Persian cats are much different when it comes to the short hair breeds. They have a long coat that can become matted and dirty very easily. You don’t want it to get to this point and have to shave him or her because of the lack of necessary grooming. Many people that own these cats choose not to make them outside cats because of this reason or if they do let them go outside, they choose to shave them every so often.

You could either take them in somewhere locally to have them professionally groomed or you can learn to do this yourself. If you have a wash basin or a big sink at home, you can take care of this task no problem. A good way of going about this is to fill the sink up (I prefer the smaller side of the sink) with your shampoo of choice and warm water. Place your Persian cat in the big part of the sink and you can slowly pour the water over them. I have tried sticking them into a sink full of water and that didn’t go over well. It seemed to be to shocking so easing her into the sink and pouring water over her that already has the shampoo mixed into it has worked best for me.

After you are done with this step, simply pat them down to soak up the water with a towel and then use a gentle blow dryer to dry the excess water from their coat. It’s important that you don’t get soap and water in their ears and eyes. Pet stores also have different kinds of natural calming pills that you can give them about 30min to 1 hour before hand and that has proven to help with some cats. Just do your best to make them as comfortable and secure as possible. Whatever you decide to do, good luck!

If you have just found out your cat is pregnant, you need to find out the proper care and attention they need if this is your first time caring for a cat in this condition. Their pregnancy will last nine to ten weeks and it’s important that all of her needs are met during this time to make sure that her and her kittens come out of this safe and healthy.

Your pregnant cat does require more nutrients than before she was pregnant. Through out the first six weeks or so of her pregnancy, her appetite and amount of food should remain the same. It’s not until after the sixth or seventh week that her appetite will increase and she will require a bit more food than usual. She may even need a different diet all together, it just depends on what you had her eating before. Keep in mind, she is eating for many more than herself depending on how many kittens she has in her litter and they need the proper nutrients and vitamins to come out healthy. Maybe you should talk to your vet if you are unsure of what to switch her to.

Now don’t think just because she’s pregnant she doesn’t need her daily exercise. If you take away regular exercise for your cat, she could become unhealthy and maybe even obese. This could lead to more health issues than your cat should have to deal with. She will also need a birthing room where you should get her very acquainted with. She needs to feel comfortable and secure enough there so she doesn’t go somewhere else to have her babies. You need to be there in case help is needed. It shouldn’t be out in the open either, she needs some kind of privacy. It’s also very likely that she will decide to have them elsewhere and you just have to let it happen. Do not pick up any of the kittens, the mother may reject them once you have touched them.

Speak with your vet about proper care after her kittens are born so you can help her lose the weight and keep her healthy.

Some may think it’s silly to believe your cat can become depressed but it’s true.  It’s most likely due to some really big or drastic changes in their life such as change in environment, death in the family (human or animal) and in result becoming lonely.  If you feel your cats or even kittens may be depressed or he or she is acting differently and have no idea why, here are a few signs to be aware of:  more sleeping than usual, aggressive behavior, isolation and just an overall change it their behavior.

To snap him or her out of their depression it’s important to spend a lot of time with them and give them lots of love.  Cats love playtime especially with their family so bringing out some string, balls or any kind of toy that you two can interact with one and other will help quite a bit.  Cats loved to be brushed so you could do that with him or her as well.  I know people that have used cat nip to get them up and moving around which has proven to be quite effective.  Catnip is a perennial herb that gives them a temporary high and makes them very hyper and playful.  It’s a good natural option that can not harm them.  It’s also fun to watch them become so playful.  You can lay some out on the floor for them or buy a catnip toy at the pet store.

Just be sure to always keep an eye on your pets and really pay attention to them.  This way you will know when they are acting abnormally and you can take action right away to correct whatever it may be.  If things are out of your hands then take them to your vet.

