A BLUE PERSIAN BELONGING TO MRS. WELLS. 

 (Photo : Ward, Hounslow.) 



CHAPTER VII. 



LONG-HAIRED OR PERSIAN CATS. 



IN classing all long-haired cats as Persians 

 I may be wrong, but the distinctions, 

 apparently with hardly any difference, 

 between Angoras and Persians are of so fine a 

 nature that I must be pardoned if I ignore the 

 class of cat commonly called Angora, which 

 seems gradually to have disappeared from our 

 midst. Certainly, at our large shows there is 

 no special classification given for Angoras, and 

 in response to many inquiries from animal 

 fanciers I have never been able to obtain 

 any definite information as to the difference 

 between a Persian and an Angora cat. Mr. 

 Harrison Weir, in his book on cats, states that 

 the Angora differs somewhat from the Persian 

 in that the head is rather smaller and ears 

 larger, fur more silky with a tendency to 

 woolliness. 



It is, however, my intention to confine my 

 division of cats to long-haired or Persian cats, 

 and short-haired or English and foreign cats. 

 In both these breeds there are " self-coloured," 

 " broken-coloured," and " any other coloured " 

 varieties. 



In the foregoing references to the diagram 

 of the cat I have touched upon the points of 

 the animal, which are practically the same as 

 regards the form of body and limb in both long- 

 and short-haired breeds of cats. 



In comparing the dispositions of these two 

 breeds, I think it is generally allowed that 

 Persian cats are not so amiable, or so reli- 

 able in their temper, as the short-haired varie- 

 ties. I am inclined to think, however, that 

 they are more intelligent, and have a greater 

 instinctive desire to make themselves at home 

 in their surroundings. They are apparently as 

 keen hunters of prey as the short-haired cats. 

 When we come to the question of stamina and 

 general health, I certainly think the Persian 

 must, so to speak, " go to the wall." 



It is a common belief that, in human beings, 

 if the hair grows long and thick it is a sign 

 of great strength and a good constitution : 

 but as regards cats the longer the coat the 

 weaker the animal. This I have specially 

 noticed in Persian kittens, and have remarked 

 that little mites with unusually long fur are 



