I wish to thank May Laukholm ((N)Mollèn's), Johanne Klovning (av (N)Utsira ) and Agnetha Öhrn (S*Niwel's ) who have generously let me use their beautiful pictures!
Some lovely represntatives for the Persian Breeds :
From the far left: (N)Utsira QIsabella RossolinoBS, EXO e33, (N)Mollèns Moondancer, PER e creme, (N)Mollèns Query of Extasy PER f
This I have chosen as the header for this page, which tries to explain the story behind this group of breeds that are currently under the same standard and the same category at shows. Even though some cat club main biodies, like the Cat Fancier's Association, distinguish them as Exotic Longhair, Exotic Shorthair, Persian, Colorpont Persian / Himalayan and Colorpoint Exotic, the main cat association that my club belongs under, Federation International des Felines (FIFe )only recons two breed varieties: Persian, with the long hair, and Exotic Shorthair - and they are both judge by the same standard. And in the same category.
A judge that I particularily admire, Karina Bjuran, once said, while judging Stacy at a show, that "This is an Exotic,- the Exotic is a WYSiWYG-cat. What You See is what you get - it doesn't have the big fur to hide behind." In other words, birds of a feather, one longhaired, the other with short hair. And this proves itself to be true when you rtake a look at our breeding programs.
But let's hear the history behind these lovable breeds :
(N)Mollèn's Diamond in Desert Dust.
Longhaired Cats have been living in Asia Minor for hundreds upon hundreds of years , murals and decorations and other artefacts show this. And ever since the 14th century they have also been known to the European countries.These longhaired, docile cats were popular with the glamour lovuing court members of French king Louis th 14th, in France dduring the 16th century. Back then there were two sorts of long haired cat breeds;- The Persian, which was probably originated in Iran/Persia, and another, the Angora, which was originated in Turkeys Ankara-district.
The Persian had a broad, rounded and strong head, the fur was long and fluffy, and its body was short and cobby, with short, strong legs. The Angora, on the other hand, was slim and tall on its feet, with a more triangular shaped head, and longer, more silky fur. These two breeds of lomnghaired cats were interbred - and little by little the cat emerged that we today call the "Traditional Persian". Gradually the focus on breeding this "Trad-Persian" was set to England, and later, to the US. And ever since the turn of the las century, we have still pedigrees we can follow backwards more than a hundred years. American bloodlines are today largely sought after, since the breeding material is numerous, more so than in Europe. And gradually, also, through careful and tidious breeding work, the Persian that we know today, was made: An adorable cat with a round, broad head, short nose and long, beautiful fur.....
As a grown up cat, The Persian is a docile, discrete and silent meowing cat, who is also wide awake and up for playing at a moment's notice !
Further information : http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/persian.html
IP (N)Ma
Jolie's Attention
The English call the Exotic Shorthair "Lazy man's Persian". And that is - in many ways - apt enough. The description of the Exotic says, that this is a social and friendly cat, that has an even and lean temperament. It's usually not meowing at all times, and when it does, it's discrete, as it were. Even though the Persian and the Exotic Shorthair is being judged by the same standards at shows, it's body features - and flaws - are all more significant to the eye because of the lacking long fur. "What you see, is what you get" to put it in so many words...
The Exotic is of about the same size as the "traditional" Persian, medium to large cat with a cobby and muscular body, short, strong legs, a broad and rounded head, small rounded ears and large, round eyes that should give an alert yet sweet and friendly expression. That is what is generally referred to as the "Exo Look".
It's fur is generally from 3 to 6 mm long,- crisp and velvety to the touch. There are in excess of 300 different colour variations.
The Exotic SHorthair is the result of a strict and highly selective breeding programme, cross-breeding the traditional Persian to American Shorthair and British Shorthair. The programme started in the US in the early 1960's. Even Burmese Shorthair was crossbred into the programme, until it's founders were satisfied that they had the anticipated result. When the breed started appearing in shows some years later, it was shown in the Short hair Category, Cat III. But since the two breeds Persian and Exotic S. showed more or less identical features in appearance, in 1991 the Exotic breed was transferred into Category 1 - Longhair. And it is still being judged by International Standards of the longhaired Persian, at least on shows under the body of FIFe.
Further Information: http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/exotic.html
(N)Utsira BA Blue Bonita BS
- foto:Bente Gundersen((N)Uno Persians) -
The Himalayan is a Persian Longhair with Point, i.e a mask, like a Sacred Birman or the Siamese. And like these to breeds, the Himalayan has got blue eyes. Actually, the color scheme is the only difference between Himalayan and the Traditional Persian Longhair. The Himalayan was "created" by cross breeding white Traditional Persian and Siamese cats. After many years of selective breeding, the Himalayan was registered as a variation all its own around 1970. Today it is one of the most popular Persian variations.
Further information : http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/persian-him.html