Are you having problems with your cat not using the litter box?  There may be a few reasons why they are choosing to go anywhere but where they are supposed to.  Here are some things you should know about your cats litter box…

Many cats don’t like scented litter, this can actually really bother them enough to go right beside it or somewhere else in the house.  There are plenty of unscented litters out there for you to use, you just have to pick one! You must always keep the litter box clean.  Some people only clean it a couple times a week which seems unfair.  Why would they want to step into the box when it’s full of their own urine and feces. When looking for kittens for sale or a cat to adopt, these are all very important things you must think of before bringing them home. You may have to experiment with the type of litter box you are going to use… maybe they like one with a hood and maybe they don’t.   It needs to be easily accessible to them but not too exposed and DO NOT put it right by their food.  Cats don’t like to go where they eat, who would right?

If you have multiple cats, you may want to look into getting another litter box.  They may start going somewhere else if they have to share their bathroom.  If you have cats or kittens with a longer coat such as Persian kittens, Himalayans or Ragdolls the litter can become quite messy since they have such long hair.  In this case, you should use a litter that won’t clump to their hair and mat.  As you can see, there are many factors that may contribute to your cat(s) not using it’s litter box.  Just pay attention, assess the situation and fix it before it becomes a problem you can’t fix.

Mange in cats can be caused by three different kinds of microscopic mites which are Cheyletiella found in the cats scales of the skin , Sarcoptic found on head around ears and on the stomach  and Demodectic which is found in the hair follicles.  All of these cause some kind of irritation which lead to extreme discomfort  for your cat.  The itching turns into missing hair, raw skin and eventually open sores that can spread all over.

To make sure you get the right treatment for your cat,  take him or her to the vet and have the to get the proper cat care that your kitty deserves.  They will give you some kind of treatment to kill the mites in your cat.  If your cat is diagnosed with some kind of mange, it’s always a good idea to clean their bedding and grooming tools.

Cat mange is not a very common disease found in all cat breeds but there are ways that you can prevent them from getting it.  Keep their bedding and eating area clean and they also have shampoos out there to prevent mange in your cats.

Most cats are picky eaters but when it comes to certain human foods, they just can’t pass it up.  That doesn’t mean it’s good for them though, just because they love it the food could still be really harmful for your cats.  I have listed a few foods below that you should try to keep out of your cat’s diet:

Tuna – Too much of this can cause Mercury poisoning (out of a can, package or raw)

Garlic & Onions – These can cause Anemia in your cat killing their red blood cells

Alcohol – This is a big no-no.  You shouldn’t ever have a reason to feed your cat alcohol.  The tiniest bit can be very harmful and possibly deadly.

Grapes – May cause kidney failure for your cat.

Candy – The Xylitol can cause liver failure.

Bones or Trimmings – This can cause Pancreatitis in cats or kittens.

Raw Meat & Fish – These can cause food poisoning from bacteria in the meat.

These are just a few that come to mind.  I just stay clear of feeding my cats human food.  They have a nutritious diet and that’s what is important to keep them healthy and living a long happy life.  If you do choose to give them any kind of human food, I would find out first if it’s safe by doing your own research or consulting a vet.

Persian Cats are overall healthy but do have quite a few health risks that you need to look out for and some that you can prevent.  They can get eye infections and other irritations due to their large eyes, they tend to have breathing problems considering their faces are pretty much flat and also a disease called Progressive Retinal Atrophy which causes blindness.  This doesn’t mean that all Persian Cats will have these problems, they are just possibilities. 

In order to keep your cat healthy and long lived, it’s important that you know how to care for them.  Caring for the Persian Cat breed is a bit more involved than some others.  As kittens, they can be free-fed but as adults it’s suggested they are fed twice a day.  You need to keep up on all of the neccesary shots and vaccinations and ofcourse the regular vet visits as needed. 

The more you groom your Persian cat, the less problems it will have with shedding and furballs.  Using a steel teeth comb works best since it gets through all of the long hair they have.  It’s smart to do a physical check of your cat whenever you can to make sure they don’t have any wounds or irritations.  After a routine brushing, it helps to brush against the hair the opposite way which helps with shine and growth.  Keep their ears, face and eyes clean at all times and that can prevent eye problems they often get.

These cats make great companions and need lots of  love and attention.  Keeping a few toys around the house for you cat to play with keeps them active and healthy.

We have taken our time to personally select some reputable Persian Cat breeders from around the United States.

Click here for our list of Persian Cat Breeders.