Congenital and transmitted diseases in Persian cats. Persian cats

Obesity

Obesity refers to a metabolic disorder that leads to the accumulation of excess adipose tissue. The cause of obesity can be either an incorrect, unbalanced diet or the effect of phosphorus, arsenic, lead, fluorine, copper, and nickel on the cat’s body. In addition, obesity can be caused by a deficiency of pituitary hormones in the pet’s body, a passive lifestyle and metabolic disorders, in which fat cells accumulate in the cat’s body.

Sick animals are overweight, they breathe heavily, get tired quickly, refuse to move, and their thirst and appetite increase. If possible, you need to take your pet to the dacha, to the forest, or fishing more often. If not, it is recommended to arrange outdoor games with him. If the cause of obesity is poor nutrition, it is necessary to carefully balance the diet. A special diet and significant physical activity on the body will quickly bring the cat into good shape. In other cases, it is recommended to consult a doctor who can prescribe the necessary treatment. As a rule, drugs such as adiposine, fepranon, adebit, and thyroidin are prescribed. In addition, laxatives (enemas) and diuretics are indicated.

Allergy

Sneezing, mucous discharge from the nose, swelling of the eyes and throat are signs of severe allergic reaction. Irritants may include plant pollen, mold, dust, certain foods, medications, bird feathers, fluff and wool. At the first sign of an allergy in a cat, it should be taken to a veterinary clinic. During a particularly severe attack in the absence of a veterinarian, you can give your pet 0.5 tablets of diphenhydramine.

Avitaminosis

If there is a lack of vitamin A in a pet’s body, his eyes begin to water, digestion and the development of reproductive organs are disrupted. The activity of the upper respiratory tract may also change. An excess of retinol in a cat’s body leads to accelerated bone growth, resulting in improper skeletal development.

A lack of vitamin B1 (thiamine) in a cat’s body leads to general weakness and indigestion. When a cat lacks vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), it experiences a sharp decrease in body weight and the functions of the musculoskeletal system are impaired. Lack of vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) leads to cat baldness. A deficiency of vitamin K (phylloquinone) develops as a result of long-term treatment of a pet with antibiotics. A lack of vitamin K in the body leads to loss of appetite and increased irritability of the pet. A lack of vitamin E (tocopherol) causes a cat's coat to lose its shine and begin to look disheveled. Also, with a lack of tocopherol in the animal’s body, irreversible changes in the muscles can occur, and infertility can develop.

A deficiency of pantothenic acid leads to liver dysfunction, and an insufficient amount of folic acid leads to anemia.

Rickets

A disease such as rickets occurs when the functioning of the endocrine glands is disrupted or when there is a lack of sufficient mineral salts in the cat’s body. The likelihood of this disease increases significantly in winter.

Symptoms of rickets: bending of the limbs, thickening of the joints, sagging of the back. Rickets is especially dangerous for kittens because it slows down the animals' growth.

When the diagnosis is confirmed, the cat is irradiated with a quartz lamp.

Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus mainly develops in cats suffering from obesity, physical and psychological trauma, inflammation of the pancreas and certain infectious diseases. In case of diabetes mellitus, there is a lack of insulin in the body of animals, which leads to disruption of protein metabolism and a decrease in the number of antibodies formed.

The main symptoms of the disease are constant thirst and hunger, exhaustion, general weakness, and the presence of large amounts of sugar in the animal’s urine.

For treatment, the cat is prescribed insulin injections. Her diet should include regularly fruit juices, boiled meat, still mineral water and fish.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye. The main causes of this disease are physical and chemical irritants and bacterial activity. Conjunctivitis can be unilateral if only one eye is inflamed and bilateral if both eyes are affected.

The affected animal's eyes become red and swollen, tears flow, and eyelashes stick together. If left untreated, the animal’s condition quickly deteriorates: vision is impaired, the eyelids swell, purulent discharge from the eyes appears, and the cornea becomes cloudy. The cat can go completely blind.

Conjunctivitis is treated with a 3% solution of albucid, which is used to soak purulent crusts on the eyes. Then hydrocortisone or tetracycline ointment is placed under the animal’s eyelids. In case of clouding of the cornea under the cat's eyelids, it is recommended to blow a mixture of powdered sugar and calomel daily 2 times a day.

Keratitis

Keratitis is a disease that occurs when the cornea of ​​the eye is mechanically damaged by claws or foreign objects. Most often, wounds of this kind are inflicted on a cat during play or a fight with another animal. Keratitis can also be a consequence of the activity of microorganisms or occurs as a result of metabolic disorders in the body, ingrowth of blood vessels into the surface layer of the cornea. This disease is characterized by clouding and swelling of the cornea, purulent inflammation of the epithelial layer.

If the owner notices that the cat's eyes are inflamed, the animal should be shown to a specialist as soon as possible. The veterinarian will make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

The affected cat begins to rub its eyes with its paw and is afraid of the light. Purulent discharge appears from her conjunctival sac. To determine whether there are wounds on the animal's cornea, a 1% solution of fluorescein should be dripped into the eyes, which turns all corneal lesions light green. If the damage to the cornea is pervasive, the injured pet begins to leak ocular fluid, during which the iris of the eye partially or completely disappears.

To treat keratitis, fluorescein solution, eye drops and antibiotics are used. A sick animal should be kept in a darkened room. Cortisone-based eye ointments should not be used to treat keratitis, as they further destroy the damaged cornea of ​​the eye.

If left untreated, keratitis can develop into a corneal ulcer, accompanied by painful sensations. The edges of the ulcer are cloudy and swollen. It is treated with antibiotics and special eye ointments. Surgery is often required.

Acute respiratory disease

The main causes of acute respiratory infections are hypothermia and the action of viruses. A sick cat begins to sneeze and cough, its temperature rises, the animal loses its appetite and experiences a sharp loss of strength.

The younger the pet, the greater the danger acute respiratory infections pose to it, since if left untreated, this disease quickly turns into severe pneumonia. Therefore, at the first symptoms of a respiratory disease, the cat should be shown to a veterinarian so that he can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe a course of treatment.

Calicivirus

Feline calicivirus, or cat flu, is an acute viral disease characterized by damage to the upper respiratory tract. This disease is especially dangerous for kittens and young cats; it is not transmitted to people or dogs.

Specific biological products, such as “Vitafel” (immunoglobulin), “Vitafel-S” (polyvalent serum), etc., must be given to a sick animal for panleukopenia, calicivirosis, and rhinotracheitis. Immunomodulators are often used to combat these diseases, for example, Cycloferon, Camedon, Fosprenil, Maksidin.

The incubation period is 1–3 days. The cat exhibits the following symptoms: refusal to eat, fever, increased body temperature to 40–42°C, discharge from the eyes and nose, and severe cough. Often, bubbles filled with clear liquid appear on the nasal bridge and in the cat’s mouth.

