Mary Allen
In order to rule out cat diseases as much as possible, the Persian cat, like any other cat, should always be well cared for and cared for. Species-appropriate husbandry and healthy nutrition are just as much a part of this as regular visits to the veterinarian, where they are checked and vaccinated and, if necessary, dewormed.
Unfortunately, there are also health problems that you can do little about with prevention. These include, for example, those that are hereditary or result from overbreeding.
Health Problems Caused by Inbred Traits
Unfortunately, there are still Persian cat breeders who place less importance on the health of their cats and more on an extreme appearance. Typical of this is the very flat, short nose, which leads to health problems in the velvet paw. In the worst case, Persians with this extreme characteristic find it difficult to breathe and eat for the rest of their lives. They suffer from watery eyes and facial inflammation and often require veterinary care.
Therefore, when choosing your breeder, make absolutely sure that your future pet and your relatives are not bred with noses that are too short and indented and eyes that are too big, nor with proportions that appear unnatural, such as a body that is much too short.
Kidney Cysts & Congenital Deafness
Another problem that can, unfortunately, occur hereditarily with this cat breed is “Polycystic Kidney Disease” or “PKD” for short, in which the cats suffer from kidney cysts that can lead to kidney failure in old age. This disease also occurs in other breeds such as the British Shorthair. To avoid breeding with cats that inherit them, it makes sense to have breeding animals tested for this early on.
It is also possible that white animals are born deaf.