Complete Guide to Raising Persian Cats: Breeding, Care, and Health Tips for Beginners

Breeding Persian Cats: Persian cats are incredibly popular as pets, thanks to their adorable appearance, fluffy fur, and round faces. These cats have a sturdy build, short bodies, and fine hair that covers nearly all of their bodies. This appearance is well-suited to their origins in Persia, a region known for its mountains and cold winters.

Interest in Persian cats has been rising, and they’re now as popular as Angora cats. Both breeds often cause confusion because many people think they come from the same region. Physically, Angora cats have faces similar to local cats but with larger, stockier bodies and smooth, thick fur. On the other hand, Persian cats are known for their laid-back nature, which keeps their fur smooth and shiny.

Given the increasing demand for Persian cats, this could be a great opportunity for you. Breeding cats may not be your first thought, as most people keep them for pleasure, contests, entertainment, and hobbies. However, these reasons alone make Persian cats highly sought after. Plus, raising them isn’t too difficult. All you need is a pair of breeding cats, and soon enough, cute kittens will be ready to sell.

Getting Started with Persian Cat Breeding

If you’re new to this, you’ll need to know some important things because Persian cats are different from other cats. Raising local cats is relatively straightforward, and they reproduce quickly. However, breeding Persian cats requires more effort to ensure you get high-quality offspring. It’s essential to understand how to care for them properly.

How to Breed Persian Cats

Choosing the Right Persian Cat Breeding Stock

Good cats come from high-quality breeding stock. This concept is universal for breeding any animal. Just like any other animal, breeding Persian cats requires high-quality stock, which means cats with tested and proven traits.

For beginners, the easiest and quickest way is to buy a mated pair. This approach doesn’t require much time to prepare for breeding, but it is more expensive. Additionally, the cats may take time to adapt to their new environment and feel comfortable.

The ideal Persian cat has a bright, shiny coat, clear eyes, a short tail, smooth fur, and a flat chest. You can easily identify these physical traits by holding and lifting the cat. Generally, the cat should have no birth defects or injuries. Once you find a cat that meets these criteria, you can confidently purchase it as breeding stock.

Another option is to buy kittens that are about two to three weeks old. Female cats will wean their kittens, even though the kittens can still live with them. However, many cat owners choose to sell their kittens at this age. You can buy these kittens and raise them until they are old enough to breed.

This method has the advantage of allowing the cats to adapt more quickly and become more docile. The kittens will already be familiar with their owner, making it easier when it comes to breeding. Choose two to four kittens, ensuring a balanced ratio of males and females. As you raise them to adulthood, you’ll gain a better understanding of the Persian cat’s character since you’ve been caring for them since they were young.

Housing and Location for Persian Cat Breeding

Breeding cats requires a suitable cage and a comfortable location. Persian cats tend to be passive and less active. You’ll often see them lounging around, but they can be very active once they get to know their owner and those around them.

The cage serves as a shelter, and you should also provide a litter box. The cage should be comfortable and shaded since Persian cats dislike hot weather, especially with their thick fur. For breeding purposes, keep the cats separate from your living area and let them play around the cage. If you’re breeding cats, it’s best not to let them get too close to the owner. Of course, you can still play with them.

Mating Period for Persian Cats

Cats are generally independent animals, meaning they don’t have permanent mates. This means a male cat can mate with several females. However, Persian cats are a bit different. You need to pair a male and a female. Once they become friends, they will mate soon enough. Since you’ve been raising them since they were young, they are already familiar with each other.

If you buy the breeding stock separately, let the two cats get to know each other first. Provide two cages and place each cat in its own. Wait until they show interest in each other and interact. Then, let them play together to get closer.

Pairing them takes about a month. This stage requires patience because it determines the success of future breeding. Provide a comfortable space and good food to encourage the cats to mate. Female cats are usually very aggressive toward males.

Male cats are ready to mate at about 10 to 11 months, while females are ready at six months. However, it’s best to wait until they are at least a year old. Cats will be pregnant for about 60 to 70 days. To confirm pregnancy, take the cat to a veterinarian for a check-up.

Feeding Persian Cats

Breeding cats requires high-quality food. Nowadays, you can easily find dry or wet pellet food. Choose food similar to what the cats ate before they came to you. If you’ve been raising them from kittens, you can feed them whatever you like. In addition to commercial food, provide chicken or beef. Offer these meats regularly to maintain their health and vitality. Also, give vitamins if necessary, especially during vulnerable times, such as seasonal changes.

Caring for Persian Cats

High-quality breeding stock needs good care. You must ensure the cleanliness of the cage and the environment. Cats also need regular vaccinations and health check-ups. Owners should play with the cats frequently to keep them from becoming aggressive. Once you’ve done all this, you’ll be ready to sell or transfer the cute kittens to other owners.