Sick cats are prescribed intramuscular injections of gentamicin 0.4 ml 2 times a day; subcutaneous injections of glucose (1 ml) and 8 ml of isotonic solution (you can mix them in one syringe) 4-5 times a day until the animal begins to eat on its own; add 0.5 ml of vitamin B12 and 0.5 ml of vitamin C to the syringe once a day. The course of treatment is 5–7 days.

Rhinitis

Rhinitis is an inflammatory process that affects the nasal mucosa. There are two forms of this disease: primary and secondary. Primary rhinitis develops immediately after the cat’s body is exposed to irritating factors, which include smoke, draft, chemical fumes, etc. Secondary rhinitis is a consequence of the influence of various viruses on the animal’s body and manifests itself after 1–5 days.

The main symptoms of the disease are profuse nasal discharge, swelling of the nasal passages, fever, swelling of the eyelids, difficulty breathing, inflammation of the mucous membrane and lymph nodes. Sick animals sneeze, rub their noses with their paws, refuse food and quickly lose weight.

To diagnose and treat rhinitis, it is best to consult a veterinarian. As a preventive measure, exposure to harmful chemical fumes and low temperatures on the cat’s body should be avoided. It is also necessary to prevent any contact between your pet and sick animals and people.

Laryngitis

Laryngitis is an inflammatory process that affects the mucous membrane of a cat’s larynx. It occurs when an animal’s body is exposed to viruses. Predisposing factors may include chemical fumes, drafts or dampness in the room. Often the development of laryngitis is promoted by animals eating frozen foods.

The main symptoms of the disease: cough, heavy breathing, loss of appetite, fatigue, shortness of breath, sputum production, swelling of the laryngeal mucosa, change in voice. In particularly advanced cases, an increase in body temperature, rapid breathing and pulse are observed.

A sick animal must be placed in a dry, clean and warm room. The affected cat should be fed only warm food, and its throat should be regularly warmed with compresses. The veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics, expectorants and disinfectants for treatment.

Bronchitis

Bronchitis usually affects weakened or old animals. This disease is characterized by inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bronchial tract.

The main causes of bronchitis are as follows:

● sudden changes in air temperature in the room where the cat lives;

● drafts;

● dampness;

● a large number of dust and chemical impurities in the air.

The main symptoms of the disease are a painful cough, decreased appetite, elevated temperature body, rapid breathing and pulse, shortness of breath.

A sick cat should be placed in a dry, warm room with good ventilation but no drafts. The food offered to her should be well balanced and contain a large amount of vitamins. Treatment includes the oral administration of expectorants, anti-allergenic and laxatives into the pet's body.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infectious disease of the respiratory system, almost always ending in the death of the animal. It usually affects pets weakened by vitamin deficiency.

Symptoms of this disease include refusal to eat, constant thirst, purulent nasal discharge and fever. At the first suspicion of pneumonia, a sick cat should be isolated.

Treatment of this disease is carried out solely on the basis of the recommendations of a veterinarian using injections of antibiotics, oxytetracycline and sulfonamides.

Heat

A fever is an increase in a cat's body temperature. The cause of this may be an infectious, cold or gastrointestinal disease.

Transporting a sick cat in hot weather is contraindicated, as this can aggravate the course of the disease.

It is advisable to call a veterinarian at home and begin treatment after establishing a diagnosis and receiving recommendations. If it is not possible to call a veterinarian at home, you can try to cure the fever yourself (give your pet 0.25 aspirin tablets). But if after 2 days there is no improvement, you should definitely show the animal to a veterinarian.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is an extremely contagious disease caused by the tuberculosis bacillus and can be fatal. Its main symptoms are shortness of breath, cough, diarrhea and weight loss.

A cat can become infected with tuberculosis by consuming meat and milk from sick cows, as well as through prolonged contact with a sick animal. Heat treatment of food significantly reduces the risk of disease.

To prevent further spread of tuberculosis, the affected pet must be isolated, taken to a veterinary clinic and, after confirming the diagnosis, euthanized.

Panleukopenia

Panleukopenia is one of the most dangerous viral infections, also called feline distemper. The causative agent is parvovirus, which is contained in the saliva of a sick animal, nasal secretions, urine and feces. Viruses can enter an animal’s body not only through contact with sick animals, but also through water, food, blood-sucking insects, and also from a sick mother to children.

The incubation period is 3–10 days, the peak of the disease occurs in spring and autumn. Most often, kittens and cats under 2 years of age suffer from panleukopenia, but adult animals can also be infected. The disease often causes serious complications. Without appropriate treatment, the animal dies within 4–5 days. If the illness drags on for up to 9 days and more cat, as a rule, survive and acquire stable immunity, but remain virus carriers for a long time.

The symptoms of feline distemper are very diverse, since during the development of the disease many organ systems are affected - nervous, respiratory, gastrointestinal, bone marrow.

If an animal dies unexpectedly and with virtually no symptoms, it means it has become infected with the fulminant form of feline distemper.

The acute form of the disease can be recognized by the following signs: the animal becomes lethargic, its body temperature rises sharply, appetite disappears, frequent vomiting occurs in yellowish masses, and sometimes diarrhea with bloody discharge or constipation, as well as mucopurulent discharge from the eyes. Small reddish spots appear on the skin of a sick pet, which, as they grow, form pustules (ulcers) with serous fluid; after drying, gray-brown crusts form in their place.

If your cat has the above-described signs of panleukopenia, you should immediately call a veterinarian or take your pet to the clinic. Before the doctor intervenes, you can give the animal "Fosprenil". Veterinarians usually advise using this particular drug, but to prevent complications it must be combined with antibiotics and vitamins. But under no circumstances should you give analgin to a sick cat, this could simply kill it.

For 4 days, 1 ml of Fosprenil should be administered intramuscularly to the sick animal every 6 hours and the same medicine should be dripped into the nose and eyes, 1 drop 4 times a day. At the same time, Biogel-5 is given orally (5 ml 4 times a day). From the 3rd day, treatment with gentamicin begins (0.5 ml 5 times a day), on the fifth day Fosprenil is administered every 8 hours.

Treatment should be continued even after clinical picture the disease will change in better side: for prevention, Fosprenil is injected in the morning and evening for the next two days, and then for another 2 days - once a day. Throughout the entire treatment period, the animal is given vitamin Farmavit-FD. The mortality rate as a result of panleukopenia is more than 90%, and not only children, but also adult animals die. Cats that have recovered from panleukopenia remain virus carriers for a long time, posing a danger to the health of their relatives.

In order to prevent the disease, it is necessary to vaccinate animals in a timely manner. For this purpose, the preparations “Multifel-3” are used (has triple action– against panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis and calici viral infection) and "Multifel-4" (against panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, calicivirus infection and chlamydia in cats). The vaccine is administered subcutaneously, in the area of ​​the shoulder blade, the dose for kittens under 6 months of age is 0.5 ml, for one-year-olds and others - 1 ml. Approximately 14 days after vaccination, animals develop immunity that lasts for 12 months. The vaccination schedule is shown in the table. 1.

