The Persian is an ancient breed, with a history that spans thousands of years. These cats—or cats with a similar appearance—can be seen on hieroglyphics that date back to approximately 1684 BC. However, the exact origins of the breed are unknown since we have no written history this far back.
Sometime during the 1600s, an Italian composer and adventurer named Pietro della Valle described Persian cats from the Khorazan region of Persia, noting that most had long, silky, gray coats. His manuscript, known as Voyages de Pietro della Valle, mentions that the cats made their way to Persia from India with Portuguese travelers.
With frequent travel came additional imports: both Persian and Angora cats made their way to France and England. In England, they were called French cats and they quickly gained popularity for their unique appearance and friendly personalities.
By the 1900s, Persian cats—then known as Persian Longhairs or simply as Longhairs—outpaced Angoras in terms of popularity, perhaps because Queen Victoria had two blue Persians and people of the day were heavily influenced by the Queen’s personal tastes.
Today, Persians are renowned as North America’s most popular cat breed. The Persian is recognized by cat breed registries worldwide.