Persian
Persians can do well with children who already know how to be calm and gentle. Expect an average-sized cat that is low-energy, sheds heavily and needs professional grooming on a cycle. It is a committed lap animal, so expect company whether or not you asked for it.
The numbers
| Typical lifespan | 12–15 years |
|---|---|
| Average adult weight | 4.6 kg (about 10.1 lb) |
A second number, and why it looks low. A 2024 study of UK veterinary records put life expectancy for Persians at 10.93 years (95% confidence interval 9.63–12.23). That is measured from birth, so unlike the range above it counts cats that died as kittens or young adults — and the study’s authors note that most deaths in their data were by euthanasia, which pulls the figure below a natural lifespan. UK cats of every kind average 11.74 years on that same measure.
Based on 80 recorded deaths.
The oldest Persian in that data reached 21.68 years.
Sources: PDSA breed guide · Teng et al., Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (2024).
What Persians are actually like
Day to day. Low-energy — a warm spot and a bit of gentle play is genuinely all this one asks for, which makes it one of the easiest cats to live with.
The coat, honestly. This breed sheds heavily and needs professional grooming on a cycle. A brush a few times a week and the occasional tidy-up keeps it in good order.
Company and noise. This one is a committed lap animal and quiet. Expect it on your lap, your keyboard and your chest at six in the morning — a cat bred for closeness does not negotiate.
Get one if…
- You want a calm animal that mostly sleeps somewhere warm
- You want an animal that actually sits on you, not just near you
- You want a quiet home
Think again if…
- Nobody has budgeted for a groomer every few weeks
- You cannot live with hair on the sofa, the car and your clothes
- You want a pet that entertains itself while you get on with things
- A surprise vet bill would be a real problem this year
- A shelter cat would do everything this one does for a fraction of the price
Health worth knowing about
Every animal is an individual, and plenty of Persians live long, healthy lives. This is here so nobody is surprised — ask a vet, and ask whoever you get the cat from what they have tested for.
What it costs to keep one
Rough running cost: $$$ (one of the pricier cats on our list) — because the coat needs a professional groom on a cycle, and that is the bill people forget, and the breed has known health issues that can mean extra vet visits.
Those are relative bands, not live prices. For real numbers across every pet we cover, see the pet cost study and the cost calculator.
Looking for one? Start at a shelter
Rescues do have Persians and Persian crosses, usually adults whose size, coat and temperament you can see rather than guess at.
Often compared with
❓ Common questions about Persians
Is a Persian good with kids?
They can be, with children who are already calm and gentle around animals. Persians suit families with school-age kids better than families with toddlers.
Do Persians shed a lot?
Yes — heavily, and all year. If hair on the sofa and in the car would bother you, this is not the breed.
Can a Persian be left alone during the day?
Less happily than most cats. This breed was bred for close human company and tends to be vocal and unsettled when the house is empty all day — two cats together suits it far better than one alone.
Is a Persian a good first cat?
It can be, but go in knowing the coat needs daily attention — that is the part first-time owners underestimate.
Should I get a Persian?
Persians suit a home that is fairly calm, is happy to be climbed on, and has grooming in the budget. Meet the cat itself before deciding. Get one if: You want a calm animal that mostly sleeps somewhere warm; You want an animal that actually sits on you, not just near you; You want a quiet home. Think again if: Nobody has budgeted for a groomer every few weeks; You cannot live with hair on the sofa, the car and your clothes; You want a pet that entertains itself while you get on with things; A surprise vet bill would be a real problem this year; A shelter cat would do everything this one does for a fraction of the price.
📚 Where this comes from
We check our care advice against vets, animal charities, and government health guidance. Here is what this page is built on.
Vets, charities & official guidance
- Cat breed guides — PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals)
- Life tables of annual life expectancy and risk factors for mortality in cats in the UK (Teng et al., Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 2024)
- Lovely lilies and curious cats — FDA
- Indoor and house cats — Blue Cross
- Cats — CDC Healthy Pets, Healthy People
- Feeding growing kittens — VCA Animal Hospitals
- Declawing position statement — Feline Veterinary Medical Association
Keeper & species-community guides
Checked August 2026. These are other people’s websites, and none of it replaces your own vet — if a pet seems unwell, call one.