Table 1. Approximate vaccination schedule for a Persian cat

Chlamydia

Feline chlamydia is an infectious disease caused by chlamydia (obligate intracellular bacteria). This is a very common disease, often taking a chronic form, which affects about 32% of cats with various pathologies of the respiratory and urogenital tracts. First of all, chlamydia affects the epithelial tissues lining the mucous membranes of the respiratory system, eyes, gastrointestinal tract, urethra, cervical canal and rectum.

There are 3 ways of infection with chlamydia - airborne, sexual and contact. Kittens can become infected from an infected mother (via the placenta or during passage through the reproductive tract). As a rule, the focus of chlamydial infection is localized, but sometimes the bacteria enter the blood and spread throughout the body, causing damage to internal organs, lymph nodes, joints, brain and spinal cord and, as a result, the death of the animal.

Symptoms of the disease: a slight increase in body temperature, damage to the mucous membrane of the eyelids (conjunctivitis), which is observed first in one eye, and after a few days in the other. Infected cats feel well and continue to lead normal lives.

Conjunctivitis due to chlamydia can have both acute (with an incubation period of 5–10 days) and chronic form. In the first case, there is the appearance of serous discharge from the eyes, which turns into mucopurulent discharge under the influence of a secondary (bacterial or viral) infection. The conjunctiva becomes bright red, individual vessels are clearly visible on it, and swelling is sometimes noted. Chronic conjunctivitis does not have the same symptoms as acute conjunctivitis; it is accompanied by slight but prolonged redness of the mucous membrane of the eyelids and their swelling. Less common is follicular conjunctivitis, a sign of which is the appearance of small blisters (follicles) in the corners of the eyes of infected individuals.

In many cats and cats, chlamydia does not have noticeable clinical manifestations. Only with the addition of a secondary infection does the picture of the disease become noticeable; Against the background of a secondary infection, cats often develop such a dangerous disease as urethritis, and damage to the scrotal organs also occurs. Chlamydia also makes itself felt with other accompanying factors - childbirth, feeding babies, stress caused, for example, by moving into the house of other owners, etc.

Chronic chlamydia infection often causes infertility in cats. As a rule, in females chlamydia is localized in the cervical canal, in males - in the testes, and upon contact with a member of the opposite sex, the partner becomes infected. If at least one participant in a love game is infected with chlamydia, fertilization does not occur even after prolonged contact; If a cat does become pregnant, the birth of healthy offspring is very problematic. As a rule, pregnancy ends in miscarriage or abortion.

To treat chlamydia (and related diseases caused by secondary infection), tetracycline drugs and immunostimulants are used (the latter drugs are used only in cases of special need). It is not recommended to self-medicate; unqualified medical care will only aggravate the course of the disease and make chlamydial bacteria resistant to the drugs used, which in turn will reduce the effectiveness of treatment. Even after a course carried out under the supervision of a veterinarian, animals can remain carriers of the disease, so 7-10 days after treatment it is necessary to take a control test.

You should not be embarrassed to ask the owner of the cat with whom the Persian is to be bred for a veterinary report on the state of health.

Infected cats pose a threat to human health. In close contact, chlamydia can spread from animals to the human body and cause respiratory, intestinal or ocular manifestations of the disease. However, many owners of Persian cats do not even suspect that their pets are infected with chlamydial bacteria, although with careful observation all the symptoms of chlamydia can be detected in sick animals - swelling and redness of the eyelids and conjunctiva, the presence of purulent discharge from the eyes, especially noticeable after sleep.

To protect yourself from this dangerous disease, you need to protect your pet from contact with animals that cause suspicion. And most importantly, you need to conduct a thorough laboratory test of your pet for the presence of chlamydia in its body (it is best to resort to such services provided only by reputable institutions).

Currently, the most accurate and reliable method for diagnosing chlamydia is the polymerase chain reaction. Molecular genetic methods are also used to recognize early stages not only chlamydia, but also bacterial and viral diseases such as toxoplasmosis, rabies, herpes virus, mycoplasmosis, and successfully treat them.

To prevent chlamydia, animals must be vaccinated annually. Today, Chlamikon is recognized as the most effective drug that creates active immunity; it is made from highly immunogenic strains isolated for the first time by Russian specialists from infected animals. However, it is not recommended to vaccinate kittens under 12 weeks of age against chlamydia, as this preventive procedure can have serious side effects.

In addition to vaccination against the above diseases, it is recommended to vaccinate against the leukemia virus (FeLV), which infects the bone marrow of kittens and causes cancer, and infectious peritonitis (FIP), which leads to hydrops of the lungs or abdominal cavity. According to some experts, the FeLV vaccine has Negative influence on the reproductive function of animals, so it should only be administered to castrated or sterilized pets.

Rabies

Rabies is an infectious disease that is caused by the activity of a neurotropic filterable virus and affects the central nervous system. Rabies is extremely contagious, dangerous to humans, and always fatal.

The causative agent of the disease is a bullet-shaped vibrio, reaching a length of 180 nm. Largest quantity vibrios are found in the cerebral cortex, the animal’s saliva and its blood. Infection occurs through direct contact with the saliva and blood of a sick animal, that is, mainly through bites. The main carriers of infection: cats, dogs, rodents, the bats, raccoons, wolves, jackals, etc.

The incubation period can last 3–6 weeks. In rare cases, the disease manifests itself a year after infection.

There are two forms of rabies: silent and violent. In the first case, the sick animal behaves restlessly and quickly develops muscle tissue paralysis. Death occurs within 2–4 days. The violent form of rabies is most often observed in Siamese cats, but Persians can also suffer from it. Infected animals become fearful and aggressive, their mood often changes: they are either affectionate with the owner, or rush at him with the intention of biting and scratching. Affected cats often swallow inedible objects (buttons, soil, stones, branches of garden plants, paper, etc.), their salivation process is disrupted, and their voice becomes hoarse. At the last stage of the disease, the pet begins to have convulsions and paralysis occurs. Death usually occurs on days 3–5.

Animals affected by the rabies virus take refuge in dark corners, and when trying to get them out of there, they fiercely resist and even attack humans, with the most aggression shown by pets that were previously known for their good nature.

It is prohibited to treat cats infected with the rabies virus; these animals must be immediately destroyed. Prevention of rabies involves timely vaccination of pets with an anti-rabies vaccine; it is also necessary to follow the rules for keeping animals at home.

Aujeszky's disease

Aujeszky's disease is often called false rabies. This contagious viral disease affects the central nervous system of cats and is practically not transmitted to humans.

Infection occurs through contact with sick animals or virus carriers, as well as through eating the meat of infected rodents and pigs. The incubation period lasts 1–15 days. Sick pets become restless and refuse to eat.

The main symptom of the disease is severe itching. At the final stage, paralysis occurs. Treatment of the disease is carried out only in a veterinary clinic. It is treated with antibiotics and gamma globulin.

