian cats hypoallergenic?

No. Persians produce the same Fel d 1 allergen as other cats, and a long coat holds allergen-carrying saliva and dander, so they are a poor choice for allergy sufferers.

What a Persian costs in the UK

Most Persian kittens advertised on Pets4Homes on 28 September 2026 were priced between £400 and £700. Registered kittens from PKD-tested parents usually sit at the upper end. A much cheaper "pedigree" kitten without papers is a warning sign.

The kitten is the smaller cost. Budget for grooming tools, a groomer if you cannot manage the coat, and lifetime pet insurance, which matters more for a breed with inherited conditions. See how much a cat costs in the UK and whether cat insurance is worth it.

How to buy a Persian safely

See the kitten with its mother at the breeder's home, and ask for both parents' PKD DNA results before paying anything.

• Registration with the GCCF or TICA, with the pedigree shown to you.
• Kittens that stay with the breeder until at least 12 to 13 weeks, vaccinated and microchipped. Microchipping has been compulsory for cats in England since June 2024.
• A breeder who asks you questions and offers a written contract.
• In England, kittens must be bought directly from the breeder or a rescue, not from a third-party seller (gov.uk guidance).

Walk away from kittens offered at eight weeks, meetings in car parks, "pedigree without papers" and sellers with several breeds at once. Adult Persians also come up for rehoming, often from owners who underestimated the grooming. The adopting a rescue cat guide explains how rehoming works.

Colourpoint Persians, called Himalayans in the US, have the same care needs. If you want the Persian temperament with a short coat, look at the Exotic Shorthair, though it has the same flat-face concerns.