Additional Tips for Persian Cat Breeding

As a beginner, start with one or two pairs of cats. Persian cats reproduce quickly, and new kittens are born close together. Make sure you know where these kittens will go. Build a network with other Persian cat owners to expand your market and find potential customers.

If you want to increase the value of your cats, consider entering them in contests. Cats that win contests have higher prices and are in demand. Once you succeed in small-scale breeding, focus on raising cats for specific purposes, such as breeding stock and contests. Persian cats bred for these purposes can be very valuable. Additionally, you should look for other breeding stock to add genetic variety and color. Cats with unique and beautiful colors are always in high demand.

Challenges in Breeding Persian Cats

Breeding Persian cats isn’t easy. Unlike the common cats we see around us, Persian cats require different care. Their diet needs to be specific, and they need vaccinations. If you run out of their usual food, you can feed them fish or chicken but don’t add spices or flavorings, as these can cause their fur to fall out.

Persian cats have long, thick fur. Like other cats, they groom themselves by licking their fur, which can lead to hair loss and ingestion. This process, called grooming, helps clean their fur of dirt. However, it can cause problems for Persian cats because the fur they ingest can accumulate in their stomachs, forming what is known as a hairball.

Signs of a hairball include frequent coughing, difficulty breathing, and vomiting. To address this issue, you can use a special paste available at pet stores or add margarine to their food. If these methods don’t work and the cat can’t expel the hairball, provide grass, as Persian cats naturally eat grass to vomit the hairball. If there is still no improvement, you may need to take the cat to a veterinarian for surgery.

Common Skin Diseases in Persian Cats and How to Handle Them

Cats can have allergic reactions to grooming products, food, and environmental factors, like pollen or flea bites. Scratching the head or neck is a common sign of a food allergy. Other symptoms include licking the paws or scratching the ears or base of the tail. There are various ways to treat itchy skin related to allergies, but prevention is the best strategy.

Common Skin Diseases in Persian Cats

Ringworm

Ringworm is another type of fungus that affects cats, especially kittens under a year old. It causes circular lesions on the cat’s head, ears, and body. The skin around the lesions is often scaly and bald. Ringworm is highly contagious.

Prevention:

• Disinfect the cat’s living area monthly with a bleach solution and an animal disinfectant.
• Bathe the cat in a sulfur solution.

Treatment:

• Clean with Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) or Tawon Oil.
• For cats over four months old, administer Itraconazole/Sporanox orally, dividing one capsule into five doses and giving it once daily for two weeks.
• Do not give oral medication to cats under four months or pregnant cats.

Dry Skin or Dandruff

Cats can have dry, flaky skin. Persistent dandruff can indicate poor nutrition, inadequate care, or other health problems.

Prevention and Treatment:

• Bathe the cat once a month with antifungal shampoo.
• Provide additional supplements like fish oil and Xtrabloom Water.

Fungal Infections

Fungal infections caused by fungi often occur in cats with other medical issues.

Prevention:

• Disinfect the cat’s living area monthly with a bleach solution and an animal disinfectant.
• Bathe the cat in a sulfur solution.

Treatment:

• Clean with Virgin Coconut Oil or Tawon Oil.
• For cats over four months old, administer Itraconazole/Sporanox orally, dividing one capsule into five doses and giving it once daily for two weeks.
• Do not give oral medication to cats under four months or pregnant cats.

Cat Acne

Acne on the chin can be caused by stress, infrequent cleaning, medication, or skin problems.

Treatment:

• Clean the area with Tawon Oil or Bactroban.
• Use cotton pads to clean, avoiding contact with other parts of the body.
• Change feeding bowls regularly.

Cat Scabies

Scabies causes skin lesions in cats, particularly on the head, neck, and ears. The skin around the lesions is often scaly and bald.

Prevention:

• Disinfect the cat’s living area monthly with a bleach solution and an animal disinfectant.
• Bathe the cat in a sulfur solution.

Treatment:

• Clean with Virgin Coconut Oil or Tawon Oil.
• For cats over four months old, administer Itraconazole/Sporanox orally, dividing one capsule into five doses and giving it once daily for two weeks.
• Do not give oral medication to cats under four months or pregnant cats.

Ear Mites

Ear mites cause severe itching and scratching, potentially leading to ear canal damage. Ear mites are contagious among cats.

Prevention:

• Regularly clean the cat’s ears with a 50% solution of warm water and apple cider vinegar.

Treatment:

• Clean with a special cat ear cleaner, Tawas Oil, or VCO. Apply one to two drops daily and massage the cat’s ears gently.

Breeding Persian cats can be a rewarding experience, both for the enjoyment of raising these beautiful animals and for the potential financial benefits. However, it’s important to be aware of the challenges and responsibilities involved. By following these guidelines and providing proper care, you can successfully breed and raise healthy Persian cats.