Escherichia coli

E. coli disease leads to changes in intestinal microflora and a large accumulation of microbes in the cat’s body. Symptoms of this disease include fever and bloody diarrhea. The disease progresses extremely quickly and always ends in the death of the animal.

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis is an infectious disease usually transmitted by mice. Symptoms indicating the development of lymphocytic choriomeningitis include fever, heavy breathing, and weakness. Lymphocytic choriomeningitis cannot be treated. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the cat must be euthanized and an autopsy performed to determine the causative agent of lymphocytic choriomeningitis.

Infectious rhinotracheitis

Infectious rhinotracheitis of cats is a viral disease with an acute course, characterized by damage to the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract and eyes.

The causative agent of infectious rhinotracheitis is a virus from the Herpesviridae family, which can persist in the environment for several days.

The peak of the disease occurs in autumn and winter; the risk group includes animals of various age groups, but kittens with weak immunity aged from 2 months to 1 year are more affected. The duration of the disease is 10–14 days, occasionally it becomes chronic and manifests itself in a rare but severe cough and periodic nasal congestion.

The source of infection is sick cats and virus carriers; upon contact with them, the virus enters the body of a healthy animal through secretions from the mouth, nose and eyes. Infectious agents can remain on the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract for a long time and become active under the influence of accompanying factors. Even in the body of a recovered cat, the infectious rhinotracheitis virus persists for 50 days.

The incubation period of the disease ranges from 1 to 5–7 days. Animals develop a runny nose, they begin to sneeze, and when pressure is applied to the wings of the nose, serous fluid is released from the nostrils. These symptoms are accompanied by inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes, narrowing of the palpebral fissures and gluing of the eyelids with purulent discharge of a dirty gray color. At the same time, the general condition of the animal remains normal, it does not refuse food.

Increasing runny nose causes the fur near the mouth, nose, as well as on the pet’s paws and chest to stick together due to heavy discharge, difficulty breathing occurs, and an inflammatory process begins on the tonsils. There is a deterioration in the general condition, an increase in body temperature, inflammation spreads to the trachea, bronchi and lungs; blistering ulcers often appear on the mucous membranes of the animal’s tongue and lips, indicating the development of stomatitis. Since some symptoms resemble feline distemper, laboratory blood tests are performed for infectious rhinotracheitis.

Treatment of infectious rhinotracheitis includes the following measures. It is necessary to give a sick pet medications that support heart function, expectorants, antiseptic solutions (iodinol, furatsilin solution), which are used to clean the animal’s nasal and oral cavities. To remove purulent discharge from the eyes, you need to use “Decta-2” or “Bars” eye drops.

The mortality rate for infectious rhinotracheitis ranges from 5 to 20%; cats that develop ulcerative stomatitis or pneumonia usually die.

If a person refuses to eat, an isotonic saline solution (the so-called Ringer-Locke solution) should be administered intravenously or subcutaneously 1-2 times a day and B vitamins should be given (you can use vitamin preparations “Aminovit” or “Vitaminol”). Broad-spectrum antibiotics should be administered intramuscularly several times a day. When treating allergic animals, you cannot do without antihistamines.

Prevention of this disease provides for vaccination of animals, as well as provision of adequate nutrition, compliance with sanitary standards, exclusion of contacts with street inhabitants, etc.

Tularemia

A sick animal should be taken to a veterinary facility for examination. Its treatment should only take place under the supervision of a specialist. If the disease worsens, the cat's lymph nodes swell and harden. The affected animal usually dies within 3–7 days.

To prevent the spread of the disease, the sick cat must be euthanized and its body burned. It is recommended to destroy all care items. The room in which the infected animal was located should be disinfected, and other pets should be quarantined at a veterinary clinic for a period of 20–30 days, during which they will be monitored.

Pyometra

Pyometra is an infectious disease of the uterus that mostly affects unsterilized cats. Symptoms are decreased activity, lethargy, dry coat, loss of appetite, constant thirst, frequent urination, and unpleasant-smelling discharge from the uterus. Sometimes the clinical picture of the disease does not appear, the animal still eats well and plays fun games, but the owner should be alerted to the fact that during estrus, between which quite a lot of time passes, the cat has scanty vaginal discharge. However, the cat’s enlarged belly can be misleading, especially if mating has taken place. Indeed, a uterine infection gives the impression that the cat is pregnant. A positive result in the treatment of pyometra is achieved during surgery to remove the ovary.

Feline urological syndrome

Feline urological syndrome is a disease of the lower part of the urethra, often leading to inflammation of the bladder and the formation of kidney stones.

Symptoms include refusal to use the cat litter tray, urinary incontinence and the appearance of blood in it, painful urination, frequent licking of the area around the genitals, severe thirst.

Treatment for feline urological syndrome can only be prescribed by a veterinarian; surgery is usually required to eliminate the possibility of recurrence. Prevention of the disease comes down to following a diet when feeding.

Gastritis

Gastritis is the most common disease of the digestive system of cats. It is characterized by inflammation of the stomach and occurs as a result of a cat eating spoiled, dry, too cold or hot food for a long time. The main symptoms of the disease are pain, vomiting, belching, general weakness, lack of appetite, bad smell from the oral cavity. To treat gastritis, veterinarians recommend improving the quality of food fed to the cat and changing the feeding regimen.

Stomach ulcer

Gastric ulcers in cats can be a consequence of the development of diseases of the internal organs or the lack of treatment for gastritis. The development of this disease occurs when the gastric mucosa is destroyed.

The main symptoms of the disease are pain, vomiting, loss of appetite, loss of strength, elevated body temperature, and general exhaustion of the body. There is blood in the vomit of a sick animal.

Treatment of ulcers should only occur under the supervision of a specialist. A sick pet needs rest and light, nutritious food.

Dental caries

Dental caries is a disease that leads to the destruction of tooth enamel. Appear on the surface of the tooth dark spots, in the center of which hollows are formed. A sick animal experiences severe pain, loses appetite, and has an unpleasant odor coming from its mouth. The causes of caries in cats have not been fully elucidated, but a predisposition to this disease is observed in cats with cracks in the tooth enamel and a large amount of tartar. To treat this disease, the animal must be taken to a veterinary clinic.

Otitis externa

Otitis externa is inflammation of the ear canal. The main cause of this disease is the ingress of foreign objects (insects, twigs, earth) or water into the auricle. Water gets into a cat's ears, usually while swimming or walking in the rainy season. The main symptoms of otitis externa include restless behavior and the presence of purulent discharge from the affected ear.

To treat this disease, you should clean the ear from pus every day with a damp cotton swab, which should not be wetted with liquids containing alcohol. The cleaned ear is treated from the inside with zinc ointment.

Hematoma of the auricle

Hematoma of the auricle appears as a result of scratching and biting the ear. It is a small collection of blood under the skin.

The main symptoms of this disease are swelling of the auricle, restless behavior, and itching of the affected area. To treat a hematoma, apply a cold compress to the affected area and contact a veterinarian as soon as possible, who will prescribe appropriate treatment.

Ingrown and breaking off claws

In Persian cats that do not exercise much, claws often grow into the pads of their paws, causing soft tissue inflammation and pain. To prevent the further development of this disease, the cat’s ingrown claws should be shortened using special surgical forceps, the damaged soft tissue should be treated with an antiseptic and bandaged. Cracks often appear in the claws, which can subsequently lead to inflammation and falling off of the injured claw. To avoid this pathology, it is necessary to regularly trim off hangnails and jagged edges of cracks, and then cover them with epoxy resin.

Abscesses

Abscesses usually appear on the pads of a cat's paws. The causes of this disease have not been precisely established.

If abscesses appear, the cat should lie down constantly. The places where abscesses appear should be regularly lubricated with a preparation based on fish oil and zinc ointment. Treatment for abscesses may take several months. The disease cannot be neglected, since in this case it will be almost impossible to cure the abscesses.

Fungal diseases

Fungal diseases are extremely contagious. Violation of hygiene standards, spoiled food, poor nutrition, insufficient care for hair and skin - these are the main reasons for their occurrence.

Under ultraviolet rays, the fur of sick animals glows green in the dark. Treatment of such diseases usually lasts 5–40 days. In this case, a solution of griseofulvin is injected into the cat’s body through the anus every day. The small area of ​​skin affected by the fungus allows the use of antifungal ointment for treatment, which is applied to the affected area 3 times a day for a week.

Microsporia

Microsporia is one of the most dangerous fungal diseases, the causative agent of which is microscopic pathogenic fungi that quickly affect the fur, skin and claws of a cat. On the skin of a sick pet's paws, neck and head, areas covered with gray scales and hairless areas appear.

Infection with microsporia in most cases occurs through contact with a sick animal.

The incubation period of this fungal disease lasts from 10 to 30 days. The younger the cat, the more severely it suffers from this disease.

Microsporia is often called ringworm. It is extremely contagious and easily transmitted to humans. Therefore, at the first symptoms of the disease, your pet should be wrapped in oilcloth or thick cloth and taken to a veterinarian, who will prescribe treatment.

Dermatomycosis

Dermatomycosis is a fungal disease characterized by the appearance of small round bald patches on the cat’s face, ears, paws and tail, which after some time become covered with a crust.

Signs of ringworm can also be found on the animal’s body; in many ways they resemble marks from scratches and bites. The disease is classified as contagious; it can be transmitted even to humans through contact with sick pets.

Treatment of dermatomycosis is carried out with medications in the form of tablets or solutions. To avoid relapse of the disease after a course of treatment, it is necessary to do a thorough cleaning of the cat’s corner and thoroughly treat all objects that the infected animal has come into contact with.

"Ponytail"

Horsetail is a disease characterized by the appearance of a greasy coating on the animal's tail, swelling, and sometimes blisters and hair loss around the root of the tail. Plaque is a consequence of secretions from a gland located on the surface of the tail. If you regularly wash, thoroughly dry the affected area and comb the fur on it, you can eliminate all the symptoms of the disease.

Irritation and redness of the skin can be relieved with special ointments or balms purchased on the advice of a veterinarian. “Ponytail” is more typical for uncastrated cats, but is sometimes observed in cats.

Dandruff

Acne

Just like humans, Persian cats can suffer from acne. Their appearance can be caused by the use of plastic utensils or food sticking to the animal's chin and area around the mouth.

If you notice formations on your pet’s face that resemble coffee beans in appearance, it is recommended to do the following: wash the affected area with warm soapy water, then rinse it with clean water and wipe dry. You can also rub drying agents into the cat's skin - corn starch (for light colors) or Fuller's clay (for dark colors). For prevention purposes, it is necessary to regularly examine your pet’s face and wash it with warm water.

The Persian cat is easy to recognize by its small flattened nose and long, luxurious fur. This breed is one of the most common in the world and in Russia. It is considered an “artificial” breed. The appearance of the modern Persian is the result of many years of work by breeders, which has not stopped to this day. will tell you more about this breed.

Origin of Persian cats

The Persian cat has a very ancient origin that remains a mystery. The official history of the breed began in the seventeenth century. Then strange cats with long hair were first brought to Italy from Persia. Some time later, long-haired cats were brought to France from Angora in Turkey. At that time, Europeans had little understanding of exotic furry cats, and could not distinguish between their species. Therefore, it is still unknown which cats became the progenitors of the Persian cat, and which - the Angora. These two breeds clearly have similar appearance features: tufts of hair in the ears and between the toes, a fluffy collar, well-developed chest, shoulders and lower back. It is also unclear how cats with long, thick hair ended up in the warm countries of the Middle East. According to one version, this is the result of mutations; according to another, the ancestors of the Persian cat moved to the southern regions from Siberia. The second version is not without meaning, since the Siberian cat, which descended from forest and steppe long-haired cats, has, like the Persian, tufts of hair between the toes and in the ears, a fluffy collar and panties on the hind legs. It was only in the nineteenth century that English breeders began to carry out serious work with long-haired cats. As a result, two independent breeds were identified: Persian and Angora. More graceful and slender cats, with an elongated nose, were classified as the Angora breed, and stronger and squat ones, with a short snub nose, began to be called French cats, and only after a while they received the official name - Persian Longhair. The cats that became the ancestors of the Persians were significantly different in appearance from modern individuals. In the beginning, Persian cats included only blue-colored cats. Nowadays, Persians have the largest number of official colors. The work of breeders with the Persian cat continues to this day; they are constantly improving the breed, achieving a better exterior.

Character of the Persians

The most characteristic feature of the Persian cat is its small upturned nose. Based on the shape of the nose, there are two types of cats of this breed: classic and extreme. The classic type has a slightly elongated nose, which is located slightly below the inner corners of the eyes. In the extreme type, the nose is at eye level, shorter and upturned than in the classic type. Europeans prefer classic cats. But the Americans liked the extreme type. Extreme Persians are even called American Persians. A peculiar nose can give the animal’s muzzle a wide variety of expressions - from gloomy and fierce to sad and surprised.

The Persian breed is distinguished by a large number of colors - more than 100. Conventionally, the colors of Persians can be divided into simple - wool of the same color, and complex - with and without a pattern. A certain eye color corresponds to a certain coat. Yellow-eyed Persians can have both simple and complex colors. Green-eyed individuals have only complex colors, while blue-eyed individuals have only Siamese colors.

Persian cats are large animals with well-developed chest, wide back, short thick legs, round paws, large head. Persians have round big ones expressive eyes, rich color that matches the coat color. The forehead is convex, distinct, the jaws and chin are strong. The ears are small, rounded, set wide apart, with tufts of hair. The tail is short, evenly covered with thick hair, blunt or rounded at the end. Wool is the pride of the Persian cat. It is long, thick, very soft and silky to the touch, and serves an exclusively decorative function. Characteristic features The breed has knickers on the hind legs, a chic collar on the neck and tufts of hair between the toes. A voluminous “fur coat” makes the cat visually even more bulky.

It is generally accepted that the Persian cat lacks emotions, is not very smart and quick-witted, and plays the role of an indifferent plush toy in the house. In fact, each cat, including the Persian, is endowed with its own character, which depends not on the breed, but on purely individual qualities. Persian cats are indeed calmer and less active than representatives of other breeds. After all, they were bred as domestic animals. soft toy, and such character traits are dictated by lifestyle. Persian cats are kept in comfortable conditions of a city apartment; they are not adapted for life on the street, they do not know how to jump high, run fast and hunt mice. They are quite passive and sleep a lot. However, like any cat, Persians love to play and enjoy catching moving objects. Persians are affectionate, quiet, sociable, but unobtrusive. They love their owner very much and are friendly towards all family members, including animals.

Purebred cats, especially bred cats artificially can't boast good health, which is due to selective crossing. Therefore, they are characterized by some hereditary diseases. One of the most common hereditary diseases of Persian cats is polycystic kidney disease. A very serious and dangerous heart disease for a Persian is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which can develop even in at a young age. The specific shape of the nose of the Persian breed caused the cat's difficulty breathing and watery eyes.

Caring for these cats

Caring for a Persian cat takes a lot of time. First of all, this refers to its long and thick coat. A cat cannot tidy its fur on its own; it needs human help. You need to scratch your cat daily. If this is not done, the fur will quickly become tangled, and if the cat tries to lick the fur on its own, it runs the risk of swallowing hair, which can lead to surgery. It is recommended to wash your cat once every two to three weeks. Special attention It is necessary to pay attention to the eyes: daily wipe the tear tracks under the eyes, otherwise the hair in this place will become discolored. Owners of Persians will have to be prepared for more frequent and thorough cleaning of the house, because Persians constantly shed, leaving their long (up to 15 cm) hair all over the apartment.

Perhaps the most recognizable, the most colorful and certainly one of the most beloved breeds by cat lovers is the Persian.

This cat is special in every way: the history of its origin is full of secrets, its exotic appearance includes about 100 colors, but most importantly, as many as three standards of the Persian breed are recognized today!

To understand the pretentiousness of the breeders and feel the charm of the Persians, let’s get to know them better.

How long do Persian cats live? According to statistics - 11-15 years.

Story

Since its inception, the Persian cat has been listed among the highest rank breeds. Traveling in the Middle Ages along with expensive goods, she ended up in the homes of the noble classes, securing the title of the most prestigious domestic cat.

In 1620 The Persians were first mentioned in documents - P. dela Valle’s travel letters indicate the import of four pairs of long-haired cats from Iran to Italy. Unfortunately, their further fate is unknown.

Then the history of the Persian breed acquires quite a wide resonance:

1. Early 17th century the astronomer N. de Pieresque imports a pair of long-haired cats from Ankara to France, called “Angora”. Pieresque became one of the first breeders of modern Persians. The ancestors of the breed only vaguely resembled today's Persian cat, on whose appearance and character felinologists have worked for centuries. However, one of the versions of the origin is the symbiosis of long-haired Iranian cats and Turkish Angora.
2. Iranian scientists have a different opinion. They believe that the Persian breed originates from the steppe cats that still live in Africa and Asia.
3. Some felinologists adhere to a different hypothesis: The ancestor of the Persians is the wild cat Manul.

There is no definite version, but, one way or another, Persian cats from the East came to Europe, and then to England, where they were taken seriously.

In 1887 The "Persian Longhair" was registered in the British Breed Book.

Since then, breeders have improved the breed:

• the rectangular body has become more compact;
• the head is rounder and more massive;
• the eyes became slanted;
• ears - more widely set;
• the muzzle acquired a “childish” expression.

At the end of the 19th century Persian catteries appeared in the USA, Russia, Italy, France and other countries.

Standard

There are 3 officially recognized standards for Persian cats. Today, the European standard is the most common, while the exotic has the most distinctive appearance and corresponding price.

The types differ only in the shape and location of the nose:

1. Old English– a straight nose is located just below the eyes.
2. Modern European Persian - the upper edge of the nose is at the level of the lower eyelids.
3. Extreme(exotic Persians) – the nose is raised even higher, to the inner corner of the eye.

Otherwise the standards are similar:

• powerful, large or medium body;
• fairly large, round head;
• small, wide-set, slightly rounded ears;
• round, large and expressive eyes;
• the neck is strong, from short to medium length;
• short, powerful limbs;
• short, fluffy, “down to earth” tail;
• long, thick, shiny coat, reaching 20 cm in length.

Male Persians reach a weight of 7 kg, females are usually 2-3 kg lighter.

Colors

A hundred colors for one breed is, of course, a lot. Therefore, felinologists here also rank the Persian breed based on eye color.

1. Yellow Eyes. In turn, there are two types of colors of yellow-eyed Persian cats - simple and complex. In simple– the color of the guard and undercoat is the same. Usually these are white, red, black and tortoiseshell cats. In complex– different: the undercoat is lighter. This color is formed from smoky or tabby, for example, silver tabby is one of the most beautiful options Persian fur coats
2. Green-eyed. In this group of cats, there are only complex colors, such as shaded silver or chinchilla.
3. Blue eyes. The peculiarity of this type is its bright markings on a light background of fur, that is, all varieties of Persian cats are color point. The colors of blue-eyed Persians are the most diverse, including tabbed and silver.

The most common colors of Persians today are blue, red, tortoiseshell and white.

Character

The Persian cat is one of the most suitable for living in a family. This breed is unlikely to survive in the wild.

1. She is contactable: gets along well with children, even the capricious and annoying ones.
2. Falls in love with the owner once and for all: protects, heals and “worries” about a person.
3. Persians have an incredible need for love. and affection, so they happily endure trips and relocations next to their beloved owner.
4. While its owner is away, the Persian cat “freezes”: She may not touch food or drink, or even leave one place. But when someone from the family crosses the threshold, the pet literally comes to life!
5. This breed cares about its offspring like no other. Moreover, the Persian cat considers the owner to be “involved” in pregnancy and childbirth: while bearing offspring, she constantly shares her experiences with you, and after giving birth, she is sure that you must care for the cubs together - feed, play and lull the babies “in four hands.”
6. However, the cat is just torn between the need to be with your beloved owner and maternal duty. Conclusion: a pregnant and lactating Persian cat needs to be surrounded with even more attention and love.
7. Temperament varies among Persians, but they are not aggressive. Persian kittens are always funny and restless, and they remain that way for many years if a person supports the cat’s playful behavior. In any case, this breed will never “talk back” to a person, calmly withstanding all the squeezing and hooting directed at it.

For “connecting” to the owner’s problems, the Persian cat often pays with a weak immune system.

Persians are a rather naive and curious breed. That's why need special conditions accommodation, such as:

• remove all medications and chemicals;
• When cooking, make sure that your pet does not jump onto the stove or hot dishes;
• check washing machine and a dryer - a cat can easily fall asleep there;
• Provide the windows with high-quality nets – this breed loves to sit on the windowsill.

Wool

Caring for the hair of a Persian cat is an art that requires special means and consistent actions.

Brushing your pet occurs in several stages: “we go through”, then carefully comb out with a medium and smooth – . Frequency – once every 2-3 days.

Persian cats are shown a haircut without touching the tail. But remember that you cannot cut colorpoint Persians to avoid pigmentation.

Nutrition

What to feed a Persian cat is one of the most important issues in keeping the breed. Ideally, you need to equally combine good food with homemade food:

• almost half of the diet – squirrels– (lean meat, fish, dairy, soybeans);
• carbohydrates(cereals, bread, root vegetables, oatmeal);
• essential vitamins(olives, asparagus, boiled or raw vegetables, fruits).

The main thing is to keep seasonings and spices out of your cat’s diet.

A Persian can catch mice if this instinct is awakened in the kitten from 3 to 6 months.

Diseases

Persian is a breed of cat with quite good health, but they have several hereditary diseases, for example:

• polycystic kidney disease;
• blindness (manifests by 4-8 weeks, after a couple of months the animal becomes completely blind);
• excessive tearfulness of the eyes due to flat muzzle(need eye care - blotting with a napkin, treating with a special lotion);
• hypertrophic cardiomyopathy;
• Persian cats are also susceptible to gingivitis, the formation of tartar and plaque.

Your pet should be checked by a veterinarian every few months.

Video

Persian cats are the most adorable pets:

Today, in almost every home there is a representative of the feline, fluffy or smooth-haired - depending on the preferences of the owner. Owners of long-haired pets, such as the Persian cat, consider them the most beautiful and worthy, although they tirelessly struggle with their hair. They are extremely sweet, with charm, and move around the apartment with refined slowness, and this mannerism suggests their aristocratic origin. Is it so?

History of the origin of Persian cats

This breed has gone through many transformations. Some of them are the result of mutation, others of evolution. The birthplace of Persian cats is the Iranian region of Khorasan, from where they were brought to Europe by an Italian in the sixteenth century. At that time, most breeds got their names from where they originated, and longhaired kittens were no exception. From that time, there were many pictures and engravings with images of representatives of this breed, but they all looked different.

After the 19th century, common features became noticeable: short, wide paws, a round massive head, long hair. The Persian acquired its special skull shape in the sixties - after experimental selections in the USA. Further in Europe there were already two types of cats - old and extreme. The high price of beautiful Persians has become the main impetus for global breeding.

Description of the breed

Persians are distinguished primarily by their small, wide, slightly upturned nose. The expressively snub-nosed cats belong to the American extreme breed. Classic European representatives have an elongated, slightly upturned nose. They stand out from others by having short, strong legs. They grow up to 7 kg. Deviations include a flattened or elongated muzzle, light, elongated bodies, breathing problems, and watery eyes. Uneven, powdered or smooth wool, tangles are also considered faults.

WCF standard

Indicators of a pure breed are the animal's compliance with recognized standards. Checking is mandatory at cat shows:

1. Wool: up to 12 cm, soft, individual hairs are thin, thick coat. On the chest and shoulders there is an elongated collar with a silky structure.
2. Body: medium or large, short, with short strong legs. A good sign is protruding hairs between the claws. The shoulders are broad, the sternum is well developed.
3. Head: heavy, large, wide, but consistent with the size of the whole body.
4. Lower jaw: pronounced.
5. Nose: slightly upturned, wide.
6. Jaws: powerful, large.
7. Forehead: convex.
8. Ears: far apart, small, rounded, low set, with protruding hair.
9. Cheeks: plump.
10. Eyes: expressive, far apart, round, sparkling.

Distinctive features of types

In total, there are three types of this breed, which breeders or future owners of expensive animals should focus on:

• Old English Persian cat - since the 19th century in Great Britain, the birthplace of felinology, Angora and French cats with long hair were distinguished. Some were light, with a thin fur coat and a pointed muzzle. The second, which in 1887 received the official name “Persian,” had a massive, regular-shaped head and a thick fur coat.
• Standard European - developed during 20 years of work by selectors after the creation of an extreme species in the USA. The resulting classic look is common in Europe - a longer, slightly upturned nose along with convex forehead, is no different in all other features.
• Extreme look - appeared around 1930. Exotic Persians have a flattened nose with full cheeks, which makes their face “cute.”

Coat colors

Persian cats come in about a hundred different colors: black, gray, white, cream, red, blue, color point. Therefore, when classifying them, they are based mainly on eye color. Depending on this criterion, cats are:

1. WITH blue eyes- taken as the standard, although there are a lot of varieties. They may have colored spots, silver, or white.
2. With yellow eyes - there is a complex and simple type. In the first case, the coat may have an undercoat of different colors. In the second there is a monochromatic cat: tortoiseshell, red, black, white.
3. With green eyes - they are classified as complex types of Persian coat colors. Often this is dull silver or a separate type of “chinchilla”.
4. The shade of the coat affects the price of the kitten. Tabby, smoky, silver, and silver tabby are considered exotic.

Personality of Persian cats

At first glance, the Persian cat attracts with its appearance, disposition: this is a playful, affectionate bundle of joy and fun. At the same time, she is proud, arrogant, and demonstrates superiority with all her lordly appearance: she moves smoothly around the apartment with dignity or sits calmly, but in such a way that she is sure to be noticed, picked up, and stroked. The classic Persian cat has many pleasant qualities. She:

• domestic - cannot live outside the apartment, without the owner;
• trusting, affectionate - quickly gets used to people, often chooses a “favorite” among everyone in the family;
• quiet, calm, sometimes even slow - she does everything slowly, with grace, dignity, never fusses;
• rarely makes noise - to attract attention, he will sit and look into your face with huge eyes;
• having a calm, phlegmatic temperament, very playful, active - she happily runs after a ball, plays with children, meets owners after work, gets along well with dogs;
• smart - quickly learns to use the litter tray and can be easily trained.

Temperament and love of games

A spoiled, refined nature never does anything in a hurry. She devotes a lot of time to herself and relaxation. The Persian cat is more affectionate than the female cat. Females are more independent and self-sufficient. However, both require constant tenderness and attention from their owners. Be sure to get a ball or any other toy - they are always waiting fun games. If they get bored, they may turn their backs on you and not even pay attention to you.

Their pleasant meow is rarely heard. They choose one family member whom they listen to and respect. They don’t like to be left alone - they move from room to room to be close to them all the time. Persian kittens are very active, cheerful with their cute appearance and constant movement. Such pets are good at relieving stress and tension in adults, and for children they become favorite plush toys.

Persian cat breed - care and maintenance

It requires the most serious, thorough care among all the others. You need to take care of it every day, otherwise you risk losing the fluffiness that is given to it. Thick fur can become matted, and then bald spots appear. When buying a kit for your purebred cat, make sure you take a rare comb, brushes of different hardnesses, shampoos, conditioners, and talcum powder. Excessive tear duct activity requires cleaning the hair around the eyes. Constant, methodical care will help leave your Persian the true aristocrat that he is. You need it:

• bathe regularly;
• comb daily;
• wipe the corners of the eyes;
• brush your teeth and ears.

Accommodations

Before letting a Persian cat into your home, make sure you have medications and household chemicals were hidden as deep as possible in closets and closets. They are very curious cats and can play with anything, so:

• Do not leave them alone in the kitchen with the stove or hot surfaces (dishes or dishes) on.
• Before starting the washing machine, check it for the presence of a dog sleeping in it.
• In a multi-storey building, place mosquito nets on the windows - cats sit on the windowsills and can fall out.
• Small items, threads, Lego, earrings - remove all this from the floor and from the lower shelves.

Daily brushing

There is a common misconception that you need to constantly use a powder brush. Alas, this is wrong. Professional groomers use it to add the finishing touches to the guard hair "coif" in competitions. The main tool owners need is a metal comb with blunt teeth of different lengths. Kittens need to be brushed early age so that they get used to the process. Introduce elements of play and affection into the unpleasant procedure.

First, brush the lower “back” of the cat, placing the kitten belly up. Start from the neck and move gradually to the hind legs. First, scratch against the grain, then along the growth of the coat. Turn over and brush your back and tail. Smoothly, but regularly and strictly accustom the kitten to daily care. Do not let your pet stop the process on his own; teach him obedience from a very early age.

Cosmetics for pet hair care

Don't skimp on antistatic agent from Bio-Groom, All System to prevent the formation of tangles. Electrified fur tends to stick and tangle more. Powder for the area around the eyes will help fight phlegm, and dry shampoo and talc will relieve the pain of scratching. Persians are characterized by frequent licking - they are a clean animal, so cosmetics must be safe.

Persian diet

The better a Persian cat eats, the better it looks. Feed her with professional food from James, First Choice, Eagle Pack, Royal Canin, Askana, and Hills brands. Dry food is low in liquid, so add broth to it. With proper feeding, the purebred miracle will be healthy, happy and in gratitude will give you affection and love. Add the following foods to your daily diet:

• Boiled lean meat without bones.
• Boiled or steamed sea fish without bones.
• Vegetables are raw, steamed or boiled.
• Low-fat dairy products. Milk can be given to kittens up to four months of age; in adult cats it can cause stomach upset. Give calcium-rich curd products. Hard cheese no more than once every 3 days.
• Greenery.
• Fresh water.
• Taurine, minerals, vitamins - as recommended by a veterinarian.

How long do Persian cats live at home?

Proper nutrition and care directly affect the number of years lived. Classic and Old English Persians live on average 20 years, short-nosed extreme Persians - 15 years. So that the Persian cat does not get sick, lives long and happy life, do not give her butter, other fatty milk, raw river fish, sausage, bones, fatty meat and cereals. At the first sign of deterioration in health or changes in behavior, contact your veterinarian.

Health and hereditary diseases

Persian cats rarely get sick; they are one of the healthiest breeds. Although poor care and poor nutrition will lead to illness. Many diseases can become acquired in old age, for example, stomach problems, heart problems as a result of a poor diet, damage to skin because of improper care, dental problems. Heredity also plays an important role, which provokes such diseases:

• Polycystic kidney disease - leads to kidney failure and is difficult to tolerate in animals. Occurs in adults between 5 and 10 years of age.
• Excessive tearfulness and blindness - develops in small kittens from 1.5 to 3 months.
• Corneal ulcer. One of the symptoms of the disease is deep damage to the stroma, which is treated with antibiotics.
• Tendency to the formation of tartar, gingivitis, which leads to subsequent periodontitis and tooth loss.
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
• Cat flu, upper respiratory tract diseases - can be triggered by a defect in the nasal septum or a cold due to the low temperature in the house.

Photos of Persian cats and kittens

Video

Firstly, Persians often have polycystic kidney disease, which can lead to kidney failure - usually in the 7-10th year of life. This is a fairly common disease - up to half of all Persians are at risk. Signs of the onset of the disease can be frequent urination, low appetite, a depressed state of the animal and weight loss. If these symptoms appear, you must immediately show the animal to a veterinarian.

From the cardiovascular system, there are various diseases of Persian cats, a common one is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (a hereditary disease when the wall of the left ventricle of the heart thickens), which, if not properly treated, can lead to death. It manifests itself in cats as rhythm disturbances and signs of heart failure - fainting. In 40% of cases it may not appear until sudden death. For diagnosis, ECG and echocardiography are performed. True, among representatives of the Persian breed the disease is not as common as, say, among Maine Coons, and, as a rule, cats suffer from this disease more often than cats.

Eyes, skin, teeth

“Persians” are much more susceptible to such a congenital disease as progressive retinal atrophy, which very quickly leads to blindness - by about four months after birth. The disease manifests itself in the first or second month. "Persians" are large breeds of cats. And like Maine Coons, they have a tendency to develop hip dysplasia.

There are also various skin diseases Persians - less life-threatening, but causing discomfort to the animal. To prevent them, the cat should be bathed regularly using a special shampoo for long-haired animals and brushed daily with soft brushes, while inspecting the skin. A serious danger is posed by basal cell skin cancer, which can occasionally occur in cats of this breed. It affects the pet's head or chest. More than many other breeds, “Persians” are susceptible to problems with teeth: plaque quickly forms on them, tartar appears, and problems with the gums can begin - gingivitis. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully monitor the condition of the pet’s oral cavity and pay attention to changes in tooth enamel and the smell from the animal’s mouth.

Not dangerous, but unpleasant

Other diseases of Persian cats, which most often bother animals and their owners, are almost 100% common among cats of this breed. True, they do not pose any particular danger to the health, much less the life of pets. We are talking about increased tearing of the eyes and breathing problems caused by the structural features of the cat's flat face. The first is caused by the fact that the tear ducts in Persians are almost completely blocked, which is why cats of this breed can be called chronic crybabies. For the most part this cosmetic defect, but it brings some discomfort to pets. To reduce it, you should wipe your pet’s eyes and face with a soft cloth or napkin every day. Breathing problems in Persians are practically impossible to eliminate - this is a consequence of a shortened nasal septum. This does not threaten the animal’s life, but it provokes frequent snoring and snoring during sleep, which can be considered as some funny feature of Persian cats.

They say that there are no absolutely healthy people. The same can be said about cats. But competent care, regular visits to the veterinarian, careful care of your beloved pet, including the prevention of genetic diseases, will help prevent the development of the disease in Persian cats or alleviate their course. And to the question “How long do Persian cats live?” it will be possible to answer with confidence: 15-